Read the article here.

So much for my goal of blogging daily with updates on the construction. Here it is, the middle of the week and this is my first blog .  Here's an update on the construction progress:

Abatement. The crew worked long hours Monday and Tuesday to "wrap" the area that has been room 10C, print room, library, conference room and Sprouts classroom. Everything that is not containing asbestos is covered in high quality, thick plastic sheeting. Today they began shoveling the insulation from the attic and have or are removing the first layer of carpeting. Once that is done, they kick up the water to contain any dust particles and remove the ceiling sheet rock (because it is covered with texture containing asbestos), old carpeting and any tile under the carpet as well as the glue containing asbestos. They are determined to finish by Friday night, which will save us money if they are successful.

Construction. Well, actually demolition. Last week the fence was erected to secure the construction area, which proved to be a challenge to some Sunday. Yesterday they removed the Hank Scott plaque (don't worry, we have it in the office) and began tearing down the covered walkway connecting the worship center with the student building. They are doing detailed things that won't show much Sunday but things that have to be done before the wrecking ball can swing on the connecting halls.

Financing. We're completing the paperwork required to complete the loan with Lubbock National Bank. We'll not actually began to draw money from them for a few months but we need the paperwork complete before the construction begins "in earnest."

These are exciting days as well as challenging ones. Too often I've had the challenging days, but they were not exciting. I much prefer the ones with the excitement connected.  Happy Wednesday!

Wednesday morning, July 7, 2010.

Yesterday the abestos abatement people arrived to begin removing the "evil" chemical living in our building. They sealed off the hall just outside my door (the hall the runs north & south) and set up a shower in the walkway that connects the worship center with the administration building. For months we have known this day was coming and worked frantically to get ready. But the anticipation does not match the realty of not being able to go out the door next to my desk. A certain segment of our buliding is not accessible by halls--is only accessible by going outside and walking around the building. It will be like this for nearly a year. WELCOME TO THE NEW NORMAL!

Yesterday the Lee Lewis Inc. construction foreman, Randy Moss, and I walked around the construction site and talked about things that would need to be done and changed. One major change is that the hall way connecting the worship center to the rest of the facility will be GONE almost immediately. This is a departure from the original plan. THE ONE THING we've got to remember during construction is to be flexible and patient. We WILL have access to the worship center, but it may not always be a covered entrance. (Remember, flexible and patient.)

Within the next week (maybe even today) the construction fence will be erected and we'll loose access to the covered entrance. (Remember, flexible and patient.)  Demolition requires fencing--we can't just walk through the demolition zone for safety and insurance purposes.

So, the new normal has arrived and really, it's quite exciting. Once we'd worked through the relocation of things and the disposing of stuff that we've clung to far too long, it got exciting. Hearing the workers just outside my door is exciting. (Did I mention that this is an exciting time?)

As much as possible, I'll blog daily so you can know what's happening in our construction zone. Wish you could be here to observe what's happening, it's exciting (I think I mentioned that before, but am not quite sure).

Read the article here.