Don’t You Ever Doubt

Don’t you ever doubt that this country is coasting on a wing and a prayer. After only one day on the job of #OperationGratefulNation, I have every reason to believe that this great nation is not running on fumes at all.

We sent Clay and Linda Schumann off to a beautiful hotel to enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation.

College kids, senior citizens, elementary age, disabled, veterans, still serving, policemen, firemen, pastors and neighbors came out of the woodwork yesterday to rebuild the Schumann home.

Strangers became like family over meals provided, blood sweat and tears shared while pulling down siding, chainsawing trees, ripping up flooring and clearing out 30 years of memories. It was all heart, motivated by love for a family and love of country. I’ve never seen anything like it. At some points I am sure there were well over 100 people on the job. Like ants climbing out of an anthill we were tripping over one another while trying to beat a rainstorm and keep ahead of the demo team. We accomplished by noon what I had previously thought would take two days. That’s the heartbeat of a community that loves the Schumann family. That’s the pulse of a neighborhood ready to give back to someone who has given so much.

One lovely lady walked up to me as I was hanging out of a window and passed me some cash. Another woman left me a check for $100 and left the title blank. “You use it however you need to, honey…”

College Hunks Hauling Junk showed up at about 10am with two of the best looking boys! They walked up ready to move junk to their truck and stayed for hours after ripping up carpet and tack strip. Eager to help, they both said they’d be back later on in the week and couldn’t wait to help out with An American Gold Star Christmas. I’m sure having my daughters on the job was a nice motivation.

Folks, something magical happens when you give people a chance to give back to the Gold Star community. Everyday Americans realize that their citizenship is a precious gift. They see the cost of freedom up close and personal…and once that happens, look out.

*Donnie the Fireman and Rolando the Carpenter, conferring on the siding…these guys worked hard even through a downpour…but at least we never got baked by the sun.

I thank you for praying, providing, and sharing what is happening in our community through your social medias and with your friends! I am so grateful to get to do this work and to do it with such an amazing community of families like y’all is the opportunity of a lifetime!

*Pictured below– my favorite future congressman, Brian Mast, working hard with his little protege, Courson!