Thank you from Breanna Norman
May 30, 2013, 3:21 PM | Updated: May 31, 2013, 4:17 pm
(Photo: Norman family)
Breanna Norman, John’s wife, has sent the show a letter to show her gratitude after so many of you have stepped up to offer materials and your time to finish their dream house.
John was killed in a tractor accident two weeks ago. We’re trying to get his home completed for his wife, daughter Cadence, and baby on the way, before Father’s Day:
Dear Ron and Don,
I wanted your listeners to know just how much everything that you and the community are doing means to me. Right now, I am still unable to talk much about my husband without breaking down into tears, so I figured that the best thing to do was to send a letter that you might read on air.
John was the kind of man that would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was always there for anyone that asked for his help and he was the most forgiving person I have ever met. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined a more loving and dedicated husband and father for our children. But these were just the surface of the man he really was.
He had incredible talent and determination; and it is apparent in every aspect of the house he was building for us. He designed the house himself and would have done all the engineering on it if the county had let him. He was doing everything on the house by hand, even building a kiln to dry out the cedar log he built the fireplace mantel out of. John had gotten the house ready to drywall, but was installing the pine tongue and groove on the ceiling first. He had been working on the ceiling the last few weeks.
All the while he was busy building the house, he worked full time laying foundations and taking any side job he could to provide for his family. His hard work allowed me to stay home full time with our daughter. The fact that he was able to accomplish all of this was something that I admired him for every day.
When we lost John, both of our families and friends all rallied together to finish the house in his honor. This is something that is very important to me because even though he will never live with us in that house, his daughters will be able to see every day just how amazing their father was.
I had no idea how we were going to complete the house or even if we could get it done by the end of the year, let alone before our second daughter is born. When I heard the first broadcast that you ran, I was touched that so many people would come together to honor my husband in such a way. I’ve always known what the word ‘community’ meant, but until now I never knew what a true community was. I do not have the words to properly express just how thankful I am that not only friends and family would help to complete John’s dream, but also so many other individuals that had never even met him.
I have gone out of town to be with family right now and will not be at the house to personally thank every person that comes out to work on the house. Please know that everything everyone is doing to honor my husband and help our family through this difficult time is truly appreciated.
-Breanna Norman
>Meanwhile, Ron and Don want to thank everyone who stepped up to offer material donations and services…
DRYWALL
– The Pacific Northwest Regional Counsel of Carpenters is teaming up with the Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau and their vendors to donate and hang the drywall for the entire house.
– A-1 Dry Doctor also offering drywall texturing servicesELECTRIC
– Shoreline Electric Inc offering to help with electrical trim needsPAINTING
– Jack’s Evergreen Painting in Redmond offering help with exterior paint
– Student Edge Painting offering paint and laborFLOORING
– South Seattle Hardwood Flooring CompanyPLUMBING
– Rudy’s Plumbing in Bellevue donating all plumbing trim parts and labor, completing plumbingCABINETS
– Wooden Luxuries in Sultan will provide remaining cabinet needsGUTTERS
– The Third Arm Construction in Lynnwood donating all gutters for houseGRAVEL
– Cadman in Redmond is taking care of gravel and concrete for the house
– Roberts Excavating offering site work, final grading, gravel workLABOR
– Salish Lodge and Spa engineering team offering labor for finish work, plumbing, electrical, sheetrock, painting, landscape design/installation and HVAC
– YouthBuild Snohomish County offering a student work crew for construction
– Greg Brown of GB Construction offering to facilitate work on home
– Damin Cady of Cadybuilt Home Solutions volunteering labor
– The Happy Chefs Catering Company offering to bring lunch to workers for a dayCOUNTERTOPS
– Western Tile and Marble in Bellevue, donating stone countertopsAPPLIANCES
– Seattle Home Appliance donating a washer for the Norman homeSHOWER DOORS & MIRRORS
– Affordable Quality Glass donating & installingMISC.
– Hansen Brothers Moving & storage offering to help with moving needs
– Emilee Melton has a gas dryer to donate
– Meredith Zuberer has a bathroom vanity and counter top to donate
– Rustic Relative Sign Co. donating a custom sign for the Norman family
– Everett Vacuum is donating a brand new vacuum for a housewarming present
– McLendon Hardware in Woodinville donating a $500 gift card
– Greater Northwest Door Company offering donation of two doors for interior of houseJOHN’S HOUSE STILL NEEDS…
Septic system:
1 1500 gal 2 compartment septic tank
1 1500 gal pump tank
pump timer SJE Rhombus (or equal)
(we have all pipe material and the pump)
Installer and labor to be determinedInt paint:
same and PVA
Gravel to finish driveway (can be reclaimed blacktop)
Concrete for back patio and side walkway (7-9 yards)Interior Doors:
Bath: 2’4″ LH, 2’4″ pocket door, 2’6″ LH
Bed room: 2’6′ RH
Bedroom closet 2’6′ RH
Coat closet 2’6′ RH
Pantry 2’6″ RH
Swing determined hinge side door swinging to you. prefer wood panel doors, or shaker style, fir, alder, pine, other (not oak)
also garage to util 3’0″ RH (not fire rated) white oak
util rm 2’6″ LH whiteInt. Hardware:
Door knobs, Cabinet pulls, towel bars, T. P. , door stops
Sliding door handle for Anderson door (match existing?)
Door & window trim (pine)
Baseboard trim (hardwood floors are clear coated Hickory)
HandrailsExt:
entry porch and stairs
patio
deck above garageInt:
stairs
Front entry way stairsDeck Coating:
Waterproof membrane Approx 80 sq. ft.Millwork:
Base 300′ lin. 1×3 pine
Casing 6 doors and 8 windowsScreens, window:
will have to built to fitAppliances:
Garbage disposal
Hot Water tank gas 40 gal.
(already have all kitchen appl.)Tile Prep:
35 sheets ½” (3’x5′) Hardy Backer Board
2 rolls 30 lb felt paper
1 ½” Roofing nails (20 lbs)Tile Finish:
Colors and amounts to be determined
Mortar
Grout sealerFireplace slate:
100 sq ft Blue Roan 1″ (originally purchased existing from Clearview Nursery & Stone)