The Final Push

This is just simply amazing.

Of course, this whole thing was the brain child of Hawkins Construction and if you know anything about them, you know that they have a strong "visionary" streak.

From the start I have always maintained that the most important thing about this week is not the work that is done but the experience that everyone has doing it. I want people to have fun, to feel good about the time and money spent and to leave the experience more fullfilled than when they came.

A renovated home is the side benefit. It is a monstrously significant benefit - but in my mind, secondary to the experience that everyone has in giving to it.

One of the things that has been repeated to me time and time again this week by those who have chipped in time and money is that they just want to do something to help with Annabelle's situation and this is a tangible way they can do it. People have come to the house and thrown all their kind and creative muscle into it.

We had functional kitchen counters before (ugly as they were) but the new kitchen counters spring from a well of love and goodwill expressed through ceramic tiles. The same goes for the floors, the yard and all the work being done. Yes, they are all improvements to the house and Annabelle will most definitely have less stressed out parents and a better environment to live in but more importantly it will be a "house that love built" (or at least a "house that love rescued").

I think we have all been surprised at the scale and scope that the whole project has taken on. When you combine the love-inspired visions of 40+ people, it is not surprising that at this point in the week the whole project is running short on time and money.

As I consider all that has been done, I am faced with the inescapable truth that I will never be able to repay it all. But one thing I can do is support the visions and aspirations of all those who are working to see each of their projects through to completion by Sunday.

So now comes the final push.

If you have time to lend a hand between now and noon on Sunday, please do. The same goes if you have already lent a hand and have time to lend another.

If you are able to pitch in 10-20-50-100 bucks, every little bit helps and will be put to good use. I have no idea how much was raised or spent but it occured to me that the crew has probably done more than $10,000 in renovations already just counting the labor alone. I figure for every dollar givin, there is at least $5 worth of repairs made. If you have already given and can give again - it will be doubly appreciated.

It's not just for the house, or the family, it's for all those who have given so much so far.

So if the spirit prompts, please give - give some of your time if you are able - give some cash if you have the means. Again, it's not just for the house or the family - but as a way of showing support for the teens who dug ditches all day, for the gals who braved fiberglass splinters when insulating the family room, for the poor guys that lugged 2000 lbs of concrete to the curb, for the guy that stays into the evening tiling a friends kitchen when everyone else is ordering a second round at the mexican restaraunt and all the rest who are down there right now - even as I am typing - showing their love for a little girl they haven't even met yet . . .