David, Michael, David Jr., Susan and I thank you all for your prayers and thoughts since out fire. In a way we found out that the fire was a good thing. We had to have the electrician and plumber out. Seems that the plumbing and wiring in our house would not pass today’s standards. It was up to date when it was put in-but that was years ago. So we are having up to date plumbing and wiring put in our house which means we had to have a couple more walls torn down like in the bathrooms, bedrooms, and living room. We are also having more electric plugs put in the house than we had before. We didn’t realize how bad the plumbing was until we got the new pipes in and started using the faucets. The water really comes out with pressure now especially in the shower. Before you had to stand under the shower to get the water. Now you can stand back a ways and the water really comes out.
We also got two new hot water heaters. One for the first floor and one for the second. Now we should have enough water if more than one person wants to take a bath or shower. Before if one of us took a shower the rest either had to wait until the heater warmed the water again or use cold water. We don’t have that problem anymore. It also gives me freedom to use water in the kitchen and not feel that I am cutting water from the bathrooms.
The electric wasn’t as bad but we were told that it was not up to modern code and in a few years if it wasn’t taken care of could cause a fire especially seeing we had gas coming into the house for the stove and heat. As long as they were doing all the new wiring we had the new plugs put in. Also, we had a large ceiling light put up in the kitchen. WOW, the kitchen really lights up now. I never realized how dim it was until the new light was put in.
David and I went to Sears to buy the new appliances but found out that on Monday, there is going to be a discount on electric appliances. It’s some kind of energy discounts if you buy certain appliances which we are buying. So we are going to wait until Monday to go to Sears to buy them and take the discount. Also, the new stove coming is electric not gas like the last one.
We looked all over for kitchen cupboards and I couldn’t find any that I liked. David had me draw what I wanted. Now he and Michael are building them in the barn for me. We had been talking about taking down the old cupboards and striping them down to the wood and refinishing them-but the fire ruined them-so now I am getting what I want. They are also building anew counter for the kitchen. Our previous kitchen was all white-like a hospital. I wanted wood showing this time and that is what I am getting.
We thought of central heat and air in our house, but that is going a bit overboard for us Old Order Mennonite’s so we didn’t put the air in. Fans are going up in the ceilings of the bedrooms and living room. I can’t say Old Order Mennonites don’t have it-it’s just that we aren’t suppose to and we don’t want to do anything we shouldn’t. No one from our meetings (church) is coming over to inspect our house, but we want to be able to sleep at night knowing we are doing the right thing. If our meetings view changes, there is a way we can hook the air up.
So Old Order Mennonite, Amish, Englishers and family have been over putting new walls back up. David and Michael are making the new cupboards. We have to pick up new tile for the kitchen floor and top of the counter. It is coming and should be done in another week or two.
Michael had dreams of the fire, but is past now. News spread fast and some of the students at school were teasing him about being a fire bug-which is not true. During lunch at school one of the students that had been bullying him came up to Michael and rolled up his sleve. There was a terrible scar there. He told Michael that once there was a fire in his house and he thought he could put it out. He couldn’t and caught his shirt on fire. His parents found him in the house and put his shirt out, but he had to go to the hospital for two weeks and will always had this scar. He told Michael he did the right thing getting Susan and himself out. David and I feel that was the best coming from a fellow student. We tried to tell him he did the right thing, but hearing it from someone his own age makes it clearer.
Kiddingly David tells Michael that I set him up to have the kitchen fire because I wanted a new kitchen. Now that we know the electric wiring and water pipes needed replacing, we tell Michael that it happened so we would know about the electric and pipes. We would not have known if it weren’t for the fire. If the new wiring and new waters pipe weren’t put it we could have had a worse fire down the road. I am still going to teach Michael some basic cooking so this doesn’t happen again.
