No Work At Tish's For A Couple of Weeks

Today, volunteers came out to paint inside the house and lay tile in the kitchen.  The lunch was provided by Mary Bordwine & the Washington County Technical School.  Thanks so much for helping!  I will have some pictures to share by Monday that Dianne Mason took today.

Bob and I were unable to be there today because we are so involved in helping get Turner Leasing Company (Storage To Go) back up and running after the tornado slammed into Glade Spring on Thursday morning.  (The business is located adjacent to the Petro truck stop.)  Please continue to pray for God's mercy & grace for the people whose homes and lives have been torn apart from this disaster. 

Bob, Tish and I have agreed that we need to hold off from working on her house for a couple of weeks.  Bob and I have to devote all our time and energy in the rebuilding of Turner Leasing Company.  Tish still needs time to grieve and be with her two girls more, as well as, help her mom and (step) dad with damages to their home.  Therefore,

No work on The Jackson Build until further notice!~~probably a couple of weeks~~

  If someone wants to oversee the project while Bob is away from it, please let us know. 

If you have some time, please help Tish's parents, Karen & Mike Hilt, at their home.  The tornado took down two of their barns and ripped the roof of their house up.  I have not been out there, but Tish says it is very bad.  Mike is unable to do much repair on their farm or house since he is going through chemotherapy now for his cancer.  Their farm is just before you get to Tish's house--it's called Big Horn Acres.  Look for the directions to the Jackson Build in this blog and see the reference for Big Horn Acres location.

If you cannot help there, then come to Glade Spring!  There are SO MANY families that need helping hands to help clear out debris.  You will need to go to Emory & Henry College's King Center to get a vehicle pass.  Also, you can get a free tetanus shot at the Glade Spring Middle School as a preventive measure.

Let the peace of God rule in your heart and refuse to worry about anything.  (Read Colossians 3:15)

Back on Track for Saturday

We will be back on the jobsite tomorrow at 9 a.m. for Tish's house.  So come on out and let's get some things done.  There's painting to be done, Hardie board and tile need to be laid, and cleanup is always on the list!  Praise the Lord!  Tish's house was not touched by the storms :-)

Many of you know that our business in Glade Spring was hit by a tornado early Thursday morning. Turner Leasing Company & Storage To Go staff is working hard to get things cleaned up so rebuilding can get started. Thanks for your calls, visits & prayers.

If you came out to Tish's house yesterday, I am sorry that you weren't notified in time.  The cellular tower in Glade Spring was damaged, so phone service was limited.

Please pray for God's peace for the Glade Spring residents and their extended families who have been affected by this disaster, especially the ones with family members who were killed or hurt.

Work Day Canceled Today, Thursday, April 28

Hello, All,

We pray everyone is okay after the devastating storms last night.

All roads out from where we live are blocked by downed trees & power lines.

We will not be working on Tish’s house today, Thursday, April 28.

Please pray for all the families that were hit by these storms. 

Bob & Melissa

The Drywall's Finished - Ready for Painting!



Marty finishing the drywall

 Thanks to Marty & Tom for all their hard work this past week!
If you are interested in helping this week, we will be working on Tuesday, April 26; Thursday, April 28; and Saturday, April 30 from 9 a.m. until around 5 p.m.  Hope to see you at Tish's on the Garden Path.  Our next projects will be putting up the hardy boards, trimming the windows and doors, and start painting walls.

Tom finishing the drywall

The Master Bedroom

The Great Room

Where & What To Send As A Donation

Donations can be made to: The Church In Abingdon—Mission Fund; c/o Melissa Turner; P O Box 1108; Glade Spring, VA  24340.  Please write ‘Jackson Family’ in the memo.  The Church In Abingdon is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization, Federal Tax ID#30-0179378.

Other forms of help:  Gas Card for Tish, just cash for her family's living expenses (Brandon was the only one with income.), Wal-Mart gift card for food, etc., or Lowe's Gift Cards for Tish to purchase building materials, etc.  These can be mailed to me at the above address or to Tish Jackson at:
21100 Garden Path Drive, Abingdon, VA  24210

WORK DAY TODAY IS CANCELED!

Hello, Everyone,

Although right now the sun is half-way peeking out in Glade Spring, it has rained mostly all night from Bristol to Glade Spring.

The ground will be a muddy mess at Tish’s house;  therefore,

WORK DAY TODAY IS CANCELED!

Thank you to each and everyone for your serving hearts.  Please do not let this discourage you from planning to come out again to help.  We will be back on the Garden Path at Tish’s  on Tuesday, April 26^th.

Have a wonderful week and glorious Easter!

