Family Stories

Deb and Brady Kowalzek “We can’t wait to not have standing water in our house when it rains” Such a simple wish, however for Deb and her son Brady, this is the reality they live in. Deb spent most of her life caring for others. A few years ago, Deb and her youngest son Brady…

“Keep trying, don’t quit, don’t give up, keep fighting” These are the words that Brian and Mandy live by and are teaching their children (ages 13, 9, 6 and 3). Brian and Mandy met when they were in recovery.  They had a good life and things were going well at least for a while. However,…

A tragedy transformed into a full circle blessing! Discouragement, uncertainty, despair, places and emotions we may all have experienced but for many this hopelessness clouds their vision to ever see any open door to improve their life. Dennis joined the military shortly after high school. Dennis had many dreams, but life handed him some challenges…

“I just want wider hallways & doors” That’s a pretty simple response to the question of what’s needed to serve the Kemp family in their Habitat home. Paul’s in a wheelchair and he wants to be able to move down the hallway without scraping his hands on the walls; he wants to be able to get into…

“I will have my own bedroom!” April Bower and her two girls, Erika and Courtney are ready and eager to build their Habitat home this year. All three are currently living with April’s dad who has generously opened his home to them but is ready for his space to be his own. When asked what this build…

Ray Lindberg, “Papa Ray” “I can’t wait to have warm feet!” That’s a pretty simple request from a pretty amazing man. Ray Lindberg, or “Papa Ray” as he’s known by his 12 grandchildren, is so eager to move out of his cold, drafty trailer home and into a new Habitat for Humanity home with a heated…

Meet Rachelle and her two boys, Logan (10) and Dean (8).  This family will be the new homeowners of a Habitat for Humanity home bought back from a previous partner family. For Rachelle and her boys, having a safe and affordable place to live will be life changing. Rachelle says “Thank you for this once…

By Kendra Crandall “My name is Kendra Crandall and I have 5 children: Adrianna (11), Lilianna (9), Nayanna (7), Frederick Jr (5), and Eveanna Littlewolf (1). I work at the hospital as a Certified Nursing Assistant.  It’s hard being the only parent providing for my children.  I have tried for many years to make things work…

By Sheena Zielger In 2007, James and I began dating.  Three years later, we welcomed our first son—Hayden James—into the world. Our lives were perfect. In October of 2011, we found out we were going to have another baby, and we were very excited. That December, we had our first ultrasound.  This was the day…

By Christina Johnson “Rick and I have been married for seven years.  We have two beautiful children: our 10-year old, Alexis, and Kendrick, who was born last December. We currently live in the old trailer home I grew up in.  It’s two bedrooms, and is literally falling apart.  The back door is caved in, we…