52 degrees, cloudy and breezy, but NO RAIN. (Thank you God!) Yesterday was amazing. There were thousands of people gathered to see the house, cheer on the Woodhouses, and I suspect, try to get on T.V. 🙂 I took A LOT of pictures and it’s really hard to narrow it down to a few for blogging purposes! But I think I did alright.
With my two youngest kiddos in tow and my friend Heather by my side to help me, we walked what seemed like a mile from spectator parking to the staging area for the house. We were just four people in a sea of thousands. It was very surreal, and I was a bit nervous and kept my children close. It would have been easy to get lost in that crowd! There were people coming and going the whole time we were there. Several news crews were set-up and there was a marching band playing when we arrived. The reveal was supposed to be at 2 p.m., but that hour came and went without even a glimpse of Ty. He finally appeared and the crowd went wild. Can you say “star power”? Petey saw him and laughed, “He’s in real life!” The bus backed up into position in front of the house and we waited for the limo to pick up the family, who had spent the day in a trailer on the other side of the site excitedly waiting to see their new home.
While we waited, I chatted and the kids played in the dirt. Some of our writer friends were there, but most of the people around us didn’t know the family. There were blue shirts with the trademark logo sprinkled throughout the crowd and I felt a swell of gratitude to all who had volunteered to make someone else’s dreams come true. It’s one of the reasons I like the show – seeing people give of themselves to help others and a community coming together.
Everyone screamed and cheered when the limo pulled up and Ty opened the door for the family to get out. They waved to the crowd and talked with Ty, then it was time for us to yell, “Move That Bus!” which my children had been practicing on the way to Colorado Springs. They’ve seen the show and they know how it works.
I can only imagine how they felt seeing their new home and I wish I could have caught their facial expressions on camera. Like you, I’m going to have to wait until the show airs in January to see it. However, I did capture their surprise over their new car, a 2009 Ford Flex.
The car and the house are wonderful and I can’t wait to see the inside of both! I did a little research on the web to see what others had already said so I wouldn’t divulge any secrets about the inside of the house, and I learned a few things that I didn’t know already. So much for secrecy. So here’s an inside scoop – though you have to promise to watch the show when it airs to see all of this cool stuff. The home has a home theater styled after a drive-in complete with special seats from a 1964 Mustang Convertible, and a bowling alley and ice cream parlor in the basement. Kayla has a wall size aquarium in her room, and Josh has a dragon’s castle in his. He’s a big fan of Donita K.Paul, a local author who’s a neat lady! Be sure to check her out. They have a state of the art Homeschooling room which I plan to borrow some of their creative ideas from though mine won’t compare in size. Theirs is probably bigger than my living room and dining room combined. But I can take away ideas and make them work for me and my space. 😉 The rest is rumor so that’s all I can tell you for now.
The designers were there, but we only met two, Ed and Rib – a new designer to the show. Ed is my favorite, so I was excited when he was more than happy to take a picture with Zoe. She got a sudden shy streak and Ed had to help me convince her to take the picture “for Benny”. That’s when she agreed – little stinker. He was very friendly and funny and entertained the crowd while signing autographs and taking pictures with everyone who asked. I took their pictures with Kim’s parents and sister as well.
We watched as the crew filmed Kim, Jeremy, Josh, and Kayla coming out of the house to see their new car four times. It was funny to watch them be “surprised” over and over again. I was amazed that they got everyone to be quiet long enough to get their shots. Well, by that time most of the crowd had left. Only a few hundred people stuck around after the first time the family went into the house. You should have seen the line of cars trying to leave the site. We waited around until the crowd had dwindled, but we knew we weren’t going to get to talk with the family, so we eventually left and went out for dinner with our friends from the ACFW writer’s group. I love dining out with other writers. (That’s how I met Donita Paul). The discussions are always interesting and funny.
Thanks for sticking around to read about my friends. Thank you to all who prayed for this miracle to happen. Kayla’s home is safe, functional, beautiful, and so much fun. Thank you to the people with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for choosing this deserving family and I give a big round of applause to the thousands of people who gave time, resources, money, and land to this project. The show will be airing in January. I’ll give you an exact date when I know one.
I’m including a few other links about their story and I’ll leave you with a few more pictures. Did I mention it was hard to narrow it down?
http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/364259/?nextnav=recent
http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/10314187.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21194410/
Sometimes I Write 
This is soooo exciting! I am sure you will tell us when it airs?!
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Niki,
How cool. Thanks for sharing the story and the pics over the last little while. I am SO glad for their family. How fun that you got to go to the reveal!