Melissa & Bob

Special Notice Regarding Tomorrow's Work Day!!!!!!

Greetings,

We are posting this extra announcement to let everyone know that if it’s raining tomorrow morning by 8 a.m. (Saturday, April 16^th),  the work day for The Jackson Build will be canceled.

Also, the upcoming work-week (April 19, 21 & 23), is canceled.  The drywall finishers are working inside for the next week and we need to be out of their way.  (April the 23^rd is on Easter weekend and we don’t need to be working then, anyway.)

We hope everyone will not be upset with this decision.  Thank you for understanding J

Blessings,

Bob & Melissa

PS Have a wonderful Easter celebration!

God's Blessings At Tish's Home Today

We had about the same number of volunteers today as we had yesterday...maybe a few more people came...it's hard to count heads when everyone is 'busy as a bee' going here & there and in & out of the house.  All the sheet rock has been hung now; the taping and mudding began yesterday afternoon and continued this afternoon.  By Tuesday or Thursday the walls may be ready for painting. God has blessed Tish with hard workers, safe work and good spirits from all the volunteers. 

 

Bob Turner with the lift-jax folded up.



We want to thank Bristol Rent-All, Inc. for the use of their lift-jax to hang the sheet rock on the ceiling:  It saved many backs from hurting and made work easier.  Here's their info: 140 Commerce Court, Bristol, VA 24202, Phone:  (276) 669-3401.  They are located right off Exit 7 of I-81. 

Everyone's spirits have just been so great since the very first day.  It's hard to believe that in just six work-days that all the sheet rock has been hung & two porches have almost been built.  God has been there always, giving everyone stamina, love and encouragement.

Churches represented today were Central Presbyterian of Bristol, Highlands Fellowship of Abingdon and The Church in Abingdon of Abingdon--of course!  You don't have to be a member of a church to help us; you just need a servant's heart to want to help.



Habitat for Humanity t-shirt day!  2008, 2009 & 2010





 



Pastor David of Central Presbyterian is one hard

worker at sheet rock hanging in the master bath.



Tish works on waterproofing the foundation.

 
 

Marty of Providence Community
is doing prep work before he
begins taping.  How about
those stilts!



The two Ralph's
Ralph Rose (Left) and Ralph Whisenhut (Right)
Ralph Whisenhut wore his Habitat for Humanity t-shirt, too!



Terry of Central Presbyterian hands off
a piece of sheet rock.



Tish with a long-time friend, Ginger (my daughter).

The older you get, the more you realize that kindness is synonymous with happiness.  ~~Lionel Barrymore

 

You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in Your providence watched over my spirit.  ~~Job 10:12 NIV

 

The Lord is Good All the Time!



Saturday, April 16, is the next work day.  Most work will have to be done outside since the sheet rock finishers will still be 'doing their thing.'  It'll be a great day to finish the insulation underneath the house and for building a deck with a view.   Thanks for serving!

Home, Home on the Range!

Blue skies, green pastures, frolicking horses, and a long-horn cow are some of the sights that were at 21100 Garden Path today.

Tish's House

(I was unable to be at the job site Tuesday, so there are no pictures of the work done.)  Yesterday, there was a group from Highlands Fellowship Church in Abingdon that started building the front porch but were stopped by the weather.  www.highlandsfellowship.com  Also, a group of people from Central Presbyterian Church in Bristol came to help hang sheet rock--even the pastor was there to help.  (Central builds at least one Habitat for Humanity house a year; this year they will be doing two.)  http://www.cpcbristol.org/   The lunch was provided by my very good friend, Vicki Sprouse of Wytheville.  I was told that the meal was absolutely wonderful, and I am sorry that I missed it!  Thanks, Vicki!

Since we normally aren't working on Wednesdays, today was an extra day of work so the sheet rock finishers could get started.  Central Presbyterian was back, as well as, some Highlanders, all working on hanging sheet rock.  Also, Providence Community Church in Abingdon had two sheet rock finishers come out this afternoon.  Here's Providence's address & phone number for your information:

19175 Woodland Hills Road
Abingdon, VA 24210
(276) 628-4280

And as always, we have Church In Abingdon's Associate Pastor, George Pope, on the scene, usually assisting Bob (the Builder) Turner.

Bill Lamie of Central worked on hanging the sheet rock.

 

Hugh Wise of Central measuring for a piece of sheet rock.





Tom Hayden of Providence with Ted Summitt of Highlands Fellowship



George Pope, Ted Summitt & Bob Turner hanging sheet rock. 

