CHANGE LIVES Blog | Austin Habitat for Humanity Blog

By Michael Willard | Austin Habitat Executive Director

On New Year’s Day, I was able to begin 2009 in a traditional, cool and exhilarating way — a swim in Barton Springs pool! This New Year’s Day swim has become a tradition for our family since moving to Austin. This year, my daughters, Kelsey, Erin and Lauren, joined me in the pool. Lauren and Erin even jumped off the diving board into the old swimming hole. I can’t think of another place where swimming on New Year’s Day is as carefree and fun. (Yes, if I was in a warmer climate it could be better, but not as enjoyable as joining fellow Austinites for a brisk swim.) Swimming in Barton Springs is a great way to wash away the blues of the old year and welcome in the New Year with a fresh and rejuvenated perspective.

After the swim, we warmed ourselves on the deck of the pool and mingled with the other swimmers, young and old. People talked of the joy of swimming and their happiness of living in a community that has so much to offer. Folks said how thankful they were to live in such a wonderful city with so many natural resources and such natural beauty. Amid the laughter and delight, you could feel the joy of the collective experience.

Upon reflection, I began to think of this joy and excitement as the expression of hope. Hope in the New Year, hope for the future. Given the economic struggles of today, hope is what we all need. As Franklin Roosevelt said 76 years ago, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”

Hope is the dawn of a new day, the beginning of a New Year, the splash in a cool spring. Hope will see us through these difficult times and will pave the way for a brighter future. It is what makes the difference for our Austin Habitat homeowner families every day.

Happy New Year!

By Michael Willard | Austin Habitat Executive Director

Yesterday I attended my daughter’s Christmas program at her preschool. Now for a guy who has a kid in college, high school and middle school, you might think I have done my share of preschool Christmas programs. Well, I have. However, these programs never grow old for me. Just seeing the kids, dressed in seasonal clothes with festive headbands of holly, presents, and antlers, you are captivated by their energy, excitement and wonder of the season. Singing songs of Santa, reindeer and Silent Night, always reminds me of the joy of the season. This is not the commercial joy found in malls, on piped-in music and in advertisements, which sell the “meaning” of Christmas. What I experience watching and listening to these children is the pure joy of innocence. The joy that comes from hearing excited voices, laughing and singing at the top of their lungs. The joy that you can see in the eyes of children.

This is the same joy I see in the eyes of the Habitat homeowner families when we dedicate their homes. The eyes of these mothers and fathers, who have worked for months, and sometimes years, finally seeing the fulfillment of their dreams, are full of joy. These families have come to the end of a long journey, which has included completing 400 hours of sweat equity and attending 24 classes on budgeting skills, home maintenance and homeowners insurance, just to name a few.

2008 Home for the Holidays will be dedicated on Sat., Dec. 20

I am very happy to tell you that this year Austin Habitat dedicated 20 homes, so there are 20 new homeowner families in Austin that have experienced the pure joy of the season. Our newest home will be dedicated this weekend. It is heartwarming to know these house dedications happen through out the year, so you don’t have to wait until Christmas time to “celebrate the season.”

Building this many homes requires a tremendous amount of work from volunteers and donors from across our community. Were it not for the efforts of these individuals, corporations and religious organizations, Austin Habitat would not be able to complete any homes or repair projects. There would be no joy and no celebrating.

So at this time of year, I wish to thank our donors, volunteers, staff and board members. Thank you for helping to spread the joy of the Christmas season across the year and assist our homeowner partners in attaining their precious dreams.

’tis the season to Change Lives!