Housefire and Insurance info… Since you all ask.

Because you all love us soooo much, we get lots of questions about what is happening regarding our housefire(s) and the insurance. So here is a post to give you all the info. That way you’ll all be up to date when we post about developments.

We own a 120 acre farm in southern Missouri. It doesn’t generate any money, just gives us something to do with our time and provides opportunities for learning for us and the kiddos.

Over the summer, sometime in June I think, we had a new wood-burning stove professionally installed in our living room. We knew that new stoves stink terribly for the first several fires that are in them and so sometime during the previous week Julie and I had decided that since the weather had been so nice (mid -70’s, we hadn’t closed a window in weeks) that on Sunday, Oct 23, we would build our first fire before church. That way the smell could dissipate while we were away and hopefully be gone by the time we returned.

So that morning we did just that, we started a fire in the fireplace and tended to it a bit, and left for church. When we got home we found a house full of smoke and that the chair and piano which were near the stove had burned up. We called 911 and a great group of volunteers showed up and put out hotspots remaining in the walls, ceiling, and kitchen cabinets.

For the next two weeks the entire family lived in three Quality Inn hotel rooms in West Plains, MO while we met with insurance persons, talked to fire investigators, looked for a decent rental, and just tried to keep ourselves alive. Living in a hotel with a family our size, and for that period of time, wasn’t easy on any of us. Because we couldn’t find any rentals in WP or anywhere nearby that had more than 3 bedrooms we decided we’d move across the country to stay with family in Utah until the insurance was settled and we knew what we were doing. So Julie took the kids and left while I stayed behind to meet with several contractors to get bids for repairs.

On the day I was going to leave, Nov 11, their was a second fire that consumed the rest of the house. After meeting with the fire crews and being assured there was nothing else I could do, I left for Utah late that night.

We were told by insurance that they wanted to investigate this second fire before making a decision about anything. We’ve been waiting in limbo since then. They’ve hired somebody here in Utah to come ask us questions  and we’ve turned over the few records they’ve asked for. But it’s basically been a waiting game since December. At some point we think they’ll want to talk to us again or make some other statement, which we’re ready to do at any time. But until they are ready to make some sort of decision, we just wait.

The frustrating part is just the not being able to plan the future. We thought we’d be in Utah until school was out (which would give us time to rebuild) but now we don’t know if the insurance is going to cover the house at all. So we don’t know if we should be planning a life in Missouri or if we’ll be stuck here in Utah for a lack of housing in MO. We don’t know where the kids will be for school next year, or where they should be planning summer camps, or what to do with the animals that others are so generously taking care of for us. We can’t even tell those who are helping us out when their help might no longer be required.

We’re just frustrated.

So if you are one of those helping us out, please know we love and appreciate you! We’re doing our best, and are trying to be a light burden! Trust us, as soon as we know what is happening, so will you. And now, when we do let you know of any changes that have taken place, you’ll be up to date.