Loss, Redemption, and where I have been for a week. *** Updated with pics*** #162

Since everyone has been asking where I have been gone to...

Last Saturday we had a band of very intense storms come through the area. My DW and youngest son and I were planning on driving down to see DW's brother. We had packed overnight bags. Our plans were to take the biggest dog to the vet for boarding since it was time for his shots and to get shaved down. Our smallest dog would go with us. At 10:00 tornado warnings started for our county so we decided to leave. We have to drive on 2 dirt roads to get to our house. They were almost impassable. The rain was tremendous.
Luckily we get out of the area without any damage. At about 1:30 we get a call from our landlord. She had gotten a call from someone that our house was on fire. We are about 3 hours from home but we immediately turn around.

I got my sister's brother to meet us in town because he has a truck and I figured we wouldn't be able to get to the house in our car. I also did not want the DW and DS to see the house. When we get to the house, there was nothing left. Nothing. The house was down to the foundation.

In talking to the fire chief, he said that it appeared that lightning had struck the fireplace. The neighbors behind us said that they saw and heard an explosion.

Since then it has been surreal. We contacted the Red Cross and they put us up in a hotel for 3 nights. Since then we are footing the bill until insurance comes through. We do have insurance. It probably won't cover everything, but it will be a start.

We let our places of work know and the outpouring of support has been tremendous. Folks have donated bags and bags of clothing, 7 backpacks, 3 full of school supplies, cash, gift cards, even a bed (actually 5 beds, can't get the others until we find a house), a couch....
It really has been a humbling experience.

It's also strange who knows about it. My best friend in California found out somehow. We went to the school on Tuesday and one of the teachers who happens to be a family friend came up to DW and asked what she could do.

We are still in a hotel. We are still looking for a house. I am back at work. I was looking forward to coming back so I could sit still for 8 hours. It's been a crazy crazy week.

Anyway, I am back, but work is going to be hell for a while, so not sure how much I will be on.

tl;dr - read the dang story.