It was a very productive day today.  Most of the sheet rock has been hung.  The sheet rock finishers hope to be finished by Tuesday or Thursday.  Painting can begin, hopefully, by next Saturday, April 23rd.  If you are a painter and want to help paint, please email me at ItsMelissaT@aol.com or call me at 276-356-5092.  Other jobs are open for volunteers, such as, daily cleanup of the area and preparing Tuesday or Thursday lunches.  There are porches & decks left to build.  So, if you've got a day or a couple of hours come on out and help us help someone in need.  The directions to the house are posted in a separate post all by itself!

 

Also, if you are wanting to help fund this project by another form of donation other than to The Church In Abingdon's Mission Fund, a gift card from Lowe's can be sent to Tish through me.  My address:  Melissa Turner, PO Box 1108, Glade Spring, VA  24340.  I will make sure that only she receives it, and you can be assured that she will only use it for the building of the house.

 

As always, your prayers are gratefully appreciated.  Thanks for your interest.  Hope to see you on the Garden Path at Tish's.

 

 



Directions to The Jackson Build

Directions to Tish Jackson’s house—The Jackson Build

Ø  From Exit 17, I-81, in Abingdon, go south on Cummings Street/Green Springs Road/Hwy. 75-S toward South Holston Lake.

Ø  Go 3.3 miles and turn left on Parks Mill Road/Co. Rd. 672.

Ø  Go 1.3 miles and turn left on Browning Road/Co. Rd. 676.

Ø  Go 1 mile and pass by Big Horn Acres Farm on the right (see their sign).

Ø  Go ½ mile (still on Browning Road/Co. Rd. 676) to cul-de-sac.

Ø  Turn right at cul-de-sac, crossing cattle guard—this is Garden Path Drive.

Ø  Go 3/10 mile on Garden Path Drive. 

Ø  (Road curves to the right and goes up a hill until you reach another cattle guard.

Ø  Go across cattle guard to arrive at the Jackson’s @ 21100 Garden Path Drive, Abingdon, VA.  Their house has taupe-colored siding and is one-level. 

Here is a link to the MapQuest directions (Cltrl Key + Click Mouse to go there!):

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Long+John+Silver's,+Cummings+Street,+Abingdon,+VA&daddr=Garden+Path,+Abingdon,+VA&hl=en&geocode=FWr4LwIdGCwd-yHeGGGs39BCGylPIQptRxNQiDFTnRPGZG-xGw%3BFX0-LwIdArAd-ykrHFfPb2tQiDHxoH2sXbb4Kw&mra=ls&sll=36.674477,-81.957321&sspn=0.060579,0.1684&ie=UTF8&ll=36.672274,-81.958523&spn=0.060581,0.1684&z=13

Saturday, April 9: Insulation, Sheet Rock, Sunshine & Lots of Volunteers :)

Wow!  God sent lots of volunteers today--at least twenty-four by my count!  I was not able to help today, but I did drive over to take a few pictures before the lunch break.

Here's most of the volunteers.  Some of the insulation workers were still under the house when I took this picture.

Here are some more volunteers, The Stams, or part of the Stam family.  I understand there is a dozen of them--Wow!  I love to see the little ones come to help.  Thanks for making it a Family Affair!

Here is some of the volunteers hanging sheet rock.  This is a hard job and takes some strong backs.  Thanks goes out to Wayne Atkins who is a skilled sheet rock installer (? don't know the correct term for this occupation?).  He came out to supervise only, or that's what  I thought, as he is handicapped in multiple ways.  When I asked him if he had been helping with hanging, he shyly said, "Well, it's hard not to help."  Thanks, Wayne.  I hope you recuperate from the hard work!

Below, is some of the group from Highlands Fellowship Church that came today.  It appears that Anna is saving Darren from Greg--they've been hanging too much sheet rock today!  Break time!

The ladies pictured below brought lunch and are from God's Helping Hands, a non-profit organization serving the Lord through helping the hurting and the needy.  They have non-denominational men's & women's Bible study groups that meet every Monday night at 7 p.m.  Their location & phone is:

15610 Porterfield Highway
Abingdon, VA 24210
(276) 206-8328

God's Helping Hands has offered to prepare all Saturday lunches. 
Thanks for all the food, GHH!

I apologize for not getting any pictures from the crawl space of the house where a group was installing insulation.  I did not realize they were under there until the dinner bell rang.

On Tuesday, we will have the Central Carpenters for Christ, which is a group from Central Presbyterian Church in Bristol.  They will be working on mudding the sheet rock.  

If anyone else is planning on coming out, please let me know what you plan to work on so I can keep everyone informed.

Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed. 

