House Dedication Today

Today dawned bright and sunny, although a little chilly. By 11:00, things had warmed up enough to be comfortable as long as you were in the sun.

Friends and family gathered for the dedication of the new home built for Rachel and me by the University of Findlay chapter of Habitat for Humanity. It was an exciting day. The pep band and a couple majorettes from the University even came to be a part of the celebration.

University of Findlay leaders share a few words.

Various leaders shared with those who attended a bit of the history of this build and gave their well-wishes to Rachel and me. 

I had an opportunity to share my thanks with everyone as well. I had written out my planned remarks, even though I knew I wouldn't use the words exactly. I'll share here the planned text of my speech, so those of you who couldn't be with us at the dedication today can share in at least a part of this special day.

 

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As we stand here today in front of this beautiful new home, we are looking at the fulfillment of a dream. Rachel and I have had this dream since late January, but the University of Findlay chapter of Habitat for Humanity have cherished their vision for over seven years. Many people have been involved in making it a reality. They have spent countless hours in planning. They have raised the finances and given of their time, sweat and enthusiasm to build this dream.

Companies, too, have made major contributions. Many thanks to State Farm for their generous grant, and to Whirlpool for the appliances. Such generosity means a great deal.

Also a than­­k you to the various contractors who gave time to do things like excavation, wiring, plumbing, hanging dry wall, laying flooring, running trusses, and heating system, laying the sidewalk and driveway.­­­­

I have so very much enjoyed getting to know the people who have had a part in building this home for us. I wish I could thank each and every one by name, but the list would be far too long.

I do want to give a big thank you to the Habitat for Humanity board for their vision to provide a hand-up to families in need. Your vision is truly life-changing.

I will always remember our meetings with the family selection committee who chose Rachel and me to be the partner family for this build. I truly believe God guided us together to begin this journey that leads, quite literally…home.

 I’d like to give a special thank you to Steve Gibbs and all the crew leaders – Dan, Marv, Tom, Randy, Mark, Denny, Steve, Gary, Bob, Doug, Ryan, Adrian, Mike, Jack, Paul, Rick, Jeff, Cory, Rich, Glenn, and Levi. They worked very hard making sure our home is strong, solid, and safe. They guided a couple hundred volunteers in this effort. They have also patiently answered my numerous questions about what things are, how they are put together, and… and… and… the list goes on. I am told that I have been the most inquisitive homeowner Steve has worked with. Well, let’s just say that my questions reflect how little I knew to begin with. Anyway, they answered each question with grace and patience, and it is much appreciated.

Many thanks to Suzie Dyer, our family advocate throughout this whole journey. She and the family advocacy committee do such wonderful work helping partner families as their home is built. Unfortunately, Suzie isn’t able to be here today, but we have had many good conversations over these last months, and she has given me a lot of guidance and advice. Not only that, she has become a friend. I look forward to continuing this friendship now that the house is complete.

The good people at the Habitat office and Restore have been a great help. Ron, Wendy, Shelly, Lisa, Jeff, Chris and others have shared our excitement and have provided answers to many more questions. I appreciate each of them.

Most especially, there is another highly dedicated group of people I would like to thank – the University of Findlay chapter of Habitat for Humanity – both original members as well as those who have led the committee since it first began. This whole endeavor started out as your dream, and for seven long years, you worked diligently until the dream became reality. Some of you graduated and moved on from the University before everything finally came together. Thank you Ingrid, Stacey, Crystal, Coyne, Rachel, Emily, Leah, Brian, Brandi, Sabrina and Mackenzie, for your diligence and perseverance.

University of Findlay students
with Rachel and me on our front porch.

Finally, a HUGE thank you to the University of Findlay students, faculty members, coaches and teams, as well as the church family from Findlay First United Brethren Church in Christ, my home church, who labored diligently to give Rachel and me a home. We have had a good time together. We have raised walls together. You have listened to my stories over dinner, and I’ve heard some of your stories. You have listened to Rachel…and listened to Rachel…and been photographed by Rachel… what more can I say except that she has grown to love many of you and, I think, many of you have grown to love her. I wish we could have met each and every one of you, but that was simply not possible. Your labor of love is much appreciated.

I do want to extend an invitation to all of you who have helped build our house to stop by for a visit. Just please not all at once, though. And…you don’t even have to wear a duct tape name tag.

May God bless all of you who have been involved in this dream in any way, even more than you have been a blessing to us. After all, it was God Himself, working through so many, Who ultimately has given us what we see here today. I trust you will all share in His blessing.

This is one of the sentiments written on the wall studs in our house.
We may never see this and other well-wishes again,
but we know they are there. We are so blessed.

Now, as we look to soon moving in to our house, my hope and prayer is that it will be a place of refuge, filled with peace and joy, and will be a blessing to everyone who comes through the door. Thank you so much for our home!

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 Next time....I'll share picture of the inside....

New House Going Up!

I can't believe it has been three full months since I last wrote in this blog. Well, it has been, but I'm not going to write much today, either.  Instead, I'll share a few photos of our house in progress.

Excavation began on July 29th.

The foundation was done by August 5th.

On August 8th and August 12th, friends from my church came together to help put the floor in.

On August 15th, University of Findlay students, just back from summer vacation, came and unloaded the wall sections from the semi-trailer where they had been stored since April.

