Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Pt 1

My Extreme Makeover Home Edition...thoughts, joys and late nights...

My mum, aunt Donna, cousin Michelle and roommate Mandy went to volunteer with Extreme Makeover Home Edition last night. I had checked and they seemed to need more volunteers during the night hours, than during the day. Several companies/groups had signed up to work during the day shifts. So my mum, aunt, cousin and I headed to Minnetonka to get involved. I invited Mandy along the way...and she was excited to participate as well. I LOVE the show and was very excited to hear what they were doing for the Swenson/Lee family! I have co-workers who are great friends of the family...and their story is such a heart breaking story. For all the love, compassion and motivation this family has had through such difficult times, they more than deserve a brand new home.

I found out their family was confirmed for the show the end of last week...and sent the info on to some family and friends checking if anyone else wanted to be involved. The family knew they were in the top 5 picked to be apart of the show, but didn't know for sure until the door knock on day 1 and off to Disney World for them!! The second day the Swenson/Lee's items completely packed and stored. Everything else in the home; from the hardwood floors, to the windows, all the way to the TV's, couches and such were donated to local churches, charities and organizations. In came the bulldozers and wrecks to tear that home down! After that the foundation was poured and the framing flew up!

When we were onsite last night the family and roof were complete. In a few short hours not only did the house begin to look like a house - but the home was wired, insulated, sheet rocked, roofed, windows were installed and a deck appeared! Their schedule went something like this: electical 11, insulation 12, roof/windows 1, plastic sheeting over insulation, final touches before sheetrock complete by 3 for the rockers to move in, 5 am siding!! This home is the LARGEST single structure that Extreme Makeover has built for a family...with OVER seven bedrooms (seven on the 3rd floor alone!), 4 bathrooms and a HUGE walk-out basement. This family will truly be blessed! It also will be built in record time...less than 96 hours! This home would usually take over six to nine months to build.

Extreme Makeover does 4....four! homes a month...that means at least one a week...because it usually takes seven days to complete a home. The family of Tom Budzynski of TJB Contractors is the family volunteering their time, services and labour for this project. They were only contacted FOUR weeks ago to get this planned. They came up with the design, time frame and infostructure for this project in a VERY short time.

I'm headed back today and tomorrw...so I'll keep you updated where the progess is at. Lets keep great weather, safety in our prayers...and the Budzynski family who is overseeing all construction and contracting for the home....as well as Swenson/Lee family as they are on a great vacation!

Let me say...if Extreme Home Makeover is coming to your area of the country - get involved! Volunteers are always appreciated and it's such an amazing thing to not only watch the speed and ability of the project, but to know that family who so greatly deserves a new home is being blessed!

If you'd like to see pictures along the way or learn about the Swenson/Lee family - PLEASE read their story - or learn about TJB Homes and the Budzynski family...take a look at the website www.project508.com/!!