On Saturday, Alan and Sgt. Feick were looking at a very large, close-to-dead tree next to Dad's house. It has been there as long as I can remember and is huge. The trunk splits at the bottom and creates almost 2 trees. At one point, dad had put a strong cable around the tree to hold it together. It had a new split in it, maybe where lighting had struck. Whatever the case, everyone agreed the tree needed to come down. Alan worked all day with the soldiers, and they were able to finish the new retaining wall.
Sunday evening when our family was back together, Alan was telling me that the tree had to come down. We didn't know who to call or where to start. I decided I would call someone at Se-Ma-No on Monday to try to get an idea of what we could do.
Monday morning as I was getting ready to leave for work, my cell phone rang. I didn't recognize the number, which is pretty normal these days with all of the projects going on around dad's house. I don't know how many soldiers at Ft. Wood have my cell number saved in their Contacts list. I have talked to a carpet layer, a pharmacy about equipment, the care-giver organization, and NUMEROUS friends of dad's. This call was from a one of those good friends. She began, "Rhonda, I hope I have not stuck my nose in where it doesn't belong, but I've done something." She had my attention. "Okayyyy....." I answered.
"Well, I was out at the house this past Saturday, just to see what was going on, and I know they were talking about that tree that had to come down, so I made a couple of phone calls, and I've arranged to have that tree taken down this week."
I didn't know what to say. This was going to be my next prayer... and it was going to go something like this: God, I have a huge tree that has to come down and I do not know what to do or who to call next about this. Please show me what to do.
I didn't have to even ask. He was walking in front of me answering prayers before I ever prayed them. I told this very good friend that she was NOT sticking her nose where it didn't belong. She had just been the answer to my next prayer. Now, you might say you believe in coincidence, but I choose not to.
When I got the call this morning that the tree was on the ground, I asked if it was going to be in the way of the soldiers working this weekend. The answer was "oh yeah. It's everywhere."
Alan left work this morning, unplanned, and worked on clearing away the tree all afternoon. He is spending the night there and will try to finish up as much as he can tomorrow. His support through this has been incredible.
Coincidence might have been that there just happened to be a battalion of soldiers at Ft. Wood willing to give up days off, and take days off, and volunteer their time, labor, and expertise to make this renovation happen.
The day before they began working, I still needed a skid steer. I knew what one looked like, but that was as close as I was to getting one to Dad's house. There were 2 people from the care-giver organization who had come to see dad that afternoon. I went out to meet them. I mentioned that the work began tomorrow, but I still needed a skid steer. The women mentioned that she knew the guy who owned Wildcat Rental in Rogersville, maybe he could help. And he did. He actually LOANED us the skid steer for the entire weekend. We have since given him more business. He is a strong supporter of the military.
Later that afternoon, I was disappointed when I learned that Alan's truck wouldn't pull the skid steer. I mentioned this to someone, and she immediately offered her truck for the weekend. We were set.
Evan's Grocery Store in Richland donated a LOT of food for the soldiers to eat that first weekend they worked.
Someone else said they had a lift-chair they no longer needed that we could just HAVE when I mentioned that I still had to get one. Dad's friends started donating money for the renovation. One friend allowed us to purchase supplies at Mansfield Building Supply on his account. He provided all of the materials for the retaining wall. Mansfield Building Supply also gave us discounts on those materials. Carpet was the only thing I didn't have figured out. I asked Mike (at Mansfield Building Supply) if they did carpet. They did. I looked at some samples and pointed out which would likely match dad's kitchen carpet the best. He said it was too bad I didn't like this tan (as he pointed to it) because he had a whole roll left over from a project. Well, I did like that tan color, and we will replace what's in the kitchen as well.
The soldiers also took it upon themselves to have a raffle for a Wal-Mart gift card in just the right amount to purchase a gun. That will raise more money for the renovations.
Someone came out to the house to look around and handed me money for the expenses. All of this money has been spent on supplies (purchased and rented when possible), fuel for the soldiers (they drive their own vehicles), and food for the soldiers. These guys are AMAZING. One of them thanked me for the opportunity. Words seem small at times like these. "Thank you" seems pretty weak.
Over and over and over again it has happened that someone steps up with, I can do that, I can help with that, I have one of those you can have. You can borrow mine; pick up the phone and let me know what you need. Tell me what I can do to help, and the offers go on and on. It has been an amazing project. I only pray and make phone calls. I do believe in Devine intervention... and in miracles.
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