Lots of Updates

Another successful work day last Saturday!! All that remains is the sub-floor, a chimney and a partial sunroom. Thank you all so much for the help you have given. This Saturday there probably will not be a work day as rain is in the forecast. However, if it turns out to be decent and you want to give Werner a call to see if there's anything to do, feel free to do that.

Jill was able to turn in her inventory sheets this week. What a relief to have that job completed. Now they will sit and wait as all of the sheets are gone over and a dollar amount will be determined. Please pray that this goes smoothly and quickly.

Alaina is in Doug's Kids on Stage this weekend performing High School Musical 2. She has performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. (if you want to go and see her, you can order tickets online at www.dougskidsonstage.com)

Jenna is in a volleyball tournament all day Saturday.

Cole has Mr. Blossomtime on Sunday night and Miss Blossomtime on Monday night.

So the Riedels continue to be a very busy family along with everything else they have going on with the aftermath of the fire. Please pray for wisdom as they make decisions about rebuilding. There are lots of things to be decided and they don't want to rush into anything.

One last thing. There are openings for meals if you are interested. For those of you who have provided food - thank you SO much. If you have dishes (pyrex, glass, etc) that you need to pick up, would you please call Jill and arrange to get them from her.

Thanks for everything,
Sheryl

HUGE Work Day

The cars are gone - HALLELUJAH!! This Saturday, February 28th it's time to take the house down to the floor. Werner could use as many hands as possible. If you are able to come and have any of the following, please bring them:

• sledgehammers
• work gloves
• wheelbarrows
• safety glasses
• shovels
• push brooms
• ladders

Werner will be out at the house at 8:00. Any time that you can give would be greatly appreciated. If you have questions, give him a call.

Also, there are still open dates if you want to bring a meal.

Thanks,

Sheryl

Prince Cole

Cole makes his first official appearance as the Blossomtime Bud Prince on Tuesday, February 24th. You can tune in to WSJM AM1400 or FM94.9 and hear his interview with Brenda Lane on her "In the Spotlight" show. This will air from 11:00-11:45 a.m. The entire Bud Prince and Princess court will be featured.

Stay tuned for updates on the work day this Saturday.

Thanks,
Sheryl

Saturday Help

This Saturday the 21st Werner could use a few people to come out and help in the basement. The following Saturday the 28th there will be a need for many people. So if you are able to give of your time on just one of these days, Werner would ask that you come on the 28th.

If you come tomorrow could you please bring mops, buckets, scrub brushes as they will be cleaning the block walls and floors to get ready to Kilz.

Also there are new meal dates available if you would like to sign up for one. You can click on the link over to the right.

Please email me with any questions: dsmoerdyk@sbcglobal.net

Thanks,
Sheryl

Possible Work Day and Progress

This Saturday (February 21st) will be a possible work day out at the Naomi house. Please check the blog on Friday and weather permitting we will post about work that continue on Saturday.

Wanted to let you know what progress has been made so far. Main floor and basement are basically gutted. All the brick has been removed except for that which is surrounding the garage. The exterior of the sun room has also been torn off including all soffit and facia.

Insurance inventory continues to be a slow process, but progress is definitely being made. Please pray for wisdom and accuracy.

Thanks for all of your help. Watching all of you come together to help has been such a blessing for their family and for the rest of us to witness.

Check back here on Friday to see about the work day on Saturday.

Thanks
Sheryl

H*nda Update and Prayer Request

I just heard from Jill and want to relay the newest information to you. As you know this was the week that H*onda should have come out to do their investigation. They just found out that they will not be there now until Feburary 24th. As you can imagine, they are very upset. This will have been 7 weeks since the fire.

Please pray for peace while they wait!

Also demolition is still going to continue with the garage in the way. Pray that as soon as the cars are gone they will be able to begin new construction and be ready to go.

Not to tell you what to do...but would you please leave a comment just to encourage Jill and Werner.

Thanks,
~Sheryl

More Fun For the Men

Time to take off the brick!! This Saturday, Feb 14th, Werner will be out at the Naomi house at 8:00. If you are able to make it, feel free to come and go at any time throughout that day. Please bring sledgehammers, chisels, hammers and ladders if you have them. ALSO bring safety glasses.

Thanks,
Sheryl

A HUGE Thank You

I am posting this message from Jill:

Saturday was an amazing day at the house. God blessed us with perfect weather...couldn't have been better. No snow, no rain and best of all the sun was shining!!!!

We had about 25 people there and got more done than I could have ever imagined. We filled two 40 yard dumpsters. The main floor interior is gutted. There were men everywhere (oh, and Michelle & I) with crow bars,wheelbarrows, sledgehammers. Things came down quickly. Werner tells me that this type of work is fun. I'm not so sure that my legs feel that way today.

Anyway, thank you to all who helped. Once again, we can't believe how blessed we are to have the friends we have.

