Gulfport MS....and a helping hand.

It was a pier for people to enjoy fishing from....that was then, but this is now.


It was a nice home on a quiet street, that was then, but this is now.


It was where they were going to raise their kids, that was then, but this is now.


It was where they bought a home to retire, that was then, but this is now.


They call this being mudded out. Where they strip the entire inside of the house down to the 2x4's. Wash it out, let it dry and then start over. One night Bryon called and asked for a favor, he wanted to know if I would help buy some insulation because the church was going to Gulfport to help out. I told him to fill up the truck and have Lowe's call me which they did....and they had a big truck....ROTFL.


Bales of that pink stuff......and bales.


This is the building inspector in charge of my new house, Jay is his name and he took off 5 days, without pay to go and help. Afterwards he said he would much sooner inspect it then have to install it.....


This is Chris and his wife cutting the drywall, he is a police officer for Sevierville and also took time off without pay as did Lori.


DJ works at the local bank and is now a drywall finisher......Lord help them all.


Not to bad for a bunch of "VOLUNTEERS" I would say.


They worked from sun up to well after dark, so you had to get a quick 15 where ever you could I guess.


People talk sometimes about how kids today are blah blah blah.......but there are a lot of kids who go beyond anything most adults are willing to do.


The lady cooked for the crew, good ole Tennessee cookin....anyone for some fried green tomatoes?


Thanksgiving day was sent working until the meal was ready at a local church, anyone and everyone could come an enjoy Thanksgiving, it didn't matter who you were or from what walk of life.


They had to find a spot to eat Thanksgiving dinner, because the church meeting room was full. But what is Thanksgiving really about other then sharing and enjoy the company of your friends and neighbors. These three guys play on the same football team at GP High School.


As some worked inside on the drywall others where outside working on a new roof.


This in not a glory job at all......ever have to shovel shingles?


As the week came to a close, the inside and outside of the house was better then ever........a nice lookin house.


Where would you even start on repairing this home?


Even today the casinos are still shut down and no one is working on them.


An apartment building, only thing left are the metal stairs, the rest is gone including everything that the tenants owed.


Even if the casinos were open, you couldn't get to them. They said that the state highway department put up "Bridge Out" signs and have not been back since.


If you double click on this pic, you can tell it's a MCD, right. But the restaurant is gone.....zip...nothing.....NO McRib FOR YOU


He is 81 and she is 74, with hearts of gold.


They were able to rebuild the lives of two couples in 5 days......


Just a group of people, taking time out of there lives over Thanksgiving to travel hundreds of miles and live in campers, sleep on the floor, eat on the ground, work they behinds off is what makes them heros to me. Oh yea, I chipped in a few thousand bucks for insulation but that doesn't hold a candle to what they did. I even kind a feel guilty about not taking the time to go myself now, even with my problems over the past 5 months, their problems are so much bigger.....

I have been thinking about the word "purpose" lately....and also the word "choice" once I figure them out.....I might share some thoughts.