Week 7
Week Seven
One lesson I have learned during all of this is… if one door is closed, another will be opened! As a close friend frequently reminds me…”You just need to be still”!
Monday started us off with the installation of the heating and air systems. I want to thank Sally Stanfield of Stanfield Air Systems for stepping in for the entire mechanical package…including the installation labor, duct materials, and 2 zone systems. With Sally’s lead, Lennox Industries, Randy Head, supplied the home with both the 2.5 and the 3.5 Lennox 13 SEER heat pump systems. Mingledorff’s, Martin Gregory, also supplied duct materials, copper linesets, grilles and registers. These guys came in and got right down to business, including the ducting of the bath fans and vent hood. Attention to detail was given in every aspect of an amazing product.
Our next accomplishment this week was the crawlspace. I wish all of you would stop by and check it out! Another wonderful phone call from Carol Williams brought her brother up from Cordele, GA. Crawl Space and Basement Solutions, Charles Southerland, sent his electrician the first day to install lights under the house. The next day Charles and his crew came with the vapor barriers. This is a detail that should be required in these days with mold, mildew and allergies in abundance. Check out the photos below! I will be adding this to my next projects.
Porter Insulation and Fireplace, Keith Porter, installed a direct vent gas log unit by Heatilator for our den area. Steve Patterson, you have always been a huge help to me in my past home and renovation projects. I was super excited that you guys were able to supply this for the Christian Home.
Small details at the end of the rough-in are easy to forget but so important to a superior product. Wally Ash of Ash Plumbing heard that Melissa had mentioned an in-house vacuum system and stepped in with less than a 12 hour notice and roughed this in for us. Wally and Gary Waters of the Clean Living Store supplied the materials needed for the job. Jackson EMC Security, Hal Brady came for the rough-in of a security and monitor system. Partner Technology, Chris Cunningham came out for a consultation and supplied the wire for a surround sound system and additional speakers. Jackson EMC’s, Jason Bond and Ken Gordon came back over and helped with these wire runs! Seriously folks, these EMC guys are good, and I have been so blessed to have them right down the road! I would have been in trouble if there were serious power outages in the area!
The metal roofing was a welcome addition this week as this completed our sealing of the structure. Tripp Strickland and Byron Lee of Georgia Metals supplied the material and Tom Fletcher’s crew of Fletcher Roofing, were back for the installation. The metal roofing and the previous Certainteed architectural shingles are perfect together.
This was also the week of the insulation. We….don’t you just love the way I say WE…. have caulked, foamed and sealed just about everything that was attached to the house! As I have mentioned before Rowe Insulating has been working on this part for days to get ready. On Thursday night, the entire Rowe “family”…wives and children…were out sweeping and cleaning to ready for the install the next day! Certainteed, Javier Montalvo, supplied our ENTIRE house of insulation. With right at 200 employees, this is such an impressive Athen’s plant. Keith Porter of Keith Porter Insulation and Fireplace sent his crew to help with the install. Thank you Keith for that much needed help. Jay Tucker a Clarke Co. Fireman, also joined us for the installation. It was a total community effort and job well done, which was proven by passing the first phase of Right Choice Status with the Insulation and Heat and Air contractors this week.
What a special lunch we had on Friday! My Mom, Betty Bell and two of my best friends Barbara McConnell and Pam Huff brought out an early Thanksgiving Feast! Ham, potato salad, peas, biscuits, peach pie…are you getting the picture here? It was just incredible and loved by all. The men said to tell you ladies that Christmas was coming up and you were welcome back any time!
Friday was just a “happening day”…of course almost all days are like that out at the farm…with Channel 5 coming out to visit us. Tacoma Perry did a nice feature that ran Nov. 21st. She was truly amazed by the house and the precious donations given for the Christian Home. Take a look at the Fox 5 site for the clip below:
Of course those Halloran Men were back sacrificing their Friday and Saturday again. Pat Halloran had a special presentation for Melissa this Friday. It was a piece of Jerusalem stone that he had carved a cross with a special verse “Be Still and Know That I Am God” on the front to Melissa. Another special prayer was carved on the back for the children. A special “brick frame” on the front porch will later house this stone for the Christian Family. I will tell you, there were not many dry eyes that afternoon! Such a special and precious touch to an already incredible gift!
On a personal note, I need to thank Grant Tyner of Adam and Eve Hair Salon. He treated me to an afternoon of pampering last Friday. I think he thought that I really needed some help…and bless him…I did! Thank you Grant, you are a precious friend of 27 years, and your gift was perfect!
As Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I have to pause and give thanks for each of you. Without you, this dream would never have happened. This home is a precious design of time, talents and gifts given in the most “sweet of spirits” by a community that cares for our own. As several friends and family gathered to write scripture on the studs before the sheetrock, I added Romans 12:6 for all of you. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” Thank you for sharing yours.
As Melissa reminded us, this 22nd will have been 8 months since Buddy was taken from her. In her post she says that she “could have missed the pain but if she had, would have missed the dance.” She is thankful for the 15 years of the dance.
Many Thanksgiving blessings to you all,
Karen
Karen
Tony Stratton, Ted Richey, Josh Wheless, Josh Callaway, & Matt Hawley
Crawl Space and Basement Solutions - Charles Southerland
Crawlspace with barrier and lights
Keith Porter Insulation and Fireplace -
Steve Patterson checking out the new Heatilator
Wally Ash of Ash Plumbing roughing in the in-house vacuum
Metal Roofing from Georgia Metals installed by Fletcher Roofing
Looking over the pick-up list from Certainteed -
Javier Montalvo, Kevin Rowe, Glenn Baxter, & Wayne Moon
Wayne Moon, Javier Montalvo - Plant Human Resouces Manager, Glenn Baxter - Plant Supervisor,
and Kevin Rowe
The Rowe Insulating "Family" cleaning up for the installation
Melissa talking with Tacoma Perry of Fox 5
Jay Tucker donated a day to help out with the insulation installation! Thank you Jay!
Stanfield Air Systems men finishing up the ducting for the vent hood
David Griffeth of ACCPD and Noble Heroes joins Melissa in showing Tacoma around the house
Pam Huff, My Mom - Betty Bell, and Barbara McConnell with Melissa setting up lunch for the crew
Lunch is served with a plywood table on saw horses!
Pat Halloran of Halloran Masonry presenting Melissa with a hand carved stone for the front brick wall.
The back of the stone with the prayer for the children.
David and Barbara McConnell, Pam and Mitch Huff, & my parents Betty and Simmie Bell
Thank you guys for the delicious lunch!
Keith Porter Insulation and Fireplace of Jefferson installing the Certainteed Insulation
More Insulation in the kids playroom - Mr. Alton Rowe, Kevin Rowe and Jay Tucker
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| Halloran Masonry with a completed front wall |
Halloran Masonry jointing up the new brick
Week 7 Complete
Christian Home - Week 7