habitat: local build

For July's ministry focus I am featuring Habitat for Humanity. Jeremy and I have worked with them for several years now in different capacities. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Jeremy led three teams of men down to rebuild homes near the Ninth Ward, over a period of three years. I helped organize and raise funds/supplies here, as it was a men's-only trip. The guys took all the supplies needed down with them. We even arranged for our favorite chef and her assistant to be there and feed the men daily. It really was amazing as they finished out several homes in the period of one week.

For those unfamiliar with Habitat for Humanity, it is a Christian organization that builds home for people in need, whether from natural disaster or a need for a new start. They state on their website that they have more than 1,500 local affiliates in the United States and more than 80 national organizations around the world. They have helped build or repair over 600,000 houses and serve more than 3 million people worldwide.

Our latest venture with Habitat is really special to us because our friend Stacy is in the process of getting her home built. We are really proud of her because she has dedicated many hours so she could start her build, as well as become a part of her local Circles group to actively move out of poverty. This home is an exciting change for her family.

Starting in the morning: no walls.

Two sides up. Doing prep work for the third wall.

Stacy's goal for this house: to run an air nailer. 

Mission Accomplished!

Building the final exterior wall before the rain hits.

Jeremy and Matt nailing the top plate.

Ralph, 85, was a pleasure to work with.

Ralph and Loraine have worked over 30 years with Habitat.

All four sides up.

This will be an ongoing project we are helping with this summer until it is complete. Again, we are very excited for Stacy and her family.

If you are interested in being involved with Habitat for Humanity, I recommend you start at the local level and get a taste for what they do. It is pretty amazing. They respond to natural crisis across the United States, so there is opportunity to get involved in the capacity as well. They always need hands to help with the work.

Visit their website at www.habitat.org

fishin' for fun

I always thought that getting to the hundredth blog post was going to take forever....and was some sort of milestone. Well, it's really no milestone....it is just another blip in the daily happenings of my life.

This past Sunday afternoon we had so much fun as the kids were learning how to fish. Uncle M had a great idea showing up at the pond with the kiddie pole and worms.  The fish were biting just about every time the hook hit the water with a big worm. That is some good fishing! The kids thought it was wonderful and they caught everything from little bluegill to small mouth bass. It was a trip watching the guys try to pull in the bass using a little kids rod. Uncle M caught a pretty decent sized bass and was reeling it in when it flipped out of the water and broke the line. Lost that one, but it was impressive with that little pink princess pole.

Fishing with Dad

Frederick's big catch.

Elauna fishing.

Miss O and her Dad.

Awesome Uncle M with the cute Miss O.

The famous pink pole.

Mimi and Miss A.

Papa and Miss O watching the action.

remodel: block and seal

It is amazing what progress you start to see when the block work goes in. The layout of the house started to take form. I really enjoyed watching our block layer - he made the hard work look easy, and his lines were straight and crisp. When the evening sun cast a shadow on the blocks, each line was as straight and clean as the last.

After block was was finished, we smoothed the crawl space area. Jeremy and Blake ran the tile around the interior edges, put plastic over, then Rock Chuckers spread pea gravel. Today, the boys brushed on the foundation sealer.

Remote control delivery of our blocks.

Always start with the corners.

Randy laying block.

Clearing away the excess.

Blake brushing it smooth.

Jeremy applying sealer.

manna: drive for the 100

Thank you for the ideas on who to support and feature during our June Drive for the 100. We were introduced to a new local ministry called Manna by our friend Vicki. Manna gathers food from companies like Panera Bread, Brethren's Home in Greenville, WalMart, Krogers, and the food pantry in Sidney and then creates meal packages for local people in need. Manna has volunteers that pack and deliver the meals - no one in turned down from receiving a meal. Manna, and organizer Donna Reed, work hard to make this ministry a reality. They are not funded by any one organization and depend on donations, grants, etc.

If you too wish to support this ministry, please email me directly and I will provide you with the information.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink....whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:34, 40