Getting Ready for the Foundation

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Saturday the 14th of December was the first day it was dry enough to work at the house site; exactly two weeks since we had been able to work there. With yet another round of winter weather coming the following weekend, we wanted to get the foundation in. We knew it would be a lot of work to get everything ready but we were willing to try. We set the cement company to arrive at 8 o’clock Wednesday morning the 18th.
Andrew started the form on Saturday and finally finished it Monday, though we did brace it more on Tuesday. On the latter two days we were working from sun up to past sun down. Tuesday Dad took the whole day off from work to help get it all done, but with some usual hang ups with a job, we were really cutting it close….. 






"I'm Digging to China!"

"I don't believe it's that far!"

"You sure? That's what it feels like! How many more of these!?!?"
"Ummm, let me see"




As darkness fell the night before we were suppose to pour the foundation, this is what it looked like. Trenches needed to be filled in, Andrew needed to finish gluing the pipe, and the whole thing needed to be graded and rebar put in. We were fully expecting the guys to be out working till midnight. We so wished that it had dried out enough for us to start sooner in preparing for the cement. Then things started to happen. Steve and Jeremy Shetler arrived at about 4:30 to help; they helped us finish bracing the form and helped Andrew with the plumbing. Right after the sun went down John and Luke Nolt came over after they got home from a job. John asked Andrew if we were pouring in the morning, Andrew told him yes at eight o’clock, when he heard that immediately there was actionJ. Some of the trenches were ready to be filled, within minutes shovels started appearing and six guys where working away. Before we knew it lights had appeared, more tools that we where needing, and yet another helper; Greg Flokstra. He put the two lines of pex pipe in along with Steve and Dad’s help. Standing there watching them I could hardly believe it. Within an hour five guys (all from our church) appeared and went right to work, no one was standing around and they were all working hard and fast! I so wanted to get a picture but it was way too dark, it’ll always be in my mind though! Two were working on plumbing, three were grading, and two were laying rebar out. Within four hours everything was done! I was amazed, never before had I seen anything like it! People showing up without being asked and then doing whatever it takes to get the job done.

To all the guys a BIG thank-you!! No one had to stay up half the night preparing everything, and the cement was poured when we planned!!          


Comments

  1. UnknownDecember 24, 2013 at 6:42 AM

    I like that last paragraph. And I say, "Yes!! that is how the body of Christ is supposed to work."

    ReplyDelete

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