Our beginning

So Glad To Be Home

It was pretty sad seeing what the brand new bridge looked like when we finally got back to the Quad City area but I was so excited to get home and see everyone. We had to go all the way to the 80 bridge to get across the Mississippi River and there were detours just about everywhere. We didn't see many people out and about or even clearing up the destruction, which was strange. Typically the Quad City people came together and helped one another when they were in need but it seems that everyone was still stuck home fixing their own problems or maybe I was wrong. I hoped and prayed that I was right but it seemed extremely quiet around here.

When we started going over the bridge Lola got excited about the water and Kena started doing a happy dance because she knew we were almost home. We both missed everyone so much and couldn't wait to see them.

I was glad I had 4 wheel drive when we got to the exit I needed because there was a tree in my way and I had to drive into the ditch on the otherside of the highway to get off the highway. The streets weren't much better but to be honest I had plans to travel around town cutting these trees up to store for fire wood, winter would be here in no time and I already had a bad feeling about it being a really bad winter.

When we pulled up to the garage, I pushed my door button and went the house without unpacking anything. I shut the garage door and left the doors open to my car so everyone could file out on their own time but I was on the search for my other children and my husband. As I walked in the door, I noticed that the house was quieter than usual and wondered how no one had heard the garage door open or heard my car, why wasn't anyone greating me? I searched the basement first and found no one, the garden and side yard were empty. When I went out the side door between the kitchen and garage I almost screamed and cried at the same time but held it in.... The tree from the from yard had fallen on the roof of the house.... right on top of my private kitchen upstairs....

When I got upstairs I saw where everyone had been and was sure that none of them wanted to be the barer of bad news. I ran up and started giving them hugs and kisses....

"Was anyone hurt? You're all alright?" They all nodded their heads and I cracked a smile, "Good, this can be fixed but you all are more important than any stupid kitchen. Go great the rest of our family and meet the new additions, you're going to them all, especially the one no one knows about!!" Johnie, Samantha and Alex got the biggest smiles on their faces, gave me a long tight squeeze and ran down the stairs first.

"So you found Cheyanne? " Ava and Raven asked at the same time...

"Yes..." I laughed, "go meet her and make them feel at home please!" I gave them hugs and kisses and sent them off to the main floor. "Any problems with the new dog?" I asked Bella.

"Nope, he's really friendly and everyone loves him so far. He's healing up nicely." she replied.

"I'm glad, I'll check on him a little later. Go meet Kena's new best friend she adopted and help everyone bring stuff in, I'll be down to start dinner in a little bit." she hugged me and hurried off like everyone else had when I mentioned that Kena brought a friend home.

As I started to turn around, I felt hand caress my back with one and my shoulder with other and work themselves to my hips and then around my stomach. Lips started lightly kissing my back moving ever so slightly up and around my neck as the hands turned my body around and kissed my lips slowly.

"I missed you too...." I stared into his eyes.

"I wanted to have it all cleaned before you got back but I figured that wasn't realistic. No one wanted to break the bad news to you so we waited for you find us. I'm so sorry that all your hard work got destroyed, Chevy...." Marky held me tighter as he spoke.

"It's alright, Chey wants to learn to cook and we can rebuild it all so I'm just glad that things weren't any worse. This can be fixed inno time and I can pull out all the desserts for snacks while I get dinner started, I got myself a buck and brought meat home that I already started marinating!!" I was so proud of myself for getting that buck while Kena's lazy butt slept on my lap.

"I'm glad you aren't a bad mood about this, it's so nice to have you back and be able to hold you again. I love you so much, I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you! Let's go see this buck meat!! You're getting really good at hunting huh?"

"The boys will have to help me tell stories while I cook, I'm so hungry!!" I started walking toward the stairs and he grabbed my hand and pulled me back sweetly to give me a fast kiss, "Promise you aren't going to be mad at me?" I laughed.

"Why would I be mad?" he looked worried...

"Ummm, Kena made friends with a wild animal.... from the Brownsville Zoo...." he looked at me for a moment.... then started laughing.

"Of course you two brought a pet home from a zoo...." he laughed.

I started towards the stairs with a skip in my step and as I started down them I said, "Her name is Lola, she's a giant river otter...."

"What!?!" I ran off to make him follow me and had an otter tackle me with love as I got into the kitchen.