Timberline Tree & Lawn saves the “Holy Tree”

January 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Many visitors to Habitat for Hope have noticed the large tree to the left of the driveway – namely, because it had a ladder running through the middle. Dubbed the “holy tree” by the Barnhart family (previous residents of the HFH property), it is over 100 years old, and although alive, was hollow in the center. Our friends from Timberline Tree & Lawn have a passion for old trees, and offered to create a solution that would save the tree for generations to come. Apparently, the bark of the tree will now grow over the placed wood – creating a new solid trunk for this old tree. Thanks so much Timberline for your service to the sustainability project at Habitat for Hope!

 

Filed Under: In the News

We’re Hiring!

December 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We are so excited to announce three new positions within Habitat for Hope!
To answer a few possible FAQ:
1. We are hiring an Assistant ED, Maintenance Director, and Family Care Coordinator. Read the posting for more information!
2. In the spirit of the rather rapid growth we’ve experienced in our first 5 years of work, we are simply beginning to specialize some roles within the jobs that our current staff works so hard to fill.
3. When these positions are hired and filled, Mark Horrocks will be free to focus on vision and direction of our overall project, including growth into new areas. Andy Gross has already begun to specialize his role into leadership within the Barn Raising Project – and additional freedom will allow him to focus on construction work for BRP.

We excited to meet our next team members who will join Habitat for Hope!

Filed Under: In the News

Thanks Briarcrest Christian School!

November 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Last Tuesday was Briarcrest Christian School’s “Great Day of Service”. Braircrest teamed with Habitat for Hope to hold a material drive for the 7th floor at Lebonhuer Childrens Hosptital. A group of 6th grade girls and 8th grade girls participated.
THANKS Briarcrest!

Filed Under: In the News, Leadership, Volunteer

100 miles of Hope – Tim needs your help!

October 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Once again, pain fanatic and dear friend Tim Hutchinson has signed up for a race to raise money for Habitat for Hope. You’ve GOT to read his latest post, and although we don’t advocate dressing like this to run 100 miles, we think you should witness his dedication to HFH:

20 Questions with Timbeaux

Filed Under: Can you Help?, Families and Friends Tagged With: ,

Notes From a Dragon Mom

October 17, 2011 By 2 Comments

For all the Dragon Moms we have loved so dearly – please click link below.

Notes from a Dragon Mom

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With:

YAHTZEE!

October 12, 2011 By 1 Comment

“Yahtzee!” my grandmother used to yell in exhilaration.  She loved the game.  I could be sure that if we were playing games with Grandmommy and Granddaddy, Yahtzee would be one of them.  The premise of Yahtzee is to put all your die into a cup, shake them up, and roll them out all at once, hoping that when they appear on the table, they are all the numbers you want to win the game.

In my own life, and my work with Habitat for Hope, I have found that we all play a little Yahtzee.  We bury all our problems deep down in our hearts, hoping that no one will notice.  We are careful to not shake things up for fear our issues will spill out onto the table and shine a negative light on our well-controlled lives.

Problem number one:  Despite our illusions and even our best-laid plans, we are not in control.  At some point when pain comes through a harsh reality, like a life threatening illness in the life of your child, a light bulb goes off that you are not in control.

Terror, fear, anxiety, depression, and guilt begin to shake you at your core and all the “other” problems in life that you have been so careful as to hide, come bursting out with force for all to see.  Your marriage, finances, family dynamics, faith, and relationships are not what you have fooled yourself and others into believing are true about them.

Are you in a painful place where it seems all is lost and your problems are not only numerous but insurmountable?  Don’t lose heart!

In every true and good story there is a moment where you believe all is lost, and then suddenly a hero arrives, saving the day.  In the story of our lives this is Christ Jesus.  He says in the Bible that He disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:3-12).  My pastor recently put it this way…when he is pruning, He is loving.  Just as the vineyard worker clips away the dead grapes from a vine to ensure its maximum growth, Jesus also brings us through the painful pruning process to bring about TRUE life, joy, and peace.

