Blended Family Finds a ‘Home to Call Our Own’ with Room for Everyone

When Stephanie met her future husband, Alexander, several years ago, they quickly bonded over their love of vintage cars. They soon discovered that their connection ran much deeper. Both came from large families and were raising children from previous marriages.

“We were nervous at first about opening our hearts,” Stephanie wrote in their application to Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity’s (COHFH) New Home Construction program.

The couple married and created what Stephanie called “the perfect idea of yours, mine and our children.” Their blended family included Elijah, 9; Eliee, 5; and Xander, 2.

On Feb. 28, 2025, the family celebrated the dedication of their new, energy-efficient and affordable home in Blanchard, Oklahoma.

“Alexander and I grew up with large families, including him being one of nine children and me having nine brothers and three sisters,” Stephanie said. “With such big families, we never got a space of our own, and that’s something we, as parents ourselves, strive for now. We want to give them a space within our home to become the best versions of themselves.”

Stephanie became a stay-at-home mother, helping the family manage rising child care costs while Alexander worked full time. She said affording a new home in today’s economy had felt impossible, but COHFH helped make it possible.

“We’re able to provide a safe space for our children to grow and become the people they will become,” Stephanie said. “We’ll be able to create new memories in a new, never-lived-in-before space — best of all, Habitat can help provide that to us.

“We’ve looked at so many different ways to try to give our children the life we wish we could have had, and Habitat is allowing us to help fulfill one of the best things in life — a home to call our own. Thank you tremendously for helping us to find our happily ever after!”