Hi- my name is Jasmine and my husband is Chris. We are a blended family with 5 kids! Ranging from 13 to 8 months. Asking for "help" I'm preferring to think of it as a hand-up, rather than a hand-out is truly a foreign concept to me. I'm 31 years old and had my first child at 17. I actually had my own apartment at 16; so this was not your typical teen mom situation. Unfortunately both of my parents were severe alcoholics so I learned to take care of myself at a young age. The alcoholism eventually led my mother to be handicapped (she's in a wheelchair now) and has lost the ability to walk, sing and most other things that once brought her joy. My father is sitting in prison right now- for his 10+ DUI. Yikes. That lifestyle is far from my reality. I'm so proud to say I'm the first in my family on both sides to earn a college degree. I earned a Bachelors degree in business; while a single mom working full time. My baby brother (is 10 years younger) lost his father (we have different dads) to suicide when he was 14. I became his legal guardian and took care of him until he was 18. Watching him graduate was the highlight of