An army surrounded our house while we were in Mexico...a heavily armed militia that had been assembled, not so much in the usual way, but through a call that went out via many avenues. And they answered...in droves. This army lay seige upon our house, landing on the roof as their point of entry. They took chainsaws to offending trees, causing the branches to fall and the menace to retreat from the roof.
Ripping, scrapping, shoving...this band of warriors skinned the roof, slicing away layers of old asphalt shingles (in some cases two layers). They found water-logged boards here and there, and ripped them from their moorings. The bricks of the chimney came toppling down, the inner pipe dislodged and heaved from its once glorious heights. The television attenna, no longer connected nor functional, was given flight...as was the rooster weather vane...banished to some more welcoming home.
And then...the army of well-trained if not well-loved and selfless workers...proceeded to rework the roof, to lay down new water and ice shield, new valley tin, new board, new paper and finally most beautifully, new shingles.
Okay...enough dramatics...but can you blame me? Our roof was in such dire straights...rotting away, shingles deteriorating in the 20+ year sunshine and brutal weather of Wisconsin. I knew it needed replacing...but such a task simply wasn't in the budget...nor the time schedule.
Little did I know that while hosting a grad party for our son, the "contractors" of this secret invasion were scoping out the project of love, determined to get this work done on the sly...they had chosen a time when we'd be gone...to Mexico, and had begun to work on all the details. Even a serious motorcycle accident to one of the "founding contractors" couldn't stop the work.
The week before we left, the insurance agent informed me that the company we'd recently switched to for homeowners had decided to cancel our policy because the "roof was in need of replacement" and the "tree branches were touching the roof" unless we replaced it quickly (like in days!!!). That same day, later in the afternoon, our son (in-law) called to break the silence re: the roof and let us know that it was indeed happening.
The roof is spectacular...the army of many unknowns to us worked so beautifully. Sue and I are blown away (not the shingles, they have a strong warranty against wind damage)...we are so thankful for such love and concern. We praise the Lord above who knows all our needs...we know that He is glorified through this invasion.
To all who helped ... in any way and in all ways... we say THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! You have touched our hearts and lives in ways we cannot begin to explain....know this, that God has used your actions to bring about special healing to our hearts, and your selfless actions have touched more people than any of us may ever know. The story of all this will be retold again and again....You are all loved...Thank You...for your actions are over our heads...your love...and HIS...is WAY OVER OUR HEADS INDEED!
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