~~Proverbs 16:3

Deck Party! Today at Garden Path!

What a wonderful spring day today!  Much was accomplished today at Garden Path Drive for the Jackson family.  To the right is a picture of most of the group today.  

While Bob added some temporary electrical outlets for outside, Larry, Ted & Tish began digging post holes for the first deck which allows entry into the mudroom--later Randy (Debbie Jackson's nephew) came to help.  They worked very hard on those holes.  Here's the progress of the deck.

The picture to the left shows Randy and Tish shoveling the mud taken out of the holes into the wheelbarrow, while Ted uses the post hole digger and Larry taps the mud to loosen it up for Ted.  They dug three holes!

Larry & Ted 'get their nails done' to the deck frame while Bob observes.

Bob, Larry & Ted built the deck and the steps today, with me assisting.  Way to go, Guys!  (I think Larry is ready to drill Ted!)

Meanwhile, back inside the house all this time...the other group

was installing insulation in the ceiling of the Great Room.  

Ralph, George and Don have to work high on the ladders and with scaffolding to install the insulation. 

Brandon's mom, Debbie Jackson, came out for the first time today.  She prepared a lunch for us of pork loin on buns, baked beans and brownies.  It was a tummy-pleasing menu for us hungry volunteers.  Later, she helped Tish and Randy with some prep work around the exterior of the house.

(It has been noted by this photographer today that Tish Reynolds Jackson is one hard-working woman!  She gives it her all and she knows how to do so much!  She told me today that Brandon had been teaching her how to do all the construction skills that he knew.)  Thanks, Brandon, we love and miss you!

 Tish's friend, Tiffany, came to help Tish waterproof the cinder block.

 

Here's Smiling Arlie :) 

He brought by some equipment for us to use.

Arlie will be helping us some later.

 Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds.  ~~Hebrews 10:24 (NRSV)

Doorknobs, Stairways & Snow!!!!

Today was a typical early spring day here in Southwest Virginia--rain, then snow, then wind, and then sunshine with clouds, and finally more snow.  Just when you think that Ole Man Winter has left this area, he comes back to show himself one more time!  Away with you!  We like pretty yellow flowers and warm sunshine instead.

We just ignored the weather and worked inside.  Actually, we needed to get some things done inside anyway to get ready for the hanging of sheet rock on Saturday. 

To the right, is a picture of part of the group this morning.  There were three others that came after this picture was taken.  Our first group! 

We had a good day today--door knobs were installed, an attic stairway was installed, and general setup and cleanup of the inside area was done.  A good time was had by all!

  

Below, are volunteers working on the attic stairway. 

Our lunch was provided by Teri Jernigan and  Karen Hilt today.  We had ham with homemade rolls and chicken with rice soup.  Yummy!  Thanks!

Teri said to me (Melissa) this morning when I asked her to bring the food later, "I love it! The women folk will bring food later.  It's like an old fashioned barn-raising where neighbors actually used to help each other out!"  And that's what we're doing!

Here's Ralph Whisenhut, installing one of the doorknobs.  Ralph came all the way from Lebanon, Virginia, to help out. 

This is in my devotional from The Upper Room for tomorrow and I felt it was appropriate to use today:

Paul wrote, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" 

~~Acts 20:35 (NIV)

Tuesday, April 5 - Organization! Organization! Organization!

Well, we've had miscommunication between spouses--have you ever heard of such a thing?

The building materials for the decks & porches will not be delivered until sometime this afternoon, not by noon today, as I posted on Sunday. So, if you were planning to help build  a deck, wait until Thursday.  The crew is 'setting up shop' today--going after equipment, prepping for the decks, and maybe digging some ditches around the exterior of the house (muddy today!).  Come on out, if you want, but plan on Thursday and Saturday for a better time to help this week.  Thanks!

The View Will Be Awesome from the Deck

Wow!  We needed that spring day today here in Southwest Virginia. 

Yesterday, Bob got the material list worked up & I added everything up for costs, so off to Lowe's he went to place the order this afternoon.  The materials for the porches & decks will arrive by noon on Tuesday. 

We will begin work by 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning.  There's plenty of prep-work, clean up, and organizing to be done.  Please wear work clothes.  Bring gloves if you have them.  So, come on out at 9 a.m.  There have been 32 people who have shown interest in helping in some way!  Come for as long or as short a time as you can contribute, but...

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF AND WHEN YOU ARE COMING SO WE WILL KNOW HOW MUCH FOOD TO PREPARE!!!!!  Call Melissa at 276-356-5092 or email me at ItsMelissaT@aol.com.

