Living Hazzardously

Little pieces of our journey with Jesus

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Sewers and windows

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Week one, done! Jess has her work cut out for her as we start to write business plans, seek out grants, donations and start the “non-profit” side of things. We have so much to do, we will hopefully get to the bank this week and open a trust account for donations until we can transfer this directly to the non-profit organization. Up to this point, this venture is all out of our pocket. So far, we have been able to start Sam’s Place on cash only… but that’s not going to last long. Please make donations payable to “Sam’s Place”.

We started this week with exploration, discovery and calculations. We now have a much better idea of what we are up against. The best money spent this week went to “Scooters”, professional, courteous and fast service, they listened to me and made my day so much better.  Thank you, Randy, it’s clean and dry now, still smells like _____ but that’s how it goes. 

I removed one window and verified the construction techniques of the double hung, counterbalanced windows in the original building and took measurements for replacements. We conducted some price comparisons; I was so pleased to discover that Lakeside Lumber & Hardware (our local lumber yard) is competitive on pricing. We truly believe in supporting the local businesses in every way. This just adds to my assertion to continue to support them. We may need to stretch our funds but it’s so nice to know that local spending is still our best option. It’s going to take some time to really get stuff done around here but so far, I am not really surprised at our findings. 

In 1957 there were two meters installed in the lower level, one was labeled “dentist” and the other labeled “doctor”. One was bypassed with a 12-gauge wire and a fuse block (very creative but not real safe), the other still had the meter installed. Lovdahl Electric has already started to replace three fuse panels. The goal is to eliminate a “multitude” of potential fires and subverting insurance claims. We found one circuit that was chopped out by cutting the pipe full of wires… but reinstalling the fuses… so the live wires were just sitting in the end of the pipe, waiting for the most opportune time to reveal this dangerous short cut to the least expectant victim. I’m wondering if I should plan for future Air Conditioning in the building or try to save a few bucks to spend three times as much in the future… I think now is smarter.

I will admit, we have had one surprise so far and it seems to be one of our biggest challenges… INSURANCE! I have discovered that insurance is really only available to those who “don’t need it”… getting insurance has been so expensive and troublesome. Most companies won’t even return our inquiries when they hear “Yes, we currently have fused panels and not breaker panels” (that is being corrected already) We signed on with the company I have been using for many years, a man I have known from my days in Belle Plaine. Currently it’s a short-term policy until we can occupy the building (a vacant building is crazy to get covered) but even after that, the costs and requirements are over the top.

Good news is the sprinkler system is good for a few more years… just don’t paint the sprinkler heads.

We will be stripping/ripping carpet off the floors, patching the floors, walls & ceilings. Painting walls and ceilings as soon as possible. Egg shell white is our goal for everything inside, maybe one day we can add color but in the words of my sons “TODAY IS NOT THAT DAY” 

The building will be addressed in “Phases” so we can start to open asap. 

  • First phase is the upper level of the original building. 7 rooms and the front entry.
  • Second phase is the lower level of the addition. Kitchen and laundry area.
  • Third Phase is the upper level of the addition. 6 rooms and rear entry.
  • Fourth Phase is the lower level of the original building, this will be a large suite, a corner room and a staff office/ overnight bunk.
  • Fifth phase is the exterior, shutters and color.
  • Sixth Phase is landscape. A beautiful garden for sitting and relaxing, a privacy fence along the sides of the garden and a picket fence between the garden and the stunning view of the river. Adding a parking lot in the rear and security measures as well as better storm water drainage
  • Seventh phase is adding “ADA” access. A wheelchair lift is probably the answer. Something similar to the chair lift in City Hall would be best. Does anyone have one laying around? We would be happy to get that donation!
  • Eight phase is…. more dreams….

This is my “priority list” but some of this will definitely be overlapping. For instance, I will be installing new boilers before this fall, making changes to the roof so we don’t continue to see the storms inside the building and making temporary ceiling repairs for our licensing.

We have found some “replacement” plumbing fixtures that need to be replaced and repaired. Cats have been allowed into some spaces and they have left behind the scent of their “domestic life” in the carpets. Plenty of cleaning, minor repairs, locks to change and all the normal things one might expect.

Our disappointment so far is limited to discovering all the documents, pictures or historical items of any type have been removed. This was a serious let down for us as we had such big dreams of a “Museum wall” in the cafe. We are hoping to appeal to the community to provide anything! Your help in this is priceless, we hope to build this back into our dream. 

We clearly see the struggles over the years to keep this fantastic part of the community in good operating condition. It has taken its toll and makes me sad that this building will need to have so much of its history replaced. At “Sam’s Place” we are dedicated to making this happen and making it happen is what we will do.

I am hoping to post a few pictures in my next blog. Stay tuned for more adventures.

Thank you for the support, Sam’s Place & Livinghazzadously.

