Though some of the walls are already up, River City Habitat for Humanity of Jefferson City blessed the building of a new home on East Ashley Street on Saturday morning.
"Normally, we have this program prior to the construction," said Norm Robinson, president of Habitat's board of directors, before joking the construction crew only began on the frame an hour before the ceremony.
The new home at 512 E. Ashley St. will be the first home Celia Hinton and Byron Nickerson have owned, once they move in after construction is complete.
"I'm so excited," Hinton said. "This is a dream I've wanted all my life."
Hinton and Nickerson will help build their new dream house as part of their 350 hours of "sweat equity," which Habitat requires from all partner families. Hinton said her two children, a daughter, 12, and a son, 10, can't wait to move in and design their bedrooms, though she keeps telling them it's not time yet.
Marlene Medin, who will act as the support partner for the family keeping them up-to-date on progress, said the family also will go through classes on budgeting and home maintenance to ensure they're prepared for everything that comes with owning a home.
Once the blessing was given, those in attendance Saturday were encouraged to write a message to the new homeowners on the stud walls, a Habitat tradition.
"Once you're part of the Habitat family, you're part of the family forever," Robinson said.