Be With God,
Jean
Next Monday Jeans husband David with a rare solo post from him on the fire. David is a volunteer fireman who shares his thoughts with us. |
Morning folks and as you can maybe see i changed the main image on the top of the blog, I'm always tinkering so what can i say and i think it looks pretty good myself. And all of those images were taken by myself and ill rotate different ones throughout the year to help keep things fresh! Richard
Next week on Amish Stories will be baseball week, so ill have a post from Jean about that sport and how the old order Mennonites enjoy playing it. Then on that Wednesday ill post the recipe of the week with a baseball theme, then on Friday ill post part 1 of 2 on another Amish baseball game that that i was able to watch. All next week! Richard
Really like your new pictures at the top, Richard. Jean's recipe sounds delicious. The weather here is beautiful today-it's suppose to hit 75 today. I still can't get over that it's still March and in the 70's-but I love it.
Morning Marilyn and its pretty warm here as well, so i think Winter went bye bye for now. Trees here are starting to bloom and farmers were starting to work the fields last week, so I've never seen anything like this before up north. I just hope that we dont pay this summer with a dry spell or worse, i think this summer will be a hot one! Richard
Good Morning Richard and Marilyn. Another great post from Jean today and it is great that she is able to get the things done in her home she has always wanted. It is amazing how God controls everything and that this fire truely saved something far worse up the road. What a blessing that everyone is safe and Michael is not having anymore dreams about the fire. I also believe the young man that shared his situation with Michael would have a huge impact as hearing things from kids their age usually has a big impact. I pray that Michaels adoption is going well and that he feels the love that is so evident in the home he has been placed into. Well another week begins and I hope it is a good one for everyone. God Bless all of you. Veronica
Greetings!!Jean, I am very happy to hear things are working out for the best for everyone and you will have things the way you want in your home. God always turns bad into good.We have been in the low 80s here now for a few weeks. It surely looks like spring has blossomed out in a big way. Like you Richard, I think we will pay for it somehow though.We had a strange accident here on my street last night, which is a main busy street in town. Someone rode a horse into town at night. No lights, nothing reflecting and unfortunately they were hit by a car. I do not know for sure but I doubt the horse made it. I did not walk down the street to see because I knew it would just break my heart to see the horse lying in the street. I just wonder what they were thinking riding the horse in like that at night?Love the pictures too Richard!!Blessings, Alice
Great post. I am glad Jean and David's home is coming along. Sounds like it will all be super new and fabulous.So nice of Michael's classmate to offer a word of support. I am sure Michael will never forget this experience.
what a great story and a great outcome! good for all of you!
Hi Richard! Getting here late today. I will be glad when things settle down (0: I really enjoyed Jean's post as usual. I am so sorry that everyone had to go threw the scare of having a fire, but God was in control and had his hand over them. Now I know, Jean, you are going to be having a good time baking, cooking, canning in that nice new kitchen. (0: God always works things for the good. And for the boy that rolled up his sleeve, bless him for that. I hope it gave Michael confidence to know that he did do the right thing. He will grow up to be a fine young man. Hi Marylin!! Got to go, Blessings ~Lissa
I really liked your pictures Richard!!
Hi Lissa,I am still waiting to see the pictures of you on your scooter. I couldn't do that. I give you credit.Marilyn
I just thought I would tell you that the man that caused that accident downstate New York that the 6 Amish people were killed in got 12 to 24 years in prison. This is the accident that David went to as a Fireman. He also rode in the ambulance with one of the people to the hospital. Marilyn
Hi Marilyn! I will email you some pictures on my scooter soon. (0: If you promise not to laugh. hehe. So sad for everyone involved in the accident. Lord help them overcome and heal! Blessings ~Lissa
Hi Lissa,Send the pictures-I will not laugh. I give you credit for riding it-like I say-I couldn't.Marilyn
How nice that a small fire helped alert everyone to what could have later been a much bigger, much worse fire. I'm glad Jean is getting the kithcen of her dreams. Good things do come to those who wait. Ask and ye shall receive. Blessings to all.
I hope that you folks can drop by this Monday for Jeans husband David's post about the fire, and about being in the fire dept as well. I asked for his thoughts and comments for this rare post from him on the subject, and this one will also include a recipe as well! Richard