Sam’s Place ℅ Jess and Charlie Hazzard

50145 County Road 4

Spring Lake MN 56680

Email: springlakejess@gmail.com Blog: Sam’s Place (livinghazzardously.com)

Call or text: 218-256-9154

Sam’s Place

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Free moon full heaven illustration

The first human in space was the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who made one orbit around Earth on April 12, 1961, on a flight that lasted 108 minutes. 

Throughout time humans have ventured out of their comfort zone to achieve great, noble, extraordinary & transformative work. Creatively developing new ways to explore, discover and synchronize the world with our ingenuity. 

Providing care for those who need a bit more help in life is how Jess and myself want to spend our energy and resources.

If we surrender to God’s will, what would He have us do? I was reading this morning in one of my favorite books, Ecclesiastes. It says (paraphrased) after you die, you are forgotten in time by everyone you have ever known, except for God. So, in light of this truth, should we not strive to do those things that are most precious to our LORD?

In the year 1885 a statue was starting to be sculpted in France, America was also known for something that inspired this monumental project. Perhaps best explained with an excerpt from a sonnet written for a fundraising event in support of the statue project. See if you recognize this snippet: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

Luke 10 talks about a man who was robbed, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. Some excellent community members all avoided this man and made excuses to not help, but a foreigner of the land who was despised as an outsider came along and helped this man and took care of him.

Isaiah 1:17 Directs us about how we should change for the better: “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”

2 Thessalonians 3:13 Gives us direction and encouragement to not quit: “But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary of doing good.”

1 John 3:17 Tells us to help those in need out of our prosperity, “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

Orphans, Widows, Samaritans, Tax Collectors, Poor and Needy. 

It is out of this desire to serve that Jess and I have jumped in with both feet and we bought something, something huge, we bought a hospital. Yes, you read that correctly, we bought a hospital.

Introducing “Sam’s Place”

Why “Sam’s Place”? As you may already know, we lost our son, Sam, to an accidental drug overdose in 2022. But his story is more than addiction, much more. Sam was loving, kind and selfless. Sam had a passion for those people in his life that needed a bit more help. Selflessness seemed to just naturally flow from Sam like a great river that waters and nourishes the valley it flows into, always providing, always showing kindness, always listening.

The stories we could tell of Sam would fill this blog for years, but the point I am trying to convey is that Sam was an inspiration and to this day his legacy continues as the name “Sams Place” will now be forever entered into the record books as a reference to caring for the needy. Understanding Sam means you understand gentleness, kindness and love. Sam just had a way of being there for all who “don’t exactly fit”, those that “need a little extra help”. The verse carved on the statue of liberty describes Sam, he lived this verse but also lived for this verse:

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

So here we are, taking the “Old Bigfork Hospital” into the next chapter. A brief history:

1938 construction started for the first rural hospital in North Itasca, 8 beds total.

1953 4 more beds were added with the new addition totaling 12.

1965 the hospital was retired and started a new use as a retirement home.

Over the years the building morphed into the riverside residence and started serving more folks with special needs.

As time went on, the building became more outdated and needed more updates. 

Normally Alex would have been the one to stop for this type of service call, but he was busy, so I stopped to see what we could do. 2 of the three boilers failed, causing the building to heat only in one small section. Electric space heaters littered the building like tiny islands of heat in the arctic wasteland. I just knew this was calling for Jess and me to take action. We both knew from that very first day, this is a divine appointment.  

We realized early, this transformation won’t happen overnight, we need all new windows, exterior doors, roof work, updated electrical panels (still 1938 fuses), heating systems (we hope to add AC in the future) … ALL NEW INTERIOR, a garden out front, a parking lot in back…. The list is endless, and we know it’s a big, long project. And as if that were not enough, my “pipe dream”, a small breakfast cafe open to the public, known for the best cinnamon rolls north of MacGregor!

Jess and I have drafted mission & vision statements we would like to share with you:

Sam’s Place Mission statement: 

Empowering extraordinary opportunities. Highlighting intrinsic human value. Allying the local community. Magnifying individual development, productivity, dignity and independence for our residents.

Sam’s Place Vision Statement:

At Sam’s Place, our vision is to create a clean, organized, and secure living environment for all our residents. We emphasize community involvement, recognizing that all humans are made in the image of the Creator and all people are infinitely valuable in our world. This fundamental belief places community at the heart of our operations.

Our approach to mealtimes extends beyond nourishment; it is about fostering community connections. Whether through a voucher system with local eateries or special meals during community events, we aim to enrich residents’ lives through social interaction. Our aspiration includes launching a community-accessible breakfast cafe within our facility, enhancing both resident and community engagement.

We are committed to personal development, offering our residents opportunities to learn and grow through activities like card and board games, karaoke, book clubs, and crafting workshops. Our staff provides essential guidance in daily life skills, ensuring that every resident receives support tailored to their needs.

