That's all the lumber......

I am always curious of my own doings. I sometimes wonder about the opportunities I've missed and the times I've fallen short. I think about how many things I've been blessed with and how many times I've failed to bless others. 

It's kind of ironic to think about these things given the circumstances I'm in but it never ends even in my position there are still things I can do to help others and I will continue to do those things. My attempts to collect lumber for a home have been very limited. I have had lots of offers of help but very little material donated and honestly that doesn't shock me.

I even had a woman of a business tell me that "that was just too much for me to take on"...... it was all I could do not to scream at her and ask her if the accident, hospitalization, divorce, lack of income, no car and no home wasn't too much for me too! Without naming names, I was appalled at her careless concern and lack of respect for me as I was making an attempt to make something happen rather than sit at home and feel sorry for myself. I was very impressed when she shooed me off on a local charity organization as though it was above her to consider that all of us are a community of caregivers that in large and small ways we can be a heart beat to an individual, a family, a school, a church or a whole city! 

As I continue to think about my project and what I'd like to accomplish it makes me think of the song Eli Woods sings called "The lumber song". 

This version of the song found on youtube made me laugh however the story is so real to us who live in this world. We need to find our way to show our care for others and our community. Even as simple as opening a door for someone or letting the person in a hurry go in front of us in line! We can make a difference if we want to, it's the wanting to that seems to leave us behind! I sometimes wonder what I can do to make my kids less selfish, to encourage them to think of others first and to stand out from the average kids. I know that deep down it is me and my responses that will teach them to love others.

When you run around this weekend, take a minute to think about the lumber song and take just one more minute to do something that affects an individual, family, church or community in a positive way!

Perspective

Sometimes in life you gain perspective and other times you lose perspective. Either way that little attribute of understanding or misunderstanding makes a huge difference in your life and the lives of others! It is often times that our perspective is what leads us to judge one another. I can personally attest to the uncomfortable reality of being judged on things seen but not known! And, on the same token I am guilty of the same.

When we see a bum on the street we assume they are a drug addict and that they "put" themselves there. There are times when that really isn't the case! When we see a person wearing great cloths we assume that they are well off and have everything together, most of the time that is unlikely.

Yesterday I went to a lumber store to drop of my material list and realized that the graces of other people make me "look" like nothing is wrong! I pulled up in a 2013 Ford Escape that still has paper tags ( my fathers car), walked in with bright blue hair ( my neices' kindness for getting the dye and the pastors kindness for paying for it) and Miss Me jeans ( my sisters, taken straight from her closet with permission). So in a minute it looks like I have money to do my hair, a new car and expensive jeans, yet I'm saying I have no money and soon no home for my kids to live in, no income to sign for a rental home, and I've even filed for state assistance!

I realized quickly that I was so guilty of making assumptions without knowledge! I have often times assessed a situation but not asked any questions! I have looked at someone and determined their worth by what they wear or how they talk, I have judged parenting skills by how kids behaved without considering the situations that may be present, I have assumed that I knew just from observing and frankly that's not enough.

The real power in perspective comes in knowledge! You don't know if you don't ask!

There is no shame in confirming a story by asking questions or looking things up, there is no shame in approaching a person and asking because by doing so you gain knowledge!!!

Here's the real kicker with knowledge you can then gain wisdom.

When discussing my situation with others I try to always lean towards the positive, I smile a lot ( why not!) and I save my heart wrenching moments for my pillow or my mother! At the end of it all, the one thing I want to make sure of in all my challenges is that I walk away wiser, a better understanding of how to help others and a willingness to challenge my assumptions, ask questions, gain knowledging and in doing so be a wiser person!

So, when you pass somebody today or they ask you for something, don't judge them!

Talk to them, get to know them and by george do something!

Jesus taught the multitudes and FED them! He challenged the disciples and LED them! Paul visited people and then WROTE them! We as a christian people, we can look all day long at a circumstance and wonder why, or even say well that's disappointing but it's not for me to be involved. I've heard some people say life isn't a spectator sport, it's meant to be lived and honestly they're right!

Don't just be a spectator in the game.

We need a home, and momma plans to build it!!!

 Everybody goes through hard times, but we have no intention of letting the hard times hold our family back! In the last 7 months our family has been hit with an unbelievable number of events and the journey is nowhere close to being over, here's a short timeline. . ..

• June 24th A car accident almost claims Elijah's (8 yrs old) life, life flighted from the scene
 • July 23rd Transferred from LSUS to Christus Santa Rosa, San Antonio for rehabilitation (8 hours from home)
 • August 28th We returned home!
 • September 18th Dad leaves
 • September 21st Dad files for Divorce
 • October -- We are seeking options concerning reconstructive surgery for Elijah's Airway ( still needed)
 • November 10th Mom and Dad's last Anniversary, 11 years.
 • November 27th Divorce final, child support ordered.
 • December 8th No more car.
 • December 14th Dad fired. No more support.
 • December 25th Christmas (generous people made this a wonderful holiday) but no Dad
 • December 28th We are told we must vacate our rental home
 • January 30th The day we need a new home.

So what are we going to do now?

We're going to ask for your help!

As a contractor's daughter, mom knows how to build things. This won't be the first time she's put a roof on a house or raised a wall. With her fathers' help and a small piece of his land, she aims to build a house for her boys. A modest home that only totals 768sqft! We're not out to gain a mansion. After all the adjustments we've had to make, we just want a home to call our own!

You can check out our story at
Raising Boys and Life's Joys ( a blog by mom)
If you want to know more about Elijah’s Journey you can go to
Elijah's Journey
If you’d like to follow him on facebook as we continue his journey towards recovery you can follow on at
Elijah Rocks, a public facebook page
 

Will you consider donating any of the needed materials below?
 If so, please feel free to contact us at 903-930-8951 or 903-930-4465
 Via email at colelaurent83 at gmail.com

Don't have any material?
 You can donate towards materials via paypal using the email address gracecovers@hotmail.com

So. . .. . .. . .. Without further delay here's the list.

1. 13 2X10X16 Treated (Floor Joist)
 2. 10 2X10X16 Treated (Floor Band)
 3. 1 4X6X16 Treated Seal
 4. 1 4X6X10 Treated
 5. 24 Sheets ¾" CDX plywood
 6. 24 Sheets ½" BC plywood
 7. 51 2X4X16 plate material
 8. 138 2X4X92 5/8 studs
 9. 13 2X10X16 untreated
 10. 5 2X10X16 floor bands
 11. 26 2X6X10 rafters
 12. 18 4X8X 1/2" OSB sheeting
 13. 45 Sheets 5/8 T111
 14. 7 Squares of Shingles
 15. 2 rolls of #15 felt
 16. 4 1X6X8
 17. 2 1X6X12
 18. 2 1X6X16
 19. 4 Sheets ¼" BC plywood
 20. 1 6X8 exterior Door
 21. 12 windows ( size doesn't matter really, we like to be eclectic)
 22. 1 sliding glass door or double doors (exterior rear)

Additional needs will include
 23. Rolls of insulation
 24. 72 Sheets of sheetrock
 25. 110, 220 wire
 26. Outlets, switches, boxes etc.

We will be diligent to mark off materials as they are donated. I know that is seems ambitious but we have set aside the weekend of January 25th -- 27th to build a house and Lord willing it's gonna happen!!
                            Thank you for making this possible, one piece of wood at a time!
                                                                  Sincerely,
                                                                           Mom,
                                                                               and the Boys
                                                                                        Elijah, Ethan, Josiah & Jeremiah