Thursday update

A FANTASTIC family dinner night last evening, family and guests from 5 of the 7 homesites came, along with guests from AmeriCorp - Vista and the 22 member mission group from Canistota Presbyterian Church, Canistota, SD. Great food thanks to Bev, Ellen and Doug as well as fun, games, songs and fellowship lead by Shawn Harris.

Thursday opened with great enthusiasm as the teams put on a push to complete as much of their projects as possible.

Turner, Petro & the gang (Evan-Nathan-Megan-Laura-Megan) started a new homesite with "a little laundry list" of things to do.

Ruschman-Babcock et al (Evan&Nathan&Megan&Laura&Megan) continued on with their new homes (yes - 2 homes side-by-side) - connecting up the trap door to the storm cellar, oak flooring, baseboards, staining of trim and work in the kitchen on cabinetry. Jim found out that the windows weren't secured to the frames by trying to open one as it fell out of the frame - add another item to the list.

There is some serious talent on the crews with Hoon/Hoon/Kyle/Ted/Aidan/Jamie/Holly doing Italian Ceramic Floor tile and Venitian Plaster work that is extraordinary.

Leyden, Barton with Trent-Allan-Katie-Katie-James drive on with sheet rock, mudding, insulation & painting the upstairs bedroom a vibrant purple (at least I think it's purple). At what was the homesite 2- houses down the street, there was a garden shed flipped on it's roof. Non one was sure exactly who's shed it was - since it wasn't there before the flood waters came.

Gallagher-Kanaga with Mike~Zach~Amber~Emily~Dana~Kate had - you guessed it- more mudding, mudding, mudding & mudding plus piecing together leftover sheetrock to try & cover a stairwell. Dan was finally able to come out of the closet today !!!!!!! Who eats lunch at the Flying Weinie? you got it!

Le & Harris with Ian+Scott+Sabrina+Melissa got in wondows number 4, 5 & 6. That leaves only 2 more to go. The youths are really surprising everyone with their ability to re-install the custome millwork and face frame to outside windows. Jean the homeowner love to be the sidewalk supervisor, and the girls really talking with her.

Otte & Otte with the non-otte's (Kari~Sarah~Megan~Jonathan~Josh~Puchi) are having a blast working on Leonard's house with installing outside doors, fascia, porch replacements, interior trim/staining and caulking going on. Questions - how many youths can you fit in a SMALL HALLWAY (closet sized)? Answer - yep, you guessed it! Does anyone know a good way to get caulk out of noses and hair ?????????????

Oh yeah, they"re getting to know me on a first name basis at Menard's hardware & lumberyard.

Doug, Bev & Ellen are spoiling us with pancakes, french toast and egg strada with ham and fresh aspargus for breakfast.

Friday should be a short work day - back to Camp Hitage to load up & clean up our cabins & lodge by 2:00. To-Go dinner packs will let us be on the road to Naperville, IL no later than 5:00 with arrival at the Yellow Box (Community Christian Church) around 9:00'ish.

This week has really flown by.

While there is enough work to be done here that could fill more YSP time that we could ever hope to fill, there's a verse in this morning's song that rings true -
When all the world's "all as it should be" blessed be Your name.
You give and take away
My heart will choose to stay
Lord, blessed be Your name.

Yep - it is a good week.