Here are a few photos just before the Post family officially moved into their new Habitat home. Welcome home family!
Redmond Habitat Home Update
I can’t believe the Redmond Habitat for Humanity home is almost complete! We only have a couple of weeks to go until the Post Family moves in and we are very excited. It would not be possible without the dedicated volunteers that have donated their time and valuable skills. We could not have done the build without the generous donations of materials from so many local contractors and business owners. Come join us next weekend to lay sod and plant trees and shrubs. It promises to be a lot of fun and a rewarding experience.
Our Annual Dinner and Auction will be Thursday, May 20th at Eagle Crest. Last year we raised just over $12,000. Every penny goes to further our mission. This year we hope to raise more funds due to the outstanding auction and raffle items donated by supporters from our community. These items include jewelry, a family photo package, many gift certificates to pamper yourself, food and wine, artwork, golf packages and much, much more. The tickets are $25 dollars each and include a wonderful dinner. With the support of Eagle Crest we are able to host this event at very little cost. This means that all the money made on the auction and raffles will be used to build the next home. $12,000 will cover approximately 25% of building materials.
Habitat will begin construction on the next home in July or August 2010. We are currently in the process of selecting the next family that will move into the home. This Redmond Habitat for Humanity home will be located on Obsidian Ave, across from Vern Patrick Elementary.
Blueberry
Blueberry Bush
Today Jacob, Hadi and I planted two blueberry plants. One was a Jersey Blueberry and the other was the Toro Blueberry. Currently they have some very small blooms; someday soon we hope they will look something like this. They prefer an acidic soil and the soil in Central Oregon is very alkaline. We added sawdust, a special blend of fertilizer that a local greenhouse recommended along with some peat moss and topsoil. Now all we need is a little time and a kind word as my grandpa Vern would say.
The rewards of saving coke rewards
Nike Rewards
At lunch Joe Steller and I enter coke rewards, after about a year of saving points this is what I bought with my points at our local Nike outlet. Thanks to everyone that contributed coke points over the last year. (Because of you I’m looking good!)
Black Sweatshirt
Suggested Retail: $90.00
Sale Price: $22.49
Brown Sweatshirt
Suggested Retail: $50.00
Sale Price: $12.48
Nike Shoes
Suggested Retail $65.00
Sale Price: $21.97
Nike Socks (4 packages)
Suggested Retail 40.00
Sale Price: $19.96
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Coke Rewards Coupon 75.00
Actual Amount Paid: $1.90
Habitat Wall Raising for the Post Family
Joe, Sarah & Juniper
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- Joe, Sarah & Juniper
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- Lilly Post
This day was emotional and very special for both the Post Family and the Habitat Organization. We have worked very hard to keep the promise made to Joe and Sarah of a safe and secure home to raise their girls in. I will never forget the incredible feeling or the tears on my cheeks when the first wall went up. We did it! All the hard work, dedication and perseverance paid off. Thank you God for letting me be part of this amazing day and for giving me the strength and skills to help make it happen.
Logo Design
A logo design that I just made for work, I like the way it came out. I think it has a nice clean classic style that still looks and feels modern. It will probably never be used because the place I work for is crazy like that. So I thought I would post it so that it could at least live in cyberspace.
Napaporn Siriwajanakul and Family
Napaporn Siriwajanakul, 40, makes her living as a housekeeper, and her husband, Piyo, works miscellaneous temporary jobs to supplement the family income. The couple has been renting a cramped room in a housing block owned by a local church. The living conditions have fractured their family: Youngest son Tianchai, 18 , has dropped out of school and run away from home. Oldest son Wanchai, 23, (Joe) has earned a bachelor’s degree but has not been able to find work. Napaporn is hopeful that a secure, decent house will allow her to reunite and rebuild her family.
On the final day of the build we were joined by all four members of the Siriwajanakul family. We are also hopeful this will bring the family together and help them to change their life in so many positive ways. The home was mostly finished by the volunteers from Oregon in one week. There will be a team of contractors coming in to finish all 82 homes before December 18th and all the homeowners will be moved into their homes. Every family was so happy and filled with joy to own their home and more importantly to actually own land. It is an almost impossible dream in Thailand. We touched the lives of 82 families in one week and now our contributions will help to shape the lives of these individuals for many years to come. Thank you again to all my family that helped make this trip possible, it has changed my life forever. I am now part of the vision that wants to see an end to poor living conditions for all. I will continue to do my part.
My next blog will be about the city of Chiang Mai, including some pictures of very interesting sights.
Short Timers Calendar
Jacob and I have our short timers calendar filled out. Finally, time to go get mom at the airport. She is supposed to arrive into Redmond around 5:30pm. Jacob isn’t sure what has happened with mom but he knows that today is the day. While Hadi has been away Jacob has been my little shadow. He keeps asking me “daddy are you leaving me?”. So I think this has been a traumatic experience for him in some ways. But we have had a good time together and have had a lot of bonding time. We are both ready though to see mom. And we have had just enough time to get the house back in order. (She will never know!)
Construction day 2 & 3
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- homeowners welcome us to opening ceremony (Sunday)
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- Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter
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- getting ready for the roof (day2)
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- work day #3 complete
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- house leader directing crew
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- the Thai people have interesting English
We are making progress on this house. Today we worked very hard to make sure we are where we need to be and left the site very pleased with how the house is coming along. I have spent the most of three days working on scaffolding in the very hot sun. It has been nearly 100+ every day and very humid. I am wet from head to toe within the first three hours. Joe is trying to teach us a little Thai but I don’t think it is sticking. I can say a greeting and that is about it. I am looking forward to finishing the house and enjoying the closing ceremony on Friday. I am not however looking forward to the very long plane ride home but seeing Jim and Jacob will make up for that too. I enjoy all the comments very much so keep them coming. This will most likely be my last post until I get home. After I get home I will post several times to share more photos and give you a few funnly little stories that you will enjoy.
The 10 O-Clock Surprise
Tonight just after 7:00pm (PST) (10:00am Chiang Mai time) Jacob and I got a call from Hadi in Thailand. What a SURPRISE! We were really excited to be able to talk with her. She said that she was using someones cell phone and a calling card and that she wished she had brought her own cell phone. Jacob was being a bit of a monster and it took some work to get him to talk on the phone. (Even if it was mommy) Jacob’s big message was that he got a “brand new car”. (hot wheels)
Hadi said that about twenty-two other people from Oregon were working on the same house as the house she is currently working on. The highlight as she has already said has been working with Joe. (See her previous post) Also we told her how we really liked the picture of the elephant. She said “I have a video of elephants playing soccer!” Hadi also said that if she had access to a faster internet connection she would be able to post more, but because it is a slow connection and she has limited time she was already doing all she could do; but hoped she could do more. We will all keep our fingers crossed that she will be able to post something in the near future.
I also asked her something about what the food has been like and she said “OK” “I think they are trying to Americanize it too much…” But they were going to get out and try to get a true taste of the local foods. That was about the extent of our conversation, it was far too quick and I soon realized all of the questions that I forgot to ask.
