We be rolling. This past week at Habitat/Tuscaloosa we saw two new house dedications and one unique and special event. House #39 was located at 20 Juanita Drive and was the new home for Kathy Pickens. That was dedicated on Monday. On Wednesday, Constance Crowells new home on 18^th street in the west end was dedicated.

     The group that was volunteering with us last week from New York was able to take part in both . The leader of their group, Pastor Amy, also played a pivotal role in the third event that took place on Thursday of last week.

     I was just finishing up 12 Juanita Drive. The future owners, DeQuisha and her fiancé Delano had been dropping by during the week to work down their sweat equity hours. It had been their intention to get married before taking possession of their new home. Pastor Amy had heard them talking, just in passing, that they were unable to perform the civil ceremony at city hall and Amy, half jokingly, said that she would be able to marry them. So, on Wednesday, they went down and got the paperwork and on Thursday at 3pm, Amy presided over their wedding right on the porch of their new home. Like I said, it was a very special and unique moment to witness.

     Today marked the farewell for Stephen Scott. He dropped by Juanita Drive on his way out of town and dropped off heartfelt cards that he wrote for each of us . He will be sorely missed. We have four new homes coming out of the ground, a few more to finish up plus a major rehab underway and staff members are dropping like I don't know what. John, our intern is leaving in June for a job in Wyoming. Heather, our office manager left last week. Nancy McDaniel says that whe will be leaving in July.   And it seems that the stratedgy of dealing with lack of staff is to stretch existing. Should be exciting and never dull for lack of something to do.

     This Saturday is the start of the Faith Build house.   May 3^rd , also a Saturday marks the start of the Women’s build house. While I was in Louisville last week, I cordially invited Linda Fuller, the co-founder of both Habitat for Humanity and the Fuller Centers to come to participate in the Women’s build and I think I heard her say that she is planning to attend, along with daughter-in-law Dianne. Linda lived part of her early life right here in Tuscaloosa and Holt.

      Enjoyed a great Easter Sunday . Alex and I attended Capstone’s 5pm service and did dinner out at the Hokido restaurant afterwards.

     Also enjoying the beautiful spring weather and hoping it lasts for a while before hitting the 90’s again.

     Little light in the volunteer department this week. Just four or five Greeks (sorority sisters) who drop in for a few hours in between classes and text messages. Today they helped to unload a tractortrailer full of denim insulation into our warehouse. We get the stuff donated from the manufacturer. It is made of blue jean material and doesn’t itch and has the same R-value as it’s itchy fibreglas cousin.

     We also did the final walk thru with Quisha. Passed all the final inspections and they will close on the house tomorrow and move in before May 1^st.

     That’s all for now.   Peter