Wednesday,
June 6, 2012 was a beautiful hot summer day. At 10 am the ceremony began for
the groundbreaking of the new subdivision in the 900 block of east Martin
Luther King Drive in Bryan, Texas. This is the new Faith subdivision for
Habitat for Humanity. 24 homes will be built in this area. All the homes are
scheduled to be completed by June 2014. I was not able to attend the ceremony but I
was able to speak with Melanie earlier this week.
Her voice
over the phone is full of hope and excitement as she talks about the wall
raising for her home scheduled September 8, 2012. This is barring any weather
of course. One of her 3 children’s birthday is in September and I can’t think
of a better way to commemorate a birthday but with the sight of the walls going
up on their very own place to call home. Her voice is filled with pride and joy
as she talks about how excited her children are. They want to know why they
aren’t already moving in, not understanding it takes time for these things to
happen.
Melanie
has accepted the challenges life keeps tossing at her and is “ready for her
next challenge.” Speaking with her, as a wife, mother and woman, I realize we
have much in common. She is dedicated to her family and determined to do what
she needs to do to ensure they are provided for. She has experienced the fear
that no parent wants to experience. The cold dread that you feel when something
is wrong with your child and how helpless you feel until you learn what the
illness is. Then spending countless
hours not only caring for that child, but in doctor’s offices with endless
visits to treat their illness. She has made decisions like we all do as
parents, then agonized over whether we have chosen the right thing for our
children. We all want our children to be happy, healthy and whole and do
whatever it takes to make that happen.
She
is a very strong, loving person that doesn’t quit. It is hard to walk some
paths in life and many people choose the easy way instead of facing things head
on. Melanie's determination and outlook on life reminds me of one of the many
sayings I live by, “Live much, laugh often and love always.” She is an inspiration
to me personally, and I feel privileged to be part of her journey with Habitat.
Now, with her kiddos back to being happy and healthy, she is free to focus on
the next chapter in her life.
She has
completed 300 of her 500 ‘sweat equity hours’ that are required as part of the
process. Volunteering in the Habitat Restore and other activities satisfied
these previous hours. Now she is talking excitedly about the next 100 hours she
is putting in. She said she didn’t have to do them as construction but she
chose that path on purpose. Learning about how to construct a home is going to
be a great and exciting change of pace and allow her to help with other
people’s homes that are being raised. Then she gets to spend the last 100 hours
on the construction of her own home. She and I laughed when I said that I could
paint and nail and that was about the extent of my construction skills. Her
response to me was, “Well that’s about all it takes to start with and you can
learn the rest.” And learn we will!
I will continue speaking with Melanie as the date fast approaches to raise the walls on her home. I will take pictures to share and chronicle this momentous occasion for this wonderful family. Hopefully I will know enough construction skills of my own by then to actually help with her home. So keep checking back for the progress as this story continues.
I will continue speaking with Melanie as the date fast approaches to raise the walls on her home. I will take pictures to share and chronicle this momentous occasion for this wonderful family. Hopefully I will know enough construction skills of my own by then to actually help with her home. So keep checking back for the progress as this story continues.
Their home
will be ready probably by Christmas if all goes as planned. For one family, it
is a priceless gift they will be receiving all wrapped up in Joy and Love. As
Melanie says, “Where there is life there is love.” I know this home is going to
be full of life and overflowing with love, as will many of the homes that will
be built in this subdivision!
Kathie
Hitt
Email: kathiehitt@yahoo.com
For volunteer
opportunities for Habitat, please contact:
Ryan Pierce
Director of Volunteer Experience and Communications
Bryan/College Station Habitat for Humanity
979.703.1895
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