Safety is paramount. We implement robust security measures, including controlled access and privacy fencing, particularly around key communal areas like our community garden, which boasts a stunning river view.

Ultimately, our goal is to deliver unparalleled care, upholding the dignity, purpose, and meaning of life for each resident. At Sam’s Place, every individual is valued and treated with the utmost respect, embodying our core belief in the profound worth of every person.

We have plenty to do in this project, but when we are done, our hope is to provide a home for between 16-20 people, where our vision statement can thrive. We invite your support and assistance on this fantastic journey, whatever your level of support, we strongly covet your prayers. 

The Team at “Sam’s Place” thank you in advance for all you do.

Matthew 25:35-40 – “For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you visited me, I was in prison, and you came to me. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Now is the time for action! Join us today on this worthwhile journey, developing this dream even further than we had imagined. Remember, you are also infinitely valuable in our world.

Jess and Charlie

Livinghazzardously

Me First Jack!

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From time to time, I need a reminder of the GOODNESS of GOD… why? Well, it’s simple, I am a selfish creature and I like to be the center of the world with everything around me serving my every desire… oh, you think you are different? Think about this… You disagree, by very definition you have decided you are different, which means you believe you are different… ME, ME, ME Like agent smith from the Matrix.

Doesn’t our self-narrative of being different simply show we are serving ourselves? Providing and giving ourselves a different narrative? Or maybe climb up on top of our mountain and proclaim, “I can objectively state I am different because I have a perfect knowledge of myself!” …. You, see? No matter how we slice the cake, it comes right back to “Me” & “I” statements. My challenge to you (and myself) is to stop putting yourself, your narrative and your life ahead of others and become fully self-sacrificial… it’s impossible, if you are being honest. 

The lyrics of a great song are listed below. I don’t give “credits” of this song, nor do I claim credits, in the end, this seems like some crazy hangup in this world. Like sources always need to be cited to be credible in a statement. Like somehow, citing credits gives truth more value, because you can name an authority… Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s. Give the claim of goodness to God.

Life is easy, when you’re up on the mountain

And you’ve got peace of mind, like you’ve never known

But things change, when you’re down in the valley

Don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone

(I could almost hear you sing, let’s try again)

(That was a little better)

Ok, let’s turn the table, have you ever thought this:

Your life is so easy, you really have nothing to complain about.

You are so blessed, don’t look a gifted horse in the mouth.

You didn’t have a rough childhood, you had it so easy.

Why are you such a Debbie downer?

Statements like these are seldom placed on the “mirror of self-reflection”. They nearly exclusively prove how another person doesn’t measure up… how often do we self-reflect on how much we think about ourselves? Putting ourselves at the center of our world? Think about a person that thinks of themself nearly all the time. This person seemingly can only see the world as “what can I get?” or “what do I deserve?” or maybe “How does this benefit me?” It’s difficult to live with this type of person! It’s even more difficult to constantly serve this type of person and never feel some need and desire for self-preservation, at least at some level… What if I am this person? What if you are this person?

What does it mean to “Be more God-like?” For God so loved the world that he gave…. In the beginning, God created…. The two greatest examples of God’s selfless character displayed in scripture show “Selfless giving”.  God created from nothing, all that exists. God giving from himself the only son… sacrifice is a Godly thing, and giving is how we find value in ourselves. A focus on self is the pathway to anxiety, depression and a tortured soul. 

Al may not be able to “give” Jess and myself much of anything.  In fact, he demands form us a 24-7 stream of attention, provision, supply & purpose. We find we are constantly giving, answering the same questions 100 times (I am not joking), providing direction, reminders every meal (how to not spill food, set the table, wipe the table…  endlessly at every meal) Supplying all that he has, wants and needs…. A constant flow out of ourselves and to him, like an ever-consuming fire that is never satisfied… BUT WAIT, what does Al give us? He gives us an endless resource to give to! He is somebody in need. In him we find joy and meaning in life by putting ourselves second. (Jess has perfected this, I’m still learning) My sweet mother showed me many years ago “You cannot out give God”… reflect on that a second. You can’t out give God…

This leads me to our big reveal, our next chapter in life. This big reveal that some folks already know about, but others may only suspect something is going on, and still others will simply state “YOU are CRAZY”.  This will certainly earn our name “LivingHazzardously”

My next blog post is a post YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS!!! Jess and I have been working on a plan that we are hoping will come to play out and truly start on or before April 29.

Did I mention:

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS MY NEXT BLOG POST???!!!

Follow us as we kick off our calling from God and start a new chapter in living for others! Giving our Time, Talent and Touch. Please lift us in prayer as we wait for the Lord.  

May the Lord bless you this day as you find value in serving others. 

James 1:27

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.