This is the house....

Volunteer Up! (Reminder)

2012-02-17T11:07:00.000-08:00

Volunteer Up!

The Hunt Family Habitat House is Online!

To register to volunteer go to: http://www.volunteerup.com/Login.asp?w=i&o=175

Register to create a user name and password to log into the system

(Be sure to mark the "Family Partners and Friends" box)

Our friends and family can put in up to half of our sweat equity hours!

Log in and look at the calendar for "Sign Up" opportunities at 140 N Channing

Select the Shift on the day you want to volunteer

It will be under the "Family Partners and Friends" choice

Come and join us!

Moving Forward

2012-02-11T17:50:00.009-08:00

Today 2/11 and last Saturday 2/4 were both very productive days, and our project is moving forward. We have been really blessed by the great people that have come out each week, including a team from Concordia University and the group today from Christ Community Church. In addition to these teams, there has been a flood of highly skilled individuals coming out on both Wednesdays and Saturdays. The average on Wednesdays has been remarkable, with up to 12 skilled men on any given day.

Two weeks ago we did not even have a 2nd floor, and as of today there is both a brand new 1st and 2nd floor, all of the framing for walls on both stories, two sets of stairs, quite a bit of plumbing, as well as a stand-up tub and shower, and some of the heating ducts! Today, we cleaned the job site after the work on Wednesday and brought in a delivery of dry wall and wood beams. We began the framing around the heating ducts and also removed the false ceiling from the addition that will eventually be removed. A dedicated few shoveled heavy loads of dirt from one place in the basement to another, to fill in an area that will be sealed off.

As we move forward it is truly exciting to see the total scope of this project, and all that we are being offered through this process. It is really hard for me to even say in words how much it means to me personally, how much it means to us as a family. Chris and I truly appreciate each and every person involved in moving this project forward. We are a day closer to completion each day we work together. In doing so you are moving us forward also, as we are that much closer to our dream of owning our own home.

Busy Building Day

2012-01-28T15:23:00.000-08:00

Today when I entered our future house there was a very experienced team already working to build the support beams for the flooring that will be laid for the second story. Although there was a little less for me to do, I tried to keep busy doing what I could. The carpentry work required skills that I do not have, and the team had quite a rhythm going. I was able to run to get some joist brackets from Menards, and worked to keep the build area clean. It was rewarding when one of the men thanked me for cleaning, saying that it was an important role that made the site easier to navigate. Dad worked today as well, he was busy on the 2nd floor helping to get the beams into place. Here are some pictures of the work that was accomplished. By next week the 2nd floor plywood flooring should be completely laid out.

Dan builds the landing for our stairs going to the 2nd floor.

The support beams for the 2nd floor...

Framing on the 1st floor with flooring laid on top.

The front hallway...

Support beams for the floor.

The main floor of the house, front to back.

Great Morning

2012-01-25T11:38:00.000-08:00

When I knew that my friend Phyllis from Vineyard was coming out to the house today, I got excited and decided to join her for a great morning together. Her husband, Dan, had the day off and came out too. It was great to be together with them and the regular Wednesday crew, they accomplished a lot in just the morning. Thanks Mom for hanging out with the kids for the morning! :)

The house now has no second floor, but not for long! The plan for the afternoon was to start rebuilding it on top of the framing that is already in place on the main floor. Phyllis and I tore off siding from what will become a back porch area, hauled things to the dumpster, and did lots of sweeping!

I also had the opportunity to meet a woman named Amy who coordinates volunteers at her church Trinity Lutheran of Roselle. They hope to encourage more of their members to volunteer to work at Habitat sites in the area. It was great to be able to touch base with her this morning, and encourage her interest in having the church come out.

Here are some pictures from the morning:

A full dumpster gets picked up...

Cutting out the old beams, 2nd floor...

No 2nd floor!

In a Day

2012-01-21T19:59:00.001-08:00

No floor last week...

They say that Rome was not built in a day, and this is certainly very true. Our house will not be finished in a day either, but it is amazing to see what can be accomplished in just one day.

Last week, when I left the house there was no flooring throughout the entire first floor. Today, upon returning the entire first floor was built!

By the time Chris left today, there were framed walls for our hall entrance-way, basement stairway, and den! The team today was really working hard, and included regular volunteers as well as a great group of students from Northwestern.

If you are interested in getting in on the action, sign up today! There is always work to be done, and even though I am not skilled I was busy almost every minute.

New flooring this week!

Framing our entrance-way!

Day Two!