We will hopefully be taking off brick and gutting the basement next. Stay tuned!!!

Saturday IS a Work Day for Men

This Saturday, February 7th will be a work day for the men out at the Naomi home. If you have heavy duty trash bags, would you please bring those with you. Werner plans to be there by 9:00, come out whenever you can.

Thanks!

Possible Work Day for Men

If things go as Werner and Jill are praying they do then they should be able to start clearing some more things out of the Naomi house. Men will be needed this Saturday, February 7th. Please keep checking back for further details. Just wanted you to be aware that this is a possibility. Pray that things come together with all the parties involved so they can begin to clear out.

Thank you to all of you who have filled up the meal calendar. I will be adding more dates in a couple of weeks.

Thanks,
Sheryl

Specific Prayer Request

Just spoke with Jill and the fire investigator stated that there is enough evidence that they need to notify H*nda that the fire MIGHT have started in her Pil*t. H*nda has been given the dates of February 12/13 to send their engineer. However, if that date does not work they can request another date.

So...please pray that they will be there on those dates. Werner and Jill can not move ahead until a final determination has been made.

Again, this does not mean that the fire started in her car but it cannot be completely ruled out yet. Also, if you're wondering why I have astericks in the names above it's so it does not show up in a google search.

Thanks
Sheryl

Couple of Things

Hi everyone,

Thanks for continuing to check in. Want to let you know that you can now call the Riedel's home number and it will forward to their temporary house. If you need to reach them please call them at 944-5600. (this will also help cut down on the HUGE amount of cell calls on Jill's phone)

This Friday (1/30) Jill could use some hands out at the Naomi house. She will be there at 9:30. If you are able to help, please leave a comment so she'll know to plan on you.

Also if you just have general questions, please feel free to call me at home 429-8853 or cell 470-9813.

Thanks so much,
Sheryl

Some Praises & Continued Prayers

Just spoke with Jill and wanted to be sure to get some things posted. I know that many of you are checking here on a regular basis and we ask that you would continue to do that.

They have received lots of games. Everyone is grateful and they are enjoying some "normal" family time together when they can.

Please continue to pray as Jill has lots of inventory to complete. Pray for perseverance and that the job will go smoothly and quickly. (that is not likely as it is a tedious task, but we can ask)

Some praises. They have completed the the inventory for Werner's work van and can turn that into the insurance company tomorrow. They have also received the detailed estimate they need that can be turned into the homeowners insurance adjuster.

Continue to pray that they make God directed decisions. Please pray for Jill. The inventory task is truly daunting and something that she will have to do mostly on her own. It's something that she wishes she could just walk away from, but that's not an option.

In Jill's own words: We had a wonderful sermon again today and again I am truly blessed that God only took our "stuff" away and not our family which is truly what is most important.

The next help we will need will be for demolition and cleaning out of the home but that won't be until all inventory and estimates are completed and agreed upon. We will keep everyone posted.

Thanks,
~Sheryl

A Happy Birthday "Shout Out" to Werner

Werner - I was going to write you a card, but thought I would just embarrass you in this public setting instead. Hope you don't mind too much!!

I wanted to tell you how incredibly blessed Jill, Jenna, Alaina and Cole are to have you as the head of their family. You are everything that a husband and a dad should be and it has been eye-opening for me to watch you over the past couple weeks. I can only imagine that this is the hardest time you have ever been through in your life - yet from the outside looking in, I see a man of strength and courage. Your hope & trust in God will see you through this. Your love for your family will only make you all stronger.

You are an inspiration to me and I just wanted you to know that.

Praying that this birthday will be the beginning of your best year yet.

With love and admiration,
~Sheryl

(If anyone wants to add their birthday wishes, please leave Werner a comment.)

Keep Praying

*Just want to add this after I already published the post. I looked at the meal site and am overwhelmed at the outpouring of support. THANK YOU! Also, if you have not already done so, there is a section down near the bottom of the sidebar to "follow" this blog. Would you mind taking a minute to put your name in there - it is so great for them to know who is walking this journey with them.

I know that you are praying for the family but I am asking today that you would get on your knees and beg God to provide them with His peace. Insurance and fire inspection decisions are still unresolved. As you can imagine it is frustrating and disheartening. Pray that God would move and there would be closure and answers quickly. Thanks for the way you have loved and supported all of them.

Remember if you are able to help out at the Naomi house tomorrow (Tuesday) Jill would be very appreciative.

Pray on,
~Sheryl

More Ways to Help

There are lots of you out there wanting to know how to help. I am just going to keep adding things as I am made aware of them. So scroll through all of the posts and see if there is some way you want to jump in.

• Jill will be at the Naomi house on Tuesday, January 20th from 9:30 - noon, she could use some helping hands
• if you are willing to take some insurance inventory sheets and look up replacement values for items, that would be a huge help. Jill would let you know how to go about filling those out.