Filed Under: Encouragement

“It’s Uncivilized…”

October 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment


As many of you know, we are about to kick off (in less than 4 days!) the second annual LUVMUD5K race at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, TN. This is HFH’s only large-scale fundraiser in 2011…we are hoping to “make it count!”.

 

Overheard at Shelby Farms today – “Oh, we couldn’t do that race. Its much too uncivilized for us.”

You know what feels uncivilized to us?

In 2012, over 14,000 families in the US will learn that their child has a life-threatening illness. 

That over 4,000 of those families will suffer the loss of their child. 

That many of the 14,000 families caring for their sick child will suffer a loss of wealth and security due to their child’s illness. 

That many of the serious illnesses that children are diagnosed with cause disfiguration and permanent handicap. 

That many families are unable to walk closely with a trusted advisor or friend while their child is sick. 

That there is not yet a comprehensive program in the United States to provide grief counseling and/or bereavement care to families that have lost a child. 

That many in our society are uniformed of the serious long-term strain and stress placed on all members of a family when a child is sick for a prolonged (18 months +) period of time. 

So this year, when you register for [crazy, fun] LUVMUD5K, know that you are directly supporting the efforts that God has in place to alleviate such suffering. That God is using the staff and volunteers of Habitat for Hope to make inroads with suffering families, and to commit to love them and counsel them over the long term. That we strive, in all things, to create fun, joy and normalcy as part of everyday life – that we won’t allow suffering and hardship to overcome. As you come out to Shelby Farms Park and enjoy the craziness and fun of LUVMUD5K – remember that you, too, are part of the beautiful picture that God is painting  throughout history. That He remembers us, and that He calls the little children to Himself – and that He promises them joy, laughter and delight – many times now, but most certainly hereafter.

Filed Under: LUVMUD

Walk for Hope

September 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The following was written by our new volunteer coordinator, Diane Smith. Diane is walking a half-marathon this weekend and raising support for Habitat for Hope! She still needs donations to make her goal – you can donate using the link below.

Last week my youngest daughter broke her collar bone playing soccer. She typically has a pretty high pain tolerance but it broke my heart to watch her endure such pain while she waited to get an X-Ray. Then, a really cool thing happened. Her teammates started texting her and three of her teammates showed up to be with her while she waited. Even though I knew she was in some serious pain, she was able to smile and laugh because her friends were there for her.

About ten weeks ago I started training to walk a half-marathon to raise money for Habitat for Hope. For the record, unlike my daughter, I am not an athlete. And training to walk a half-marathon has been a challenge for my non-athlete self. However a really cool thing happened during my training. Friends have walked with me several times to keep me going. And, when I walk the half-marathon in Ohio this weekend, several friends are going to walk with me so I don’t have to walk alone.

We all need friends to walk with us, especially when we are enduring pain or hardship!! So many of our Habitat for Hope families are in Memphis without the physical support of family and friends. Our volunteers are friends that show up so these families don’t have to walk alone.

Filed Under: In the News

Park(ing) Day: Smashing Success

September 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We had so much fun at Memphis’ first Park(ing) Day. Tucker and Mark came up with a really fun concept that we hope illustrated HFH at its best: healing through community, art, play, and love for others.

Our installation included the following: a conversation pit around the fire, a community art project, live music, and outdoor table tennis (straight from the red barn). At one point, a professional on his lunch break played ping-pong with a homeless man. It was neat to provide a space for this sort of interaction to occur. We had some great feedback on the interactive display, and we hope that just a few more people in Memphis learned more about Habitat for Hope and our work in this city.

Paint with us!

It's getting there...

Mayor AC Wharton and Mark with the LUVMUD5K rockers

Chris Williams and a new friend play table tennis

Finished!

Filed Under: In the News

(Park)ing Day Today!

September 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The LUVMUD and HFH crew will be downtown all day for (Park)ing Day! We have transformed two parking spaces at Peabody and Main into an interactive project detailing the LUVMUD and the atmosphere of fun and play that we seek to inspire families with at Habitat for Hope.

Read the Commercial Appeal article here:

International (Park)ing Day

Pictures soon!

Filed Under: In the News
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