Wow.

Ah yes, going on ASB trips reminds me why I do ASB. Why sometimes I spend 40 hours a week in the YMCA devoting my time to ASB.

125 feet of ramp and decking
7,000 - 9,000 dollars of lumber and labor contributed for FREE
18 hours of labor
3 very grateful families
12 or so hours of driving
10 amazing people
2 great organizations
1 cool tshirt

The last 5 days have just been amazing. I can't put words to how important ASB has been in my life (this was my 5th trip). I love the number of inside jokes that come up by the end of the week, and how everyone starts talking the same, and how much I'm going to miss everyone.

United Cerebal Palsy of Middle Tennessee is an amazingly well run organization. Seriously, one of the best non-profits I've worked with. They don't get a lot of volunteer groups during the fall so we were REALLY a big help for them. We built 3 wheelchair ramps in 3 days, booyah. John, our main contact at UCP - really gets ASB and what its about. He gave some very motivational speeches and got a bit emotional. Seriously, he was impressed by our team work and each of us and individuals and told us we need to tell our parents they did a great job raising us. It never ceases to amaze me how different the people are who do ASB and the different places they are going with their lives and their motivation for everything they do.

I got to play with power tools! Seriously, because of ASB I've gotten to do some of the craziest things - remove invasive species with a hatchet, play with power saws and nail guns, you know, that sort of thing.

On to the important stuff - the pictures! Picture Number 1. Lumber for the first day Picture Number 2. Ramp we replaced Picture Number 3. Ramp we built day 1 Picture Number 4. Us and the ramp