Earlier this week as the temperature was dropping outside, the temperature in my home was dropping as well.When I woke up Monday morning, my thermostat read ERR and gave 34 as the temperature reading. I literally was almost freezing.This winter will be the first real winter for my husband and me to experience in our new home. When we went to bed on Sunday night, we assumed the cold air drafting through our room was a result of not winterizing our house. How could we have been so lazy? If only we would have put that plastic on the windows, then we would be warm.An hour after we were brave enough to leave our warm bed, we called Orv at Sundem Oil for help. He started by filling our fuel oil tank. After some amount of handy-man work, he discovered that the fan inside this giant heating mechanism was broken. So we remained in our bitterly cold home and began calling heating repair companies. Of course, on the first day of harsh winter weather we were one of many families looking for help so we would have to wait.Finally the men from Chuck’s Refrigeration in Larchwood, Iowa, arrived to save us. They quickly replaced the motor needed to make the fan work. Several hours later the temperature had risen over 35 degrees to a nice comfortable 70.During my 18-hour spell without heat I discovered that I would have given up every gift under my Christmas tree to have warm air flowing through my ducts. Shelter is something I have always taken for granted.A roof over my head has been a given throughout my life. Although I was taught to be frugal with utilities, I have always had an abundance of heat and blankets to use in the winter months. I feel so lucky that normally I do not have to worry about staying warm. Without good people like Catherine Fikse in the world, many children would go cold this winter.As my siblings and their children tear open packages this Christmas, I plan on reminding everyone how lucky we are to have the basic necessities of life. Life is much less enjoyable without shelter and heat.
