Do unto others...

A few weeks ago, we had the amazing opportunity to be part of an upcoming Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project. Part of the Cox family business, Kirby Stone Company, partnered with Acme Brick to donate the stone for the house. The family that was chosen lives in Lancaster, which is south of Dallas, and we went for one of the building days to watch the stone being placed on and in the house. You can read more about the family and their story by clicking here. The husband, part of a SWAT team, was shot in a narcotics raid and was paralyzed and lost his hearing. He is in a wheelchair and has cochlear implants to hear. As usual it was an incredible story and I have thought about them every day since I found out Doug decided to help make it happen. Words cannot describe how we felt just being there while the house was being built. For those who watch the show and wonder how it gets done-just know that it is meticulously planned and really does happen from start to finish in a week. I watch the show all the time and cry like a baby EVERY WEEK! I had tears in my eyes watching the build just thinking about what the episode will be like and knowing that I was there-and I didn't even do anything!!! Well, I did help provide some of the entertainment for the volunteers-Caleb was a big hit as usual and kept everybody smiling! We met some awesome folks from Cousin's BBQ-they are a "family chain" of restaurants and they were catering lunch and dinner for the volunteers that day. They were all so great and the food was incredible-they even sent us home with some to-go boxes! Look them up and go eat there if you are near any locations-there are 2 in the DFW airport. Wonderful food and even better staff! It is truly an amazing ordeal and I know every felt so blessed just to be there and to play a little part in it. I cannot wait to see them move that bus! The new season starts back up towards the end of September, so be on the lookout for this episode!

Here is the front of the house...Kirby Stone looking good!

Here is a close up of some of the work in progress.Assembly line of volunteers passing stone from the pallet to the platform for the guys to chop it and place it on the house.More assembly line...so many wonderful folks volunteering for the cause.Ty!!! We did get to see him in action filming a segment of the show...he's a little dude!And here is what they saw when they moved the bus! Such a gorgeous end to a wonderful week of people helping people! My favorite part about being there was just watching how happy and willing everyone was to be there working in the 100+ degree Texas heat. And one of the homebuilder's main guys took Doug, Bo, and Chris around to see the layout and where all of the stone would be going. He told them that one of the things that Mr. Marshall said(the man whose family they were building the house for) was that he didn't want anyone to feel sorry for him for being disabled. He just wanted to be able to help his wife in the kitchen and put his children to bed at night. HELLO! Tears in my eyes just hearing that and again as I type this. Let's take more time to think about those simple things that most of us take for granted. Slow down, breathe, take more time to help those around you who can't help themselves. Spend time with your loved ones, TELL them you love them, and PRAISE GOD daily for blessing us with all of the wonderful gifts He has given us. And then share those gifts...Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.