WE HAVE POWER!

Friday night we had a severe thunderstorm, heavy lightening, and even a tornado touch down within the city of Indianapolis.
There were high winds, hard rain and tons of thunder.
At around midnight, (after wathing the storm on TV from all the local news stations), Joe and I decided to head to bed. It was then that we heard a loud humm and then pop. Joe raced to Joey's bedroom to look out the back windows and there in our back yard was a fire, about 6 feet high. The rain was pouring down and when the water hit the DOWNED LIVE ELECTRICAL WIRE, it sent the flames even higher. The light was so bright that it lit the room as if it was daytime!

I am so thankful Joe works in the electrical "Field" because he immediately knew what needed to be done:
We called 911, then the power company and stayed far away from the wire.

The firetruck arrived in minutes and pretty much just enjoyed the light show with us...they knew better than to try to put water on a downed wire.

Indianapolis Power & Light finally arrived at 5am to shut off the wire - he cut power to our circuit (which meant about 20 houses in our neighborhood). Up to that point, Joe had remained awake, walking to both our sister Janna's and his parents homes (both within the neighborhood). Janna too, had a tree down, causing fire within the electrical line behind her home.

It is now Sunday at 12 noon and we JUST GOT power back! It required IPL's tree trimming service to come take down half of our tree that caused our wire to snap. They then needed to add an extension to our pole because the top 3 feet of our electrical pole had broken off and fallen.

But thankfully, we are now "Hot" in electrical lingo!
(Thank you Jackson's for letting us use your extra frig! - our food would have NEVER made 36 hours without power!)






Joe, Megan, Joey and Morgan Schmidt

Basketball Court COMING SOON & more light in the dining room!

Just want to make mention: WE HAVE VISION!
So when you see these house photos - we're excited because we are one step closer to having what we hope for from our home.

Here is our new casement window - which adds much needed light into our dining room and gives us a beautiful view as we eat.


Where there was once a beat up "Garage" - we plan to use the concrete floor as a basketball court someday...


We're getting there!

Joe, Megan, Joey and Morgan Schmidt

CUTE KIDDOS!

What a Summer we have had so far! From the Memorial Day parade downtown, visits to the zoo, visits to the park, long bike rides (kids in the trailer behind is getting HEAVIER and HEAVIER everyday!), playing with friends and playing in the yard - these kids have already filled the few weeks of summer with sunshine, fun and play.

Morgan took a nose dive off the new garage floor onto our driveway and left herself with quite a few scratches - after she got cleaned up, she went right back out to the "edge" to try it again - next time, she asked for a hand to hold...PERSISTENT!


This is our Rocky Ripple Park - there are all kinds of fun things to do!
Like ride the "Horsey"




Play in the "HUGE Sand Box" (it's actually a sand volleyball court!)


Or adventure in the "Jungle"


Our front porch swing is lots of fun too!




Joe, Megan, Joey and Morgan Schmidt

We're FUNCTIONAL!

WE HAVE A KITCHEN!
I can bake, boil, wash dishes and place things on counters! WHAT A BLESSING!
My dad and Joe having been working every weekend possible and until all hours of the night to get to this point...and I couldn't be happier.
We are a ways away from being completely finished (tile on the back splash, new sink, new microwave range, flooring, lighting, painting, handles on the cabinets, and couter tops (which will then allow for our double oven and cooking surface to be added and the old white stove to be THROWN AWAY!) But for those of you who know the BEFORE - WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

BEFORE:


AFTER: (and that's not the same window - it's down about 4 feet - the old one was filled in to allow all those wonderful cabinets!





SEE THE NEW STAIRS - My dad did that!


OUR HOUSE WITH ALL THE SIDING ON! (brick to come soon!)


Joe, Megan, Joey and Morgan Schmidt