Move That Bus!!!

Today is the climax of the show. This is the big moment when it is time to pull out the kleenex and get ready for the flood gates to open. And that it what happened for us. A lot of it is because of the wonderful expression that was seen from the Starkweather Family, but we can not help but feel that the staff of EMHE and Make-a-Wish are also a big part of the emotion. We feel like there is family here in Oklahoma and that we are leaving them. The people of this community were endless with generosity and their love for our family. They even told us that they would love for us to become a part of their state. That is the ultimate if they would build you a house if you want to live here. If anyone is ever moving to Oklahoma and especially the Tulsa area, look no further then Simmons Homes for your house. They have hearts the size of Oklahoma (not Texas due to the rivalry here) that they care about what they stand for.

So I am sure you really want to know about the day. We were on set at 11:30 today and the crowd had already started to form for the big event. The bus was around the corner and the street was being cleaned. We were there for about an hour before they needed Callie and they sent Callie and Stacie to the Art Tent. She was welcomed there by Paul and two muscians. Here was Callie talking with Cheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert, both were going to be there for the reveal of the house. After a little filming in the tent they sent Callie down to eat before the big moment. So as we go down the street to eat, Callie is shouted by several people in the crowd and she has a few photos with mostly girls her own age.

After the lunch we returned to Callie's trailer and waited for them to call us out for the big event. As they called us out they put our family right in the front of the crowd and had Callie stand with the design team to welcome home the family. They filmed the arrival several times before the family actually came home. Once they did arrive we practiced moving the bus several times. In Zoe's words, "We are telling them to move the bus, but they are not listening!" Once the producers had the film that they needed then they actually moved the bus and got the reaction of the family. They had emotions of gratitude as they we given that awesome gift. Not to ruin the show, but pleanty more was also given to them that you will see in the show. We watched as they were taken into the house. Callie was quickly sent down to the designer bus with Cheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, Paul, Paige, and Eduardo. Don't worry we will stay here while you all go enjoy the plush life.

While they were gone Sammy, a crew member asked us and others close to the family to move to the side of the street that the house was on. As the main crowd dispersed we waited. Soon the Starkweather family came out of the house and were walked down to the bus, while Callie and the others came back up. At this point, Callie and our whole family got to go into the house and prepare to welcome the family into their home for a concert. We sat in this home designed mainly but people who are behind the scenes, and we got to join the Starkweather family in listening to the music of Cheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert. Nothing is like a private concert with thirty people and have the experience of listening to these fine artists. Callie was with the design team the whole time dancing and clapping and joking with them. Cheryl and Miranda talking with her as with the rest of the talent, like they had a long relationship. It was unbelieveable!!!

This has been a dream come true for Callie. It has become a memory in the lives of all of our family that could not have occured any other way. As the day ends so does many of the close daily interaction with people we talked and walked with daily. A great example was Erin, she is from the Make-A-Wish of Oklahoma. As we rode home Zoe said to me "I love Erin, she took care of me all day." She then told it to Erin. After arriving at our hotel, Erin let us know Callie's schedule for interviews for tomorrow and let us know that she would not be seeing us tomorrow. Emotions flowed as we made sure that e-mail address and phone numbers were well documented to keep in contact. Others that you see in the photos in todays blog are the same thing. People who have found their way into our lives, not to be forgotten. We will head home tomorrow night, but we will never leave Oklahoma for good, Callie has made sure of that when she not only etched her name in the sidewalk in front of the Starkweather home, but took the city of Tulsa by storm via newspaper, television, and interaction with the people. We have been blessed, and those blessing make the trials in life seem just a small amount easier to handle.