On August 15th, we did a test wall-raising to be sure everything fit right.

A great crew of builders.

One of the pieces of artwork that will be hidden in the walls of the house.

The actual day...August 22nd. The walls go up for real.

Rachel loves the pink hard hats.

So many pull together to raise the walls.

Walls went up inside, too.

On August 24th, the roof went on.

More enthusiastic University of Findlay builders.

August 26th.

August 28th, peeking through the front window.

August 28th

Caulking all the places cold air could get in.

Lots of teams from the university took shifts. The women's lacrosse team left their mark on one of the walls.

This is written on the doorpost leading into Rachel's bedroom.

When I left today, the drywall was being delivered...

...and unloaded.

Tomorrow at this time, the drywall should all be up, and I am pretty sure the siding will be finished. Professional drywallers will do the inside work, and University of Findlay alumni will work outside. Something extra special about that is the fact that these alumni were the ones who had the dream seven years ago to start a Habitat for Humanity chapter at the University of Findlay. They worked for seven long years to make that dream a reality, and tomorrow, they will get to work on the house that is the fulfillment of their dream.

Things have moved so fast, and so much has been accomplished in just over a month. In just a month again, the house should be finished. God is amazing, and we are so grateful.

Building Walls and Breaking Ground

Progress is being made on our house. I thought I'd make this a photo post so you can see a bit of what is happening.

We won't see these messages once the house is built, but we'll know they are there.

A couple weeks ago, University of Findlay students joined the U of F chapter of Habitat for Humanity for a special event where they painted messages on some of the boards that are going to be a part of our house. Here are a few pictures.

Some students got rather artistic.If you look closely, you will see some Japanese writing.
Do you see "Oiler Build" on one of the boards?
That's because it is being built by the University of Findlay Oilers.

A character named Derrick is their mascot.

Last week, University of Findlay students joined the U of F chapter of Habitat for Humanity to begin constructing the frames for the walls.

Rachel and I got to drive a few nails ourselves.
Someone got a picture of Rachel at work,
but I haven't gotten that one yet.

The house is as far as it can go until mid-August. For now, the frames for the walls are all stored in a semi-truck awaiting the raising of the walls which is scheduled for August 22nd.

This past Saturday, the ceremonial groundbreaking was held on the University of Findlay campus. It was held there because it was in conjunction with another University of Findlay activity. Students went out to our property and brought back buckets and buckets of dirt from the site to put in a big orange box. (Oiler colors are orange and black.) Here we are "breaking ground".

Many thanks to the U of F Habitat family. You are all so very special.

 

I just love how much fun Rachel seems to be having.
Such a special day.

When God "Sneaks Up" on You

The day began like any other. I got up and awakened my daughter to get ready for the day. She went to her school and I went to mine. After a long day working as secretary to one of the assistant principals at the local high school, I went home and did a little house cleaning.

At 7:00, Rachel and I were to meet with one of the family selection committee members for our local Habitat for Humanity. This woman had not been able to attend our earlier group interview back in September. She wanted to meet us and ask a few questions before she gave her input to the decision-making process.

Image found here

We arrived at the Habitat Re-Store right on time, and found the parking lot was full. I didn't think too much of it. My thought was that the Re-Store was really hopping on a Friday night. Little did I know that God was sneaking up on me with a wonderful surprise.

I was met at the office door and invited in. I was told that the lady we were to meet was shopping in the Re-Store, and we would go find her there. Rachel and I followed her into the Re-Store, where Habitat for Humanity sells good-condition used items.A lot of people were looking around the store, and my thought was that Friday night must be a good night for shopping. I still didn't realize God was sneaking up on me.

Then, I saw a gentleman who had been involved in our first interview. He was holding a camera. "That's John over there, isn't it?" I asked, wanting to confirm that I remembered his name. The fact that he was holding a camera didn't stir the slightest suspicion that God was sneaking up ever closer.

Someone came up to my escort and said something about making an announcement, I honestly thought she meant to get on the intercom system and call for the woman we were supposed to meet. But that wasn't what she meant.

Derrick the Oiler,
the University of Findlay mascot.

I heard something like this, "We are happy to welcome you as our newest Habitat for Humanity Homeowners". I looked around and realized everyone in the crowd of about 50 people, many of whom had fresh, young faces, were looking at us. Everyone...including Derrick, the tall and brawny mascot of the University of Findlay. It took a few seconds for the surprise to sink in. After well over a year and a half of not being certain where Rachel and I would live long term, God has finally given direction.

Of course, I obviously knew that they were considering us to become Habitat Homeowners, but I had been preparing myself for them to choose someone else. I had accepted the fact that whichever way the decision went, that was the way we were to go. I was certainly not at all expecting the answer to come tonight. God had snuck up on me so very quietly with this delightful surprise.

So, what comes next? I will have close contact and support from a committee that will walk us through the next several months. Construction of the walls will begin in the spring. The sections will then be stored over the summer. In September, after the students return to college, they will build the house. As I understand it, the basic framework goes up pretty much in one day - much like an Amish barn-raising. After that the whole process will be done in a couple of months. We should be in our new home by November.

I look forward to getting to know the students from the University of Findlay who will actually be building our house. These students are just a few years older than the teens I worked with in Indonesia. It will be good to spend time with them. I hope that in some way, I can touch their lives as much as they will certainly touch ours.