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Family says ‘Extreme Makeover’ gift goes beyond walls

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 12:11 AM Saturday, August 8, 2009

BEAVERCREEK — Carthage Drive continued to bask in its new celebrity and worked to return to normal Friday, Aug. 7, to a soundtrack of stump removers working nearby lawns and multiple service vehicles hovering nearby.

The street gained wide interest in the past 10 days after it was announced that James Terpenning and his family, who live at 548 Carthage, would receive a new home as part of the ABC reality TV series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

The house was unveiled to the Terpennings and a massive crowd Thursday, and the Terpennings met briefly with reporters Friday to discuss the experience and receive even more gifts.

“I’m so drained,” Terpenning said, smiling and shaking hands with a row of well-wishers.

The Terpennings learned July 30 that the show would raze their existing home and build another in its place in less than a week. The family went on a paid vacation to Disney World during the construction and were brought back for the unveiling.

Businesses donating time and money to the Terpennings and other neighbors and friends gathered Friday afternoon to hear the family’s comments and offer their congratulations. One man told Terpenning he hoped to talk more with him in the near future.

“Well,” Terpenning said, smiling, “you know where I live.”

Many at the scene and in the community have said the show’s visit underlined the giving nature of area residents, businesses and neighbors who allowed tire tracks to be etched into lawns and construction trailers and equipment to overtake the neighborhood.

“We’re not going to be able to step on each other’s toes any more,” Terpenning said of the larger house to accommodate him, wife Shannon, brother Joseph and their children Josselyn, 6, twins Justin and Jacob, 2, and Joshua, 1.

Terpenning and Joseph both use wheelchairs.

“We’re going to be able to move around, and we’re going to be able to be a much better family. Our relationship and our connection with each other is going to grow 100 fold,” he said.

Terpenning was nominated for the project by his bosses and co-workers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he works as a civilian computer specialist.

“I was reluctant about doing this, 'cause I don’t see myself as needing things,” Terpenning said.

“I take care of myself, I take care of my family. We all pretty much think the same way that you’ve got family, and you try to do things for others, not just worry about yourself and your family,” he said.

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