2012-01-16T09:41:00.001-08:00

Day One...cold and snowy!

The first floor getting torn out...

The basement looking through the flooring.

Wow...no more floor!

Day One!

2012-01-16T09:18:00.000-08:00

Day One...warm and sunny!

A new roof!

Cutting out walls!

Down comes the wall making room for a future side porch.

Lunch Anyone? :)

New Year

2012-01-06T20:06:00.000-08:00

As our family enters into 2012 we realize that this will be a year full of many adventures and challenges. Our house has officially been added to the volunteer calendar, and we start working tomorrow. We are walking very humbly in this process, because we know that God is blessing us with an amazing opportunity.

When visiting another Habitat home in Elgin I learned that a volunteer had taken on the project of refinishing the original handrail going from the first to the second floor. This labor of love literally involved striping layers of paint off the large piece and recreating the missing pieces to complete the railing. I was moved to tears to think of the heart that went into this home, and now our home will be filled with love even before we move in.

Chris and I have lived in a spacious and gracious 1920's apartment, and in the basement of our friend's warm home (that was once a barn), and now we reside at my parent's handsome colonial home. In all these places we have found home, in each other and with our four wonderful children. That being said, owning a home represents something to a family and we are very ready to make a home together in the very near future.

In God's faithfulness to both of us, in our marriage, in our financial journey, and in the gift of our children there are so many stories or testimonies. Every story points back to God and how good He is. Through trial and through blessing He is our heavenly Father who loves us. He loves us so much that he gave us love through His only son Jesus.

Every volunteer that steps foot in our home and the other Habitat homes all over our Nation and world are a reflection of this love. For this gift, and the work ahead of us in this New Year we are extremely grateful.

1 John 4:7-12

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

Volunteer Up!

2011-12-31T15:14:00.000-08:00

The Hunt Family Habitat House is Online!

To register to volunteer go to: http://www.volunteerup.com/Login.asp?w=i&o=175

Register to create a user name and password to log into the system

(Be sure to mark the "Family Partners and Friends" box)

Our friends and family can put in up to half of our sweat equity hours!

Log in and look at the calendar for "Sign Up" opportunities at 140 N Channing

Select the Shift on the day you want to volunteer

It will be under the "Family Partners and Friends" choice

Come and join us!

A Look Inside

2011-11-02T10:43:00.001-07:00

The gutted inside...

A covered window...
2nd floor gutted...

A Look Underneath

2011-11-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

Hidden Potential...

A look underneath...

The siding comes off...

The Great Unveiling

2011-10-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

Good news! On Saturday, October 29th there will be a "Great Unveiling" ceremony at our house site. Elgin city officials, Gifford Park historical society members, employees of Omron, the corporate sponsor, and our family will all be present. A small portion of the particularly ugly white vinyl siding will be removed to reveal the original wood exterior.

The work will continue after the ceremony, the goal being the complete removal of the vinyl siding. This process, along with a planned new roof done by a contractor feels like a real breakthrough. After watching, waiting, and praying, it seems that the work is really getting started! Initially, there will be more done by professionals, with volunteers coming on site in December at the earliest. Friends and family are welcome to come the the unveiling, the ceremony with be in the morning but the time has yet to be determined.

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

Dreams and Visions...

2011-08-31T10:24:00.001-07:00

The plans are being made right now for changes that will take place both inside and outside of our future home. My husband and I along with our children are very excited as we all have dreams and visions for what home will be like. My mind loves to think of interior colors and decorating options, while my husband talks about a place where he looks forward to being for quite some time. My oldest son wants a blue room, while the girls argue whether the room they might share will be pink or purple. And my middle son just wants to be sure his most precious possessions (his Cars bed and stuffed animals) will be there waiting for him when we move in.

It is very exciting to have these dreams and visions for a season, but we are more ready than ever for our season of waiting to come to and end. Making plans into a reality is where we all really want to be, waiting is usually not our first choice. We trust that this is still a good season, and that once we are working away on the house that time will fly along faster than ever. We would hat to rush through, and miss something that God is doing in our lives while we do wait.

We know that the plans will ultimately work together for our good, as God has promised in His word. We pray our faith would grow through the seasons, spring...summer...fall...and winter. We also know that in the end it will be worth the wait.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Amazing Trasformation

2011-06-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

We had a chance to look at some of the plans for the house this past Saturday, and we were so excited for the amazing transformation that it will go through in the next year. The house we see now will no longer be there, as the changes that are planned for both the outside and inside are truly incredible!

