This summer I was thrilled to learn that I would become a homeowner for the first time, thanks to the Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, in Indiana. Part of the program requires 250 hours on the worksite by me or volunteers working on my behalf. Luckily I had a lot of help and many of my co-workers even committed to a Cook Day of volunteering. After 15 weeks of hard work, our new home was officially dedicated on September 17, just before my son Samson’s 11th birthday.
Throughout the process, I took pictures and notes, and wanted to share them with you. Thank you everyone at Cook for your support, encouragement, and sweat on the job site!
Click on the image to open the photo gallery completely so you can read the full captions. Navigate with the left/right arrows.
My Habitat Home Diary
April 13 -- This is a layout for Habitat's Trail View neighborhood, which sits off the B-Line Trail south of 11th Street in Bloomington.
May 21 -- We were surprised this week that the foundation was already down on our site.
June 9 -- Samson and I stopped by to see the progress.
June 11 -- Week one on the job site was great. I worked with these young volunteers from Chick-fil-A. The volunteers are my favorite part. They love to learn more about me and about Habitat. We finished the floor!
June 18 -- We started framing the home. These are the outside walls on the first floor.
July 9 -- We started building the second floor. Framing is hard work but I think I can build a small dog house to code now!
July 16 -- Look how far we have come! I am so excited. The walls are up! I helped measure and lay them out for the second floor.
July 21 -- I took Samson by the site for a visit. He is so excited. I think he wants to stay the night!
July 30 -- All of my friends from church came out today to help! What a fun day it was. So great having everyone there to learn and to show them the house!
August 6 -- Contractors hung the dry wall during the week, so when I arrived Saturday, the inside was looking a lot more like a home.
August 6 -- We started on the siding, and the front porch stairs were built. The color of the home is Granite Gray.
August 22 -- We spent the last two weeks painting. Light fixtures have been put in, and we’re prepping the floor to have the vinyl installed soon and then the trim.
Samson came to tell everyone how exciting this year has been for him. He will be moving into his very own home by the end of the year, has a scholarship to study violin at Jacobs School of Music, and has a scholarship for BEAT Show Choir. Both of these scholarships came through his hard work at Fairview Elementary School (only 7 minutes' walking distance from the Trail View neighborhood).
August 27 -- Every morning we gather in a big circle to review Habitat rules and talk a little about the program. This helps first-time volunteers get to know Habitat and we introduce ourselves to them. We call it "Morning Circle."
August 27 -- I have made a great new friend with Habitat staff member Cindy. She has agreed to teach me violin later this year. Samson’s new violin teacher at Jacobs String Academy also received a Habitat Home and will be my new neighbor! What a small world!
August 27 -- John has named me the Great Stud Finder. I found the studs and he nailed down the trim, then we caulked over the nail holes.
August 27 -- My house was sponsored by a couple named Harv and Connie Hegarty. Today, Harv stopped by to see the progress and to bring us a cake, so we took a break to enjoy it.
September 3 -- We are finishing up trim and touch-up painting so not much to show in pictures. Here we are in Morning Circle today.
September 3 -- We had volunteers from Hoosier Youth Challenge Academy and the Indiana University Habitat chapter that is sponsoring a new house being built in Trail View.
September 10 -- Today was Cook Day! Co-workers came out to work on four houses. Here, Douglas Barley builds porch rails for my neighbor's house.
September 10 -- Today was Cook Day! Co-workers came out to work on four houses. Here, Nicole and Todd Graham organize the tool trailer.
September 10 -- Today was Cook Day! Co-workers came out to work on four houses. Here, Nicole Bowman and two other volunteers build walls for my neighbor's house.
September 10 -- Today was Cook Day! Co-workers came out to work on four houses. Here, Rhonda Barnes measures for cabinet installation in my neighbor's house.
September 10 -- Today was Cook Day! Co-workers came out to work on four houses. Here, Shannon and Buck Russell build the walls on a home that is sponsored by IU’s Habitat chapter.
September 17 -- The dedication day finally arrived! Kerry Thomson, president of Habitat for Humanity Monroe County, spoke a few words to a crowd of my co-workers, my friends, Habitat employees and volunteers I have met this past year, and current Trail View home owners.
September 17 -- Harv and Connie Hegarty joined me and Samson on the porch during the dedication. The Hegartys sponsored my home. Habitat can only fund a small number of houses a year so they count on sponsors to provide much of the funding.
September 17 -- Michael May hands me the keys to my and Samson's new home!!!! Michael was Samson's chess teacher. He and his wife, Anne St. John, suggested in 2015 that I apply for a Habitat home.
September 17 -- In my speech accepting this amazing home, I talked about all the different people who inspired me during this process, like all the high school students who gave up their Saturdays to be here helping me build my home, and many others.
September 17 -- Billy Young, who works at Habitat ReStore, is also an inspiration to me. He and his violinist friend Eleanor Marie played a song that he wrote.