Directions to Tish's house—The Jackson Build

Ø  From Exit 17, I-81, go south on Cummings Street/Green Springs Road/Hwy. 75-S toward South Holston Lake.

Ø  Go 3.3 miles and turn left on Parks Mill Road/Co. Rd. 672.

Ø  Go 1.3 miles and turn left on Browning Road/Co. Rd. 676.

Ø  Go 1 mile and pass by Big Horn Acres Farm on the right (see their sign).

Ø  Go ½ mile (still on Browning Road) to cul-de-sac.

Ø  Turn right at cul-de-sac, crossing cattle guard—this is Garden Path Drive.

Ø  Go 3/10 mile on Garden Path Drive. 

Ø  (Road curves to the right and goes up a hill until you reach another cattle guard.

Ø  Go across cattle guard to arrive at the Jackson’s @ 21100 Garden Path Drive, Abingdon, VA.  Their house has taupe-colored siding and is one-level. 

Here is a link to the MapQuest directions.  (Hope it works!): 

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Long+John+Silver's,+Cummings+Street,+Abingdon,+VA&daddr=Garden+Path,+Abingdon,+VA&hl=en&geocode=FWr4LwIdGCwd-yHeGGGs39BCGylPIQptRxNQiDFTnRPGZG-xGw%3BFX0-LwIdArAd-ykrHFfPb2tQiDHxoH2sXbb4Kw&mra=ls&sll=36.674477,-81.957321&sspn=0.060579,0.1684&ie=UTF8&ll=36.672274,-81.958523&spn=0.060581,0.1684&z=13

I am excited to see what the Lord has for us to get done this week!  See you at the house on Tuesday.

Delight yourself in the Lord. ~~Psalms 34:4

On for Tuesday, April 5, Working 9 to 5 (what a way to make a livin') !!

The house is about 50% finished.  It is enclosed with electrical, plumbing & HVAC mostly completed.
Today the remaining siding is being put up and maybe a start on the sheetrock, all being done by another group.
We plan to start on the porches & the decks first so we can enter & exit the house more easily.
No skills needed!  So, come as you are and thanks so much for stepping up to help.
Lunch & snacks are provided. 
We have had several people respond to our plea for help in these past 12 hours--God is Great!
We will send out a map & directions on Sunday. 

The Blog Begins

This blog will be a communication link for people to check on the progress of the building of the Jackson's house. 

The sudden death of Brandon Jackson on March 24, 2011, has struck many of us hard.  http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tricities/obituary.aspx?n=brandon-jackson&pid=149655853   God is now giving all of us an opportunity to step up and help his widow, Tish, and their two precious girls, Cassidie & Ella.  They need our assistance in finishing their home that they were building in their spare time. 

Many of you know the story of this family’s struggles, but some of you don’t.  Cassidie spent most of her first six years of life at St. Jude’s Hospital, fighting leukemia.  She received life-saving bone marrow from her sister, Ella, when Ella was old enough to go through the procedure.  Brandon’s father died two years ago, which has left a void in their family’s life, as well.  Then November 2009, Brandon & Tish lost their original home to a fire.  We have just learned that Tish’s (step) dad, Mike Hilt, has inoperable lung cancer and currently has pneumonia.  And now Brandon has died.  Tish shared with us today that she knows that God will bring them through all of this for His glory.

Some of us are going to begin working on finishing their house, and we want you to be a part of the plan.  Beginning the week of April 5^th, our days of work at the Jackson's house (21100 Garden Path Drive, Abingdon, VA  24210) will be Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of each week until the house is finished.  If you are interested in helping us, please just email us at ItsMelissaT@aol.com or call Melissa at 276-356-5092 so we can put you on our contact list to keep you informed on the project.   (You don’t have to know how to build a house!  There are many other projects:  cleanup, painting, gofer—going for materials, preparing and/or serving meals, calling workers without email, etc.)  You may not be able to actually work hands-on at this project, but your prayers for the family and/or any financial support for the project will be appreciated.  And once the house is finished, they will need furnishings for their home.  So, if you have anything that you would like to donate in that area, please let us know and we will pick it up to put in storage. 

Please let us know if you can help the Jackson family.  Together, we can do this!   As Jesus said, “Love one another, as I have loved you.”  ~~John 13:34

Donations can be made to: The Church In Abingdon—Mission Fund; c/o Melissa Turner; P O Box 1108; Glade Spring, VA  24340.  Please write ‘Jackson Family’ in the memo.  The Church In Abingdon is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization, Federal Tax ID#30-0179378.

Blessings to you and yours,

Bob & Melissa

Bob & Melissa Turner