On the Generosity of Friends

Thank you for all the nice notes and emails you sent my way. Saturday was a rough day, but it was nice to hang out with Dan on Sunday and Monday and just relax.


Sunday of course we did as we planned: We went to Einstein Brothers, looked at a few over-priced sofas and went to the drive-in. It was a great day!


When we got home from the drive-in, Dan went down to the basement to look for a router our friend said he needed. He came back up pretty quickly and told me to come with him. I was worried our basement had flooded and didn't really want to see that. Our water heater has been leaking more and more lately, but with all the other stuff going on it has been put very much on the back burner.


When I got downstairs I saw two water heaters and was at first very confused. I, however, realized that what I was looking at was our old water heater as well as a brand new water heater all hooked up! We got a new water heater!


Our friend Will had installed it all by himself as a surprise and a great organization called Cliff Rocks! had gifted it to us.  [Editor's note:  It was just recently discovered that Will had his mother help carry the water heater down in to the basement.  Go Super mom!]


We were both so surprised and happy! No more worries about waking up to no hot water or a flooded basement!


Dan decided to still take the day off work this Monday because he had previously told the shop that he would be out of town for my IVF procedure.  Since he had already cleared the time off we went up to Bolingbrook, Illinois to the Ikea. Because Ikea is awesome.  If you don't agree you don't deserve to read my blog. :-P  We needed a coffee table, we wanted to look at sofas,  and Dan's mom wanted some bookshelves. We had a fun, tiring day of running around that huge store and we didn't get home till after 10:30.  [Editor's Note:  We refrained from eating the meatballs and we are better people because of it]


When we pulled up to our house I noticed a friend's truck in front of it. "Why is his truck in our driveway?" I asked Dan. "I need to show you something" replies Dan. He tugs me back to the backyard with his flashlight in hand.  What I see is lots of pink string, stakes, and big holes in my backyard. "We are getting a deck?!" I yell. "We are getting a deck" confirms Dan.


What I didn't know was that the past 3 weeks had been full of generosity.  Generosity in planning, buying, pitching in to get me a deck.


A little background: I have always wanted a deck. Since we moved into our house 3 summers ago I have really wanted a deck. We had finally saved up enough money to build one this summer...and then cancer happened. So that went out the window again for this summer...Until!


My parents, our best friends, people we don't know, and possibly the whole town has all known we were getting a deck the past 3 weeks, except me! My husband kept a secret from me for 3 weeks! This is unheard of!  [Editor's Note:  I cannot lie to my wife.  This might be one of the worst things I have ever done to my wife.  That being said; I'm sort of good at it.]


But today was the first day I got to see the building in action and here is what happened today: 

Midas let all of these strange men into his yard without blinking an eye!

Tomorrow they are going to lay the framing for the deck. Did I mention I am going to get a pergola?! A PERGOLA?! GAH!  [Editor's note:  I have no idea what a pergola is.]

I will never be able to thank everyone enough for the generosity of our friends and family.  This outpouring of love has stunned me this week.  [Editor's note:  I have never felt as wealthy as I do right now.  It's good to have good people in your life.-Dan]