Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear.

~ George Addair

Life has been busy lately, so once again, my apologies for lagging in this blog, until summer winds down expect a new post about every month as there are not enough hours in the day it seems!

 I wanted to touch base on the above quote. As I was sitting here pondering on what to write I remembered this quote, as fitting as it seems to me, I am going to attempt to explain how it fits with this project. Years ago, when I decided to do a complete about face in my previous career (banking/lending) and make a major shift to become a nurse (crazy right!), I lived by this quote.

Not only was this one of the most tremulous times in life by making this life altering decision the fear behind my decision was even more tremulous. This quote carried me through 4 years of schooling, multiple clinicals, and passing the NCLEX to get my license to practice nursing. I wrote this quote on a chalkboard in our house, so every time I walked by it, it served as a reminder to stay strong and keep moving forward, the light was at the end of the tunnel even though I could not see it yet. During that time there were so many unknowns, so many shifts from week to week, so many challenges and hurdles to jump just to get to the goal. BUT with perseverance I made it. When you have a great support system nothing can stop you! And once again, just like this restoration project, the Steering Committee and the working groups HAVE A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM AND THAT SUPPORT COMES FROM YOU!

We met for our Steering Committee meeting just yesterday, as we recapped the most recent items on the agenda, we are eagerly awaiting the roof replacement to begin. This is scheduled to begin August 26th, and we can’t wait to see some action taking place at this beautiful home. Get your cameras ready, hop in the car or take a stroll down State Street and snap some photos of the “now”, because soon enough things will be improving before your eyes!

We also started discussing the most important, feared subject of planning how this will be fully utilized after completion. We need to ensure that we are planning for community engagement, sustainability and the list goes on. This is where the fear comes in. If you have ever been poised on decision making or been a part of the process, you want to make decisions that will allow this building to last for another century or longer and with that comes the sustainability factor.

This restoration is for everyone. Every person that has given time, monetary gifts, donated items, walked by admiring its beauty, wants this restoration to come to fruition all while maintaining the integrity of the home but also encouraging community use, history, artifacts, educational opportunities, gathering spaces, special events or occasions and that list goes on as well!  I encourage you to share your thoughts at the next community meeting if you have ideas you would like to share.

Our community has been the driving force behind this restoration. I don’t know a single person that has said “this is a terrible idea” BUT If I had been collecting a dollar from every person that has said in years past, “I wish someone would do something with that house”, we would have at least half of the amount needed for the restoration!  Our community continues to support this restoration day after day, and WE THANK YOU for the strength, encouragement and commitment you continue to show.

 The wonderful Wright House fundraising group has committed volunteers that have a vendor table at the Alma Farm Market every Saturday, and without fail every Saturday (I’m at the market too!) I see our community surprise us at every turn, whether it be stopping to say hello, dropping a dollar into the donation jar or purchasing a t-shirt. It’s things like this that show us to have faith not fear in what we are doing!  Thank you for showing up, thank you for your continued support and most of all thank you for engaging with us on our journey to restore this beautiful piece of history!

Until next time….

~ Rochelle