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I can’t wait to see the show. What an amazing gift.
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I can’t think of a more deserving family. What a blessing for them!
Great photo’s. I wish we could have been there but you’ve ‘transported’ me there through your blog.
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Wish I could have shared this experience with you guys–but I know I was where I was supposed to be . . . thanks for the pictures. Helps me feel a part even though I couldn’t drive down.
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Wow! How exciting. Wish I could have been there to see that. I’m glad you made the trip, and walked us through it. Can’t wait to see the whole thing on TV.
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Niki: How exciting! Glad you got to be there for the excitement. BTW, I’m back on blogger after my hiatus.
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BTW, I gave you an award on GR
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It’s SO cool. My family watches that show ALL the time & I cry EVERY time too! My kids think it’s cool that i “know someone” whose house is getting done. It’s hard to explain that I don’t really know them, but i kinda know someone who knows them. I can’t wait for this episode!
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Hello, it’s Kim’s friend agian. I was trying to look at your pictures but only a few come up. I would love to see more if you would be willing to send some my way, lcpatteson@msn.com If not I can understand as well. Thank you for giving your side of things. I was searching all week as well and found out quite a bit. Kim was supriesed to hear home much I already knew ab out. Thanks again.
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I had always kind of wondered if the families on the show were really as desperate as the show lead us to believe, it’s amazing to know that they are. It’s also AMAZING that God is able to use a TV program to be such a HUGE blessing in people’s lives! See, not all TV is bad!!!
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I used to know the Woodhouses when they lived in Arkansas. Do you have their email addresses or anything so that I can get back in touch with them? My email is rmassery@windstream.net. Thanks!
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My name is Shannon. My husband Scott and I were active volunteers on this project and were VIP’s on the show. I have about 300 candid photos of the construction and of the volunteers and look forward to sharing them with the community and all those who wish to see them. My husband was the lead plumber on the site and I helped the plumbing crew as well as some of the appliance instalation. It was such an honor to be a part of a wonderful cause. my husband worked so hard on this home and when the Woodhouse family arrived in the limo we all burst into tears. I have recently left a blog on Kims myspace account and would love her to contact me for a copy of the photos. I realize that she must be overwhelmed with contacts from the community, however, if you plan on speaking with Kim, please let her know that I’m looking forward to hearing from her. Kayla and her family will remain in our prayers. We can’t wait to see the show air in January. If anyone would like to see some photos of the project…email me at coloradodove@msn.com God Bless, Shannon
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The car is a Ford Flex? That thing looks AWESOME!! I can’t afford a house like that, but I can that car! (and the lease is coming due heehee)
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Hello
I work for the Ford Motor Company in Oakville Ont .
We buikd the Flex here in Oakville. I am so glad to see the Flex go to a family in need!
It make’s me proud to be a Ford worker,when I see Ford doing something like this!
The flex is second to none.
I’m sure it will serve their family well.
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O.K. I’m feeling a little sheepish. I haven’t revisited this post in awhile but need to now that I’m receiving new comments from Ford people. So here’s the scoop. They didn’t get to keep the Ford Flex. I’m not privy to the details – something about it being too far out from the launch date of the vehicle or something like that. What they did get to do is go to a Ford dealership and choose their own. Kim chose a beautiful Expedition. I am increasingly impressed with Ford and their generosity towards this show and the families they help. All of you FORD people should be proud of the work you do – you’re building great, safe vehicles for the families in America! Thanks for stopping by here.
And for the record, I LOVE the ice-blue model of the Ford Flex! It’s just beautiful!
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Uh yeah, I don’t think Ford has reached a saleable pre-production milestone on the Flex yet. FEU/IB or whatever they call them now…
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This is so exciting! How awesome for your friends, and how fun for you to experience this with them!
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I like the woodhouse family and especially the girl. they are an inspiration and i have more respect for having a house to live in my parents) than i did before seeing them struggle and overcome the darkest of times. i wish i could see kayleigh in person and give her a big hug cause she’s the cutest girl ever!
❤
kayleigh’s biggest fan
PAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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i spelled her name wrong. kayla is the name :}
i luv kayla woohoooo and the mom is so sweet n supportive. woodhouse family u are my heroes!
❤
kayla and kim forever
-Pat
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Today this episode of extreme home make over is on the Dutch television. Knowing they live in their home for about 4 years now I am wondering how they are today. Could you just leave me a short not about how they do? I would really appreciate that. Are they still living there, and how are they financially doing?
Hope to hear from you. You can email me at werkplek@solcon.nl
Thank you so much
Esther
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