As always, please comment here and both Jill and I will receive those via email. Leave your name and number if you're able to do the inventory sheets and she will contact you about that.

Thanks again,

~Sheryl

The Prince Has Some Needs Too

Hi again. Please read the post below if you have not already done so, but I need to add some things that Cole needs for his Blossomtime Prince appearances.

• suit (size 6)
• dress shoes (size 2)
• a few ties
• anyone have a spare tux laying around in a size 6?

Comment on here and let me know if you have any of these things. Jill is more than willing to purchase them from you.

Thanks,

~Sheryl

A Thank You and Some Needs

First of all I want to post a note from Jill:

I just want you to know that I can't even begin to thank everyone that has dropped off clothing and the food being provided. It has taken a huge load off my mind so that I can focus on the insurance necessities that need immediate attention. Continue to check the blog for specifics but a daily need we have is prayer. I need strength to get through each day as I fall into bed mentally exhausted every night. I need direction from the Lord on all the decisions that need to be made and will continue to be made in the many months ahead.

Thank you all so much,
Jill

Now...here are some needs that have come to my attention:

• The girls need some warm, ski type gloves (not the knit type). Alaina is going to 5 Pines next week, so it would be great to get them to her quickly * DONE
• board games - they do not have to be new - they are really missing Catch Phrase *they got Catch Phrase
• now I post this next one with some hesitation - if you have furniture of good quality that you are considering selling in the near future and you think the Riedels may like it, would you mind taking pictures and emailing the info to me (Sheryl at dsmoerdyk@sbcglobal.net). We do not want to overwhelm them with this and we really are looking for things that we think they would choose for themselves.

That's it for now. I want to thank you for being such a blessing to them. Please continue to leave comments, they are being read. Send notes of encouragement. Your words and prayers are bringing healing to all of them.

~Sheryl

Update

Just a quick update on what is going on. The fire marshal has not yet determined a final cause of the fire. He has ruled out the wood burner, Werner's work van and many other things. However, at this point he cannot rule out Jill's car. That is not to say it's her vehicle, but he has to do some further investigation. Please pray that this process continues to progress and there would be some determination made quickly.

There are many different insurances companies involved and lots of paperwork to be filed. This can obviously be very frustrating. Prayers for quick return phonecalls and thorough work would be great.

Jill continues to be at the Naomi each day taking inventory of every single item in the home for insurance purposes. She is usually out there at 9:30. This week her plan is to be there on Tuesday (if no snow day), Thursday afternoon and on Friday. I will update if this changes. Many hands make her work easier. Feel free to give any amount of time you can. Dress warmly and in old clothes.

Another sad note for the Riedels is that they lost a neighbor yesterday. Larry Hall lived across the street and died suddenly. They will have that funeral to attend this week at some point.

Thank you for all you are doing. They are very appreciative. Your prayers are felt by each one of them.

~Sheryl

Crown Him and Happy Birthday

I'd like to announce the new Blossomtime Bud Prince...Cole Riedel!!! What a fun day in the midst of this trial. This will be a birthday that Jill will never forget.

Congratulations Prince Cole and Happy Birthday, Jill!!!!

Monday Help

Jill could use some help on Monday, January 12th out at the Naomi house. She will be out there taking inventory and cleaning out for a couple hours in the morning. If you are able to help she will be out there at 9 am. Leave a comment if you think you'll be going. Thanks.

Just talked with Jill and she said lots of her dishes/silverware/glassware are able to be saved!! They are washing it up now and she is thrilled.

Welcome

Thanks for stopping by to see how the Riedels are doing and to find out ways that you can help. We will be updating this site often with their needs, progress being made and other information we feel would be helpful for you to know.

They are settled into their wonderful temporary home on Sunnybank in St. Joe and seem to be adjusting really well. The donations and support have been a tremendous blessing to them. Jill will be posting on here when things settle down a bit as I know she wants to "talk" with all of you.

For now they seem to be set with clothing for the most part. Here are some things that they are still in need of:

• a snow shovel *done
• black or khaki pants for Jenna in a size 16 slim or size 0 *done
• pajamas/either sets or pj pants for Jenna - size small in women's/juniors (2 pair) *done
• there are some clothes out at the Naomi Road home that will need to be taken to the laundromat *done

On the sidebar you will see where you can sign up to bring meals. This will continue for quite some time, so I will be adding dates as we know their schedule a little better. If you would like to do a meal you may click on the web address on the sidebar.

If you are able to help with one of the other items listed above, please leave a comment. There are instructions on how to leave a comment over on the right sidebar as well.

Any questions, please contact me: Sheryl Moerdyk (family friend) at 429-8853 or dsmoerdyk@sbcglobal.net

Please feel free to just leave a note of encouragement. They are blessed by every word that has been written. Thank you all so much for your love and support.

~Sheryl