To turn such an ugly house into something great is quite a process, an amazing transformation like this will take time. The pictures here show the house we have accepted as it is today, and a house in the neighborhood being used as a model for the reconstruction. Everything that is done will be historically accurate, and much will be added in order to do this. A small front "porch" or stoop with a roof will be added, the roof will be removed and a peaked roof with gables added, a bad addition will be taken off, giving the house a new and more interesting shape, and a side porch in the front and back will also be added!

Not to mention everything on the inside will be redone, electrical, heating, and plumbing are all getting torn out and replaced. The work on the roof, and these inside components will all be done by contractors. Volunteers including us will not be able to get onsite until mid August at the earliest. Once it is completely gutted, we will get a chance to look at more specific plans for the rooms on both floors.

This amazing transformation will allow us to walk into a beautifully restored home, with every part of it new and functional. This is not unlike Gods work in us, taking the ugly, unusable things and making them not only usable but beautiful. For this work in our future home, and more importantly in us we are truly thankful to God.

"And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

2 Corinthians 3:18

Hurry Up...and...Wait

2011-06-09T12:00:00.001-07:00

Sometimes Chris and I joke about how we get the kids moving telling them to "hurry up" only to make them wait once they are ready. Do you remember being at a big fun party with friends or family and having this happen to you? Your parents are riding you to get ready to go, only to leave you waiting in your warm coat at the door?

After an exciting season of activity with Habitat we find ourselves waiting now, and I feel a little like a kid getting too hot in a coat waiting by the door to go. A bit anxious...'

Don't get me wrong I know that we are so blessed and I am thankful for all that God is doing in all the areas of my life. I think I was just excited to see the house get transformed, and so waiting on this process as left me feeling the way I do. When driving past it yesterday it felt a bit surreal, the idea of ever living in THAT house seemed very far off.

We know that there will be some work done by contractors in June and July. By mid August the partnership with Omron should be in full swing, as they supply volunteers on a more regular basis. This is a big cooperate partnership, and so that is an exciting prospect in the future. As I understand it, Omron is supplying finances and volunteers for our Habitat house project. The total project time start to finish should be about 1 year from when we walked through the house, so if all goes according to the plan we should be moving in by this time next year.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-8

GUT IT OUT

2011-05-11T17:31:00.000-07:00

With two 30 foot dumpsters just outside, a team of dedicated people officially kicked off the work at the house today. Although we will not have a mortgage on the house until we move in, it will be ours when it is finished. We signed and mailed the paperwork accepting this home, and that makes it official. So, when we went by OUR HOUSE today we saw all kinds of junk being dumped out of it from the 2nd floor window!

Sometimes in life we have to "gut it out" when going through a difficult season or trial. A dry time in our marriage, with a child in a challenging stage of development, or even through a work-out we know our out-of-shape body desperately needs. God uses these things to make us into the people he desires us to be, and "gutting it out" is often the best thing to do. So, today our house is getting gutted out so that it can be the best house for us in the future. It looks painful, as walls and all the rest get taken out but it is necessary.

It is exciting to think of all the possibilities once the space is opened up. Now that we have accepted the property, we will have a pre-construction meeting with the project manager. This will be our opportunity to discuss the possible layout of the house, including the number of rooms and their dimensions. This vision, as well as the removal of the ugly vinyl siding should really give us a taste of the potential that is in what is now our future home.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

- Hebrews 12:11

The Foundation

2011-05-08T19:03:00.000-07:00

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock."

Matthew 7:24-25

A Diamond in the Rough

2011-05-08T18:10:00.000-07:00

When I say, "diamond" I think there truly is one buried under all that ugly in the picture you see below. It is covered up by all that "rough" covering! This house is in a historical district on the east side of Elgin. If we sign the paper work with Habitat this week, it will be our future home. We are family partners with the local Habitat for Humanity chapter and this is the house they plan to rehab.

What will change? Everything! This 1890's house has lost most of its once great character, and will be completely gutted and redone in every way possible. Even the ugly bushes are doomed! The outside structure will be changed back to the original "footprint," a side porch added, a new roof put on, and so on. The inside will be totally gutted, and new everything will go in. Electrical, plumbing, walls, you name it.

The process will take 10-12 months, hours and hours of work, and our own sweat equity. Work days will be Wednesdays and Saturdays. We will be alerting all our friends and family as soon as we know more about the volunteer opportunities. Of the 500 hours Chris and I are required to contribute on site, 250 of these can be done by our friends and family. That's where you come in!