07/27/2025
Hello everyone!
These updates are getting harder to write, not because of a lack of things to share, but because THERE IS SO MUCH! haha. The Lord has been SO GOOD. We have received OVER $100.000 in donations since January 2025 and continue to see that number climb! We hosted our first annual community fundraising event on June 28th that brought in $6,500 in donations and a whole lot of new friends excited to see this adventure unfold! Thank you to everyone who was a part of that epic day. π With that event and a very generous donation from our friends in Australia, we have OFFICIALLY raised over $250,000 toward our goal of $450,000 to complete EVERYTHING in the main house! A quarter million, you guys! JESUS IS SO GOOD! Please continue to partner your faith with ours to see the completion of this project. (Isaiah 66:9)
RENOVATION STATUS:
Within the last two months we have seen the kitchen & patio roof demoed and replaced(mostly), the second floor fully framed, the third floor demo finished &! 1/2 framed, heating system designed & quoted, plumbing roughed in on 2nd & 3rd floors (starting the kitchen this week!), first stage of electrical for the basement, 1st floor & 2nd floor progressing, and 1 window & 1 door installed!
Our sweet friends, Ken & Helene, donated their time for the entire month of June to get as far as they could with framing and quite nearly completed it! Just a little in the basement, which Mike & I will complete this week, and half of the third floor remain, which our new friend, Rick, has volunteered his time to help us with! So, it's looking like framing will be complete toward the end of August.
So, here is the series of events for August and we need volunteers for some of them: LET US KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP!
1. Framing basement (So basement can be insulated & plumbing rough in can be completed) (Saturday, August 2nd)
2. Framing third floor (Mid-August -TBD)
3. Insulate with spray foam for both the basement & third floor (if we can complete the third floor beforehand.) (TBD)
4. Secure & screw down flooring on all three floors. (Sunday, Aug 3rd & Saturday, Aug 9th)
5. Seal off the addition & barn to keep critters out leading up to phase 2 of renovations. (Saturday, August 9th)
6. Clean & vacuum all floors. (Saturday, August 16th)
HEATING SYSTEM:
We had originally hoped we could install one floor at a time, but with this system it requires we install for all three floors all at once so that the system can be test fired. This affects our budget and plans to be able to move in by December, but we know God isn't caught off guard so we are trusting for the funds needed for the whole system and are currently in communications with the manufacturer to see if they will donate the materials needed. Please pray for favor with this!
Thank you all so much for being a part of this journey with us! We are so excited for what the future holds! Our hope is that by this time next year we'll be introducing River House staff and sharing stories of precious extra littles in the house. π
God bless you guys,
-Mike & Missie