It’s going to be hard to communicate all that happened last weekend. (That’s why I’m going to make a video for everybody.) For those that don’t know, Katie and I took 39 preteens to Fort Recovery, Ohio for a missions trip. We do this trip every other year and this was our third. Each time it grows exponentially in scope! This time Ft. Recovery has a new minister and when we asked him if he had any ideas for a project he came back with a huge project. Long story…short… A woman in town with tremendous needs had a house falling apart around her. She lives with her grandson and adult sons. It just so happens that the boy is a preteen, perfect!

So Katie’s home church took on the enormous project of fixing her house in one week, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition style. Then we brought 39 preteens for the weekend to help finish the job and totally redo the boy’s room. This was an amazing project and, like the show, at times didn’t seem like we could get it done. The entire family came to the church on Sunday and after a luncheon we took them to the house for the big reveal. 75 people yelled “move that truck” and they pulled away the semi blocking the house.

This was an life changing project for the Ft. Recovery Church and for our kids. There are dozens more stories to tell, but my fingers hurt so we can tell you then later. Pictured below is Cindy McGough and her family and a before and after shot of the house. I think you will be able to tell the difference.

We had a very busy Saturday hiking in the natural beauty of the mountains and enjoying the unnatural beauty of cruising in Pigeon Forge. We are having a great time! Surprisingly Hannah had an easy time hiking up the mountain!

Today Katie and I spend the afternoon reliving some of the places we went on our honeymoon in Pigeon Forge. We ate at the same diner, golfed at the same putt-putt, shopped at the same tacky souvenir shop. While we were driving we saw the unmistakable glow of a bright orange car with a black 01 painted on the sides and a Confederate flag on the top. Yes from the Dukes of Hazzard it was the General Lee parked at Cooters Garage in Gatlinburg. Cletus was even inside signing autographs! I actually paid $5 to get in the General Lee and get my picture taken. Yee-Hahh!!!

Thursday morning we left with Katie’s parents and headed for part two of our vacation in Gatlinburg, TN. This image is what we woke up to from our bed in our cabin high up in the mountains looking over Gatlinburg.

Sunday through Thursday we started our vacation with Pat’s whole family taking over the Shuttleworth cabin. We swam, played, games, ate a lot of food, and ate a lot of great food! We are very thankful to the Shuttleworths for giving up their home for four days. There’s nothing like living in a house with 7 girl cousins!