Tuesday- work day #2

Today, we sent more people over to the Hagnauer's to offer more assistance with childcare and shed/yard clean up. Alllen's and I took measurements for the Hagnauer addition and a new house in Stanton. Several people stayed at the mission to clean. Beth took a small contingent with get to shop for bingo prizes to be used at the bursting home in the afternoon. They also purchased lunch supplies for us to eat at the mission.
   After lunch Ellen took a group to help at the H's. Beth and Kaitlyn took the group to the nursing home. Stu went to finish his railing. Allen and I went with Nick, Jacob, and Michaela to the Hagnauer addition. We did not get add much done add we would have liked. The groups finished at different times and Beth and Kaitlyn had a crew to cook lasagna for supper. Or crew worked late, but we still have more to do.

*Kyle didn't like the shape of the bumper on Brian's van so he modified it with a power pole*

Friday- The long drive home

Thank goodness for an uneventful ride home with limited bathroom stops (there was that one annoying stop at Wal-Mart). I'm still not sure about that one. We brought back one more than we left with as Stuart pulled the luggage home. I've taken a few painless jabs at some of the adults in this blog. But, seriously thank you for a great week. Kudos: to Allen and Stu for pulling trailers and patiently teaching construction skills, to Beth for tireless attention to details and being ”Mama Beth”, to Kaitlyn for loving on the students, to Ellen for being the ”best intern ever” and arranging the nursing home visit, to Brian for driving, ”guiding”, arranging, and connecting with the students, and last but not least to Kyle for being the brunt of jokes (I've never seen anyone jump so high from a horizontal position), but mostly for leading a great meaningful trip!  Students, my rose for the week was getting to spend time with you and serve alongside you!

Wednesday- lexington legends baseball

     It's time for middle of the week relax day! We left the lodge and drove to Booneville. There we met 4 of Paula's youth at the public library. Blue, Roxzann, John, and Johnny seemed a little unsure how to take our group at first. Kyle did a great job leading a brief introduction game. He then ”assigned” a couple of our students to make sure each of or guests felt welcomed and included. No surprise to me those assignments really were not necessary as all of our students worked top include our new friends throughout the day.
    We were hoping to catch the Green Jackets at the Legends game, but that was not the case. We had to settle for the Greensboro Grasshoppers instead. Minor league games are not without their fun fan involvement. Taylor and Anaiya were selected for the frozen t-shirt contest.
     After a brief ”shower” *wink, wink* we decided to go on to the campus of the University of Kentucky. It truly is a beautiful campus and we were given a wonderful ”guided” tour by our own Brian Layman!
     We had the opportunity to catch up on Twitter and Facebook add we waited out a storm in the UK Starbuck's. Apparently, Augusta had gotten hammered a few hours earlier by the same band of showers. Thanks, Forrest and Patrick for the updates of the Colorado River (I mean the Springlakes spillway) and the amphitheater.
     The men all ate supper at #Abuelo's, the mexican food embassy (pretty bold statement, but I think they backed it up). We had great food and great fellowship around the table.

*Kyle did not officially put a driving ban on himself, but he did not get behind the wheel today*

Thursday- final work day

     The teams were divided up old-fashioned schoolyard style for three final push. Allen had a crew to finish the Hagnauer corrections before FBC Jasper came in to finish that house. Stu's crew put the fishing touches on his and Allen's railings. I took Michael Carlson, Parker Wingard, Mary Will Showman, and Caroline Dekle to our 4th house for the week to buy materials and begin work to fix the facia boards on one end of the house.
     There was a babysitting crew,a shopping crew, a mission clean up crew, and a neighborhood crew as well. The construction crews all convened on my house for the afternoon. I must say all the students did a great job all week. Thursday's homeowner blessed the crew with Mountain Dews for everyone! It is always a great feeling to know that we were able to accomplish what we set out for ourselves at the beginning of the week. It was a great week that was dry when we needed it to be. Our work was not hindered at all by the weather. As we were loading the tool trailer on the final day (I am on top of the trailer securing the ladders) the bottom absolutely dropped out. By the time we got the trailer hooked up and I got into the van I looked like I had been swimming in my clothes. A good decision was made to take our #Miguel's pizza back to the lodge.

*the pizza was I've-been-on-the-trail-three-days-and-I'm-tired-of-eating-MREs-good*