September 17 -- And here we are, cutting the ribbon to enter our new home. We could not be more excited. The official closing for our mortgage is on November 8, so that will be when we actually move in.
I don’t know about you, but as I was finishing my photo diary, I noticed that along the way, the photos and captions started being more about the people I met and the people who volunteered than about the progress on the house. This experience has brought so many new people and interesting connections into my life and Samson’s life. The relationships created exceed all expectations, and I will always encourage people and speak on behalf of Habitat.
More than anything, I hope that this inspires others to volunteer and get involved. I need a break, but I can’t wait to help build another house with everyone!
29 Comments
Congratulations! Hope to meet you at the breakfast this week or during the annual Women Build!
I am honored to share my story with everyone because Habitat for Humanity is an amazing organization to support and volunteer your time with. I am excited for my new home but even more for the opportunity to be a part of something far greater than a home. A relationship with my community and a commitment to be a part of making a difference in the lives of those around me. The chance to show my son that he is valued and important but also that those around him are worth his time to invest in. I encourage everyone to get their 16+ kids involved with organizations like Habitat for Humanity. They will learn so much and feel their value within a team helping others. THANKS AGAIN for your support and encouragement. And thanks to my friend Marci Dronkers who isn’t in any of the pictures but helped organize the Cook day and came on the day of my dedication and made sure everyone did what they needed and all of the hard work was done at the end of day!
This is amazing!!! Congratulations!!! May you make many memories in your new home and fill it with love!! Habitat for Humanity is an incredible Nonprofit organization. What they are doing makes the world a better place.
Congratulations Kelly on your new home.
This is why I love COOK so much, people are always willing to
take the time to help others; there is so much talent here and
it was nice to see it utilized in a very rewarding way.
Kelly thank you for sharing your wonderful story with us. I felt I was right there with the pictures. It’s sure to be a happy home for you & Samson. Just amazing what we can accomplish when working as a team with love and a heck of a lot of hard work! Congratulations.
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” – Paulo Coelho.
Congratulations Kelly! Inspiring on many levels.
Congratulations! Hope to meet you at the breakfast this week or during the annual Women Build!
Thanks Kelly for sharing! I can feel the love and appreciation from your simple words and nice pictures.
Congrats Kelly and Cook’s volunteer team !!
Such a powerful story !!!
Congratulations !!!
Congratulations Kelly!!! Thanks for sharing your story!!
I am honored to share my story with everyone because Habitat for Humanity is an amazing organization to support and volunteer your time with. I am excited for my new home but even more for the opportunity to be a part of something far greater than a home. A relationship with my community and a commitment to be a part of making a difference in the lives of those around me. The chance to show my son that he is valued and important but also that those around him are worth his time to invest in. I encourage everyone to get their 16+ kids involved with organizations like Habitat for Humanity. They will learn so much and feel their value within a team helping others. THANKS AGAIN for your support and encouragement. And thanks to my friend Marci Dronkers who isn’t in any of the pictures but helped organize the Cook day and came on the day of my dedication and made sure everyone did what they needed and all of the hard work was done at the end of day!
Congrats Kelly & thanks for sharing your story.
This is amazing!!! Congratulations!!! May you make many memories in your new home and fill it with love!! Habitat for Humanity is an incredible Nonprofit organization. What they are doing makes the world a better place.
Congrats Kelly!!! So happy for you.
Congratulations. A truly inspiring story with a happy end. Make many happy memories in your new home 🙂
Congratulations on your new home and the wonderful story.
Congrats Kelly!! Thanks for sharing !!
Congratulations Kelly. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy.
Congratulations Kelly on your new home.
This is why I love COOK so much, people are always willing to
take the time to help others; there is so much talent here and
it was nice to see it utilized in a very rewarding way.
Congratulations, Kelly! What a wonderful story. Go Team Cook!
Congratulations Kelly!
So very excited for you! What a great story! You are an amazing person Kelly… I am truly blessed to have gotten to know you here at CMI! God Bless 🙂
“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” Churchill
Congratulations to you and your son.
Kelly thank you for sharing your wonderful story with us. I felt I was right there with the pictures. It’s sure to be a happy home for you & Samson. Just amazing what we can accomplish when working as a team with love and a heck of a lot of hard work! Congratulations.
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” – Paulo Coelho.
Congratulations Kelly! Inspiring on many levels.
Well done by all. A great example of Cook’s family tradition at work helping one of our own.
This is a wonderful story, Kelly! Thank you for sharing.
Congratulations Kelly! Thank you for sharing your story!
How exciting! Congratulations!
Great experience and congratulations Kelly!! Well done ☺️
Congratulations on your new Home, that is so exciting!!!! Thank you for sharing your story! 🙂
Congrats Kelly! So happy for you!
Congratulations, Kelly! Thank you for sharing your story!
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your story.