Friday, August 12, 2005

Grandma Jan's House

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Grandma Jan's House

We did it!! We built Grandma Jan's house. Mom was always a big supporter of our work here. She loved to hear the stories and see the pictures and she always encourage me to keep do this good work. I remember her telling me she wanted to come one day, but that day never came as her cancer prevented that, but today a house stands in her memory and of her heart for for those in need. This day was for her!!! Love you mom!!!

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All the GIRLS!

It was a beautiful day...and our family worked like a well oiled machine! I think it maybe the best time on Torch house this summer..not that we are keeping score :). But we arrived at 9:15 and the existing house was still standing and the wood was still on the truck and we we were finished at about 2:00..!! We rocked!!!

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Family Y Family


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Out with the old


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house of tin

The family that was chosen to receive Grandma Jan's house is a family of 6. Mom, dad, 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren. The house they had was made completely of scrap tin and was about 8x5 in size, the new house 15x16. They are a sweet family that gets by financially by the mother making tortillas and selling them. The parents are a much older couple and still have alot of responsiblity on them, a house that better suited their needs was an amazing gift!!

This site was a bit easier as it was "down" hill instead of up, so carrying wood was a bit easier. Jenny was our official photographer as she and baby can not do alot of heavy work, but she did swing a hammer a time or two, used a chain saw and passed siding for one of the walls...she has been a trooper with the fatigue she is feeling. So needless to say we have lots of pictures!!

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Jenny moving wood

It really would be hard for me to put into words what this day meant to all of us...we have been waiting all year for this day and building this house and it was all I imagined or dreamed of, watching all of my mom's grandchildren (without little Miles) working together in this house was beyond a joy. I know it would have made my mother so proud.
I could sit and try to write alot of inspiring words but as someone once said "a picture is worth a thousand words" so heres a million! I hope you will see through these photos what a great day we had!!!


Bringing down the wood

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Erin, Chris and Carly tackle a beam!

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Eric


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Ry and JC


Digging Post Holes......

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Carly and Erin digging posts

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Ry on a post

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Chris on a post


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And the walls go up!

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the granddaughters put a wall up together!!!

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Erin became a pro at siding the house!!!!

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Erin Siding

Bringing in the floor....

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ALMOST THERE
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On goes the roof.....

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Mark setting the roof beams

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Setting roof beams

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roofing was not for Erin, but way to go Erin for giving it a shot!!!

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Ry and Chris came over major fear on this roof...are they smiling here???

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Like father like daughter

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Chris.....getting it done!!!

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Carls

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After they kissed solid ground..relief!!!!!

This..That and The Other.....

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Next Year

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A Marine in a Pink Tool Belt????

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Jenny doing her thing!!!!

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Grandkids with the finished house!

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Erin and her girls

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Ry and Chris..SMILE!!!

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Erin doing nails on the mountian

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Eric and Jenny...and baby

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Carly and the boys!!!

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Mom and daughter

2 comments:

Dowie said...

Congratulations on finishing "Grandma Jan's House"! I know it has been a dream for you and am so happy that it turned out as well as you had imagined.

YOU GO, TOOLGIRLS!

The pictures were truly worth a million words. Thanks for sharing so many with us.

It struck me as I looked thru them how strong your family genes must be. Chris looks so much like her mom as do Ry and Erin. WOW!

So glad you could have so many family members there to share in the work that you do there. What a great experience and learning time for the "newbies".

Anonymous said...

I would love to use a couple of your photos on my website. I'm the creator of the Pink Tool Belt and you can see my photo page at www.pinktoolbelts.com/photos.htm

Please let me know if it's OK to use the photos. Thanks!

Kellie
sales@pinktoolbelts.com