What 31 servants can do in three days with $1000...

Gene and I just recently woke up from a much need nap, just in time to go back to bed for a full night's sleep. The reason for all the weariness today is due to the fact that Gene only got about 12 hours of sleep the past three nights while I only got a few hours more. We've been in PA since Thursday night along with many of Gene's cousins and other family members redoing Gene's Mom's house for her 50th birthday. She is a woman who dearly loves the Lord and has a HUGE heart for others. She touches everyone's heart that she comes in contact with and never hesitates to stretch out her hand to serve and help others. Over the past year, Gene and I have been planning a house makeover for her as a birthday/Christmas gift for this year. Since she always has approximately 25+ people at her house at any given time (the whole extended family lives on the same street) she is always saying to us that the best thing anyone can give to her is a clean house. Well, as Gene and I were pulling out of her driveway after Thanksgiving, those were her famous last words.....and she had no idea what was about to take place in her little two story house come the next weekend.

As Sue-Ann pulled out of her house to go stay with friends for the weekend (all part of our surprise plan), about 31 people started going to work to help clean out every closet, move around just about every piece of furniture, paint the living room, kitchen, bathroom, playroom, and huge basement/garage. Gene and I (along with a few other brave souls) were up painting and primping until 3am Thursday and Friday nights, just to to jump (or rather slither) out of bed by 7am each morning. Our bodies are weak, but our hearts are full!

Something that continues to amaze and affect me every time I visit Gene's mom is the hearts of his family. Five of his guy cousins (mostly middle school aged) showed up most of the time to help clean, paint, move heavy furniture, etc. They arrived Friday right after school left out and never stopped asking, "What can I do next, Renee?" Not one grumble or complaint crossed their lips...no matter how many times I asked Weston to take out the trash, again!

God continued to bless this weekend by providing the right people at the right time to help out. I never said or thought once this weekend, "Geeze, I wish I had someone here to help me with ________." EVERYONE certainly came with servant hearts, ready and willing to serve where ever needed....even if it meant behind the refrigerator! I was laughing at one of the cousins because every time he went to sit down to rest, I was right there asking him to hang another picture or clean another area. His replies to me Saturday morning were, "Yeah, Renee, I can help you! Where do you need me?" (said in a quick chipper voice with a smile). By Saturday night at 10:30 his "Yeah, Renee. I'll help out." statements were said with more fatigue and weariness and a little less chipperness....but his heart attitude never changed! This was the norm of everyone the whole weekend. Gene and I drove home recounting these blessings and thanking God for His kindness in allowing us to serve Gene's mom in this way.

Gene and I would like to thank all of these family members and friends who helped make this weekend possible (either physically or financially by helping us collect over $1000): Weston, Nick, Charlie, Mitch, Uncle Wes, Uncle Nick, Marci, Rosie, Katie, Aunt Cindy, Mary, Jay, Shamus, Karen, Gram, Grandpa, Tonya, Joey, Joey's Dad, Bea, Katelyn, Beth, Matt, Amanda, my Mom and Dad, Marian, Herb, and Tom, Aunt Judy, Uncle Jim, Morgan, Sammy, Lois & Dave Huston, Colleen Kennedy, Peg Hall, Steve & Phoebe Haupert, Dan & Laurie King, James Griffin, Craig & Grace Zimmerman, Sue Bower, Sue Stiger, Kevin & Botts Moore, Robert Stopper, Larry Vaughn, Dave & Eva Layman, Larry Brannaka and all of Sue-Ann's co-workers.

Oh, yeah......I almost forgot! Sue-Ann did LOVE her house when she came home Saturday night at 10:30 and found 30 people in her kitchen holding a birthday cake singing "Happy Birthday." She was stunned by the generosity of everyone.....so stunned that it took her two trips around her house to finally realize that we painted it! haha

Stay tunned tomorrow for BEFORE/AFTER pictures!