Our Very Own Extreme Home Makeover

minus Ty Pennington!

Our next door neighbor's were blessed to have their house remodelled over the past week or so. Last Saturday; January 17, we woke up to find about half a dozen trucks parked in our cul-de-sac. I peeked out my window and saw plumbers' trucks, construction trucks, electricians' trucks. Almost any kind of construction type truck was there.

I heard later, after sending Robin out to "snoop" that our neighbors had "won" a remodel of their lower level. I was thrilled for them to say the least. See, one of their sons has Hunter's Syndrome: his body is missing an essential enzyme that is supposed to breakdown a complex body sugar. Slowly the sugar builds up in his little body and will eventually cause him to be unable to talk, walk, or even hear. There are only about 2000 cases known world-wide and the normal life expectancy is somewhere between 10-14 years. It's been very difficult for them to care for him because as he gets older, it's harder to get him up and down the stairs.

The Water Boyz for Jesus took on this task. Armed with a small amount of money, truckloads of volunteers and donations from local buisnesses and trades people, not only did they remodel their main level; adding in a laundry room with two stacked washer/dryer units, a handicap accessible bathroom, complete with the coolest tub I've ever seen, new carpeting and tile but they redid ALL of the house! There wasn't a room that they didn't work on. New hardwood floors were installed in the upper level, along with carpets in the bedrooms. A local furniture company donated new furniture for all the bedrooms, living room, family room and dining room/kitchen. New tile floors in the bathroom and beautifully refinished cabinets in the kitchen.

Our neighbors are completely overwhelmed with this wonderful blessing. The grins and excitement were wonderful to see on their faces. My neighbor Maureen grabbed my hand and led me through her house, so happy and grateful for all the work that was done for her and her family. She just couldn't stop thanking the volunteers who worked so hard for her and her family; strangers, just because they believed that it was the Lord's work they were doing.

I'm completely humbled by the Water Boyz and their volunteers. Their generosity of spirit is contagious. They were completely inobtrusive. Even though they worked on the house for over a week (my neighbors were sent to a hotel; all expenses paid! so that the volunteers could work late, late, late into the night and early, early, early in the morning) they were always so courteous to the rest of us; checking in with us every so often to make sure they weren't disturbing us etc. In fact, they were sweet enough to give us a gift certificate to a local restaurant for all our "troubles". As if! What troubles? The only "issue" we had was having our driveway blocked a couple of times because of all the volunteers, but seriously, who can get upset when it's for a good cause like this?!

I am thrilled for my neighbors and so thankful an organization like the Water Boyz exists.