Extreme Experience

Each Sunday evening, you will find our DVR set to record one of our family's favorite shows. Our routine is predictable. At the earliest possible opportunity (either late Sunday or Tuesday night), our oldest son will make the popcorn, we'll get comfortable on the couch, and we'll settle in to laugh and cry as the Extreme Makeover Home Edition once again awes some precious family with a home makeover.

I've long dreamed of the Extreme Team coming close enough to our home where we could volunteer, participate, and celebrate! So I was filled with great joy when I learned last week that the team was in our area doing a home for a recent widow and her four children.

It's been incredible to see the countless ways that the community has rallied around this family and this common goal. Our community is family-oriented....tight...close. It just blessed my heart to see all the volunteers who gave of their time and persevered through thunderstorms, hailstorms, and power outages. We learned of the project too late to get in on any kind of volunteering, but we were certainly not too late to participate as spectators!

My mom and I excitedly took our boys out to the project for the big "reveal" yesterday. Shortly after arriving, we were walking alongside the road when we heard several voices shout out, "Ty!" As we looked to our right, there was TY walking across the grounds! He turned around and gave his fans a wave! That was certainly the highlight!

In eager anticipation, we took our place along the road with 15,000 other spectators. And we excitedly waited for that glorious moment when the limo would arrive with its sweet passengers. Finally, after 4 long hours (and one too many "how-much-longer"s from one of the boys) the moment we'd been waiting for arrived. The limo pulled up, and in joyful unison, we all cried out, "Move that Bus!"

I'm so thrilled that we could experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! I can't get this dear family off my mind. I'm so thankful that their needs have been met with far more than they ever dreamed. I'm so thankful that they are being cared for and loved. It reminds me of the love that our gracious heavenly Father has for us. It's so extreme...so above and beyond anything we ever imagined. His grace is amazing.