Today, October 17, the day when the U.S. population reached 300 million, and what would have been my daughter Kolleen’s 19th birthday causes me to reflect on what it all means.

It’s not the 300 million figure that impresses me most. It’s the fact that each of those 300 million people is an individual who, through the course of their lives, will, in some way, touch the lives of the more than 6 billion individuals on the planet.

When Kolleen passed away earlier this year, I was deeply moved at her visitation and funeral by all the friends, family, and acquaintances who showed up to grieve her loss and celebrate her life. I realized that although Kolleen was no longer with us in body, her spirit continued to thrive in those who knew her and loved her. They shared their stories of Kolleen with me and my family—my wife Kathleen, and Kolleen’s siblings Kyle and Kaleigh.

Recently, I picked up a copy of The Dash, based on the poem “The Dash,” by Linda Ellis. (You can view The Dash Movie online by clicking here.) In the poem, Ellis describes a man speaking at the funeral of a dear friend. Referring to the dates on her tombstone, he notes that what’s most important about those dates is not the birth date or the date of her death, but the dash between those years. The man goes on to say that in the end, what we own, what we achieve materially is of little consequence. What’s important is “How we spend our dash.”

The Dash constantly reminds me of the importance of connecting with others every day of my life, especially in a world in which technology is making communications increasingly less personal. When we connect with others, as Kolleen did throughout her short life, the dash becomes much less of a line between two dates. It becomes an ever expanding series of circles that ripple out, touching the lives of many others.

On this day, I realize that Kolleen’s dash didn’t end on the day she died. Because she touched so many people in so many positive ways, she made her dash eternal.

I wonder about that 300 millionth U.S. citizen born today. What will that tiny baby’s dash ultimately represent? How will he or she affect the lives of others? How will that person’s life ultimately touch me?

Two weeks ago, Habitat for Humanity affiliates all across the United States–along with thousands of professional homebuilders–joined forces to construct more than 400 houses in 130 communities in just five days. Here in the metro-Warren/Detroit area (where I serve on the Board of Directors of Macomb County Habitat for Humanity), volunteers and professional builders with ties to the Building Industry Association of Southeastern Michigan, partnered to construct eight new homes, all of which benefited deserving families and neighborhoods in need.

The idea of a nationwide build that partnered Habitat for Humanity volunteers with professional homebuilders began in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2002, when 12 homes were constructed in less than one week. Then, in 2003, 24 homes were built in a week, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Here are some little-known facts: Habitat for Humanity is currently ranked overall as the 18th largest home builder in the United States, and the third largest private home builder. The organization works in more than 1,700 locations across the country, completing on average more than 5,000 homes per year and nearly 20,000 homes per year outside the United States.

Why I’m blogging about all of this is because The Big Nail is proud to support the work of Habitat for Humanity. The Big Nail encourages everyone out there check out Macomb County Habitat for Humanity for themselves. If you do not live in the local area, visit the national Habitat for Humanity web site and search for an affiliate in your area. And if you’re a college student, don’t let that fact stop you from volunteering. As my daughter Kolleen found out when she enrolled at Albion, many colleges and universities have Habitat for Humanity chapters of their own.

As many people know, the Big Nail family recently suffered a major loss. For those of you who are new the Big Nail community, I have sad news to share.

My oldest daughter–my angel–my 18-year-old Kolleen, A.K.A. “KoRo,” passed away quite unexpectedly on Memorial Day. Kolleen was everything to me and my wife Kathleen and our two other children, Kyle and Kaleigh. These last 10 days have been both a horror and an honor. If you’re a parent, you know the horror part. The honor part has been as a result of the outpouring of love and support from nearly every corner of the planet.

To see for yourself what an amazing friend, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, teammate, neighbor, and daughter Kolleen was, please click here for a tribute blog that was created by some of my assistants in the early hours of this tragedy.

We’ll be back soon with updated news and information about the Big Nail’s appearences and travels. Until then, I just wanted to say to everyone who has shared a thought, memory, or kind word with my family and me since Memorial Day, we thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. These are difficult and trying times, to say the least, and your support has been of great comfort to everyone in my family, as well as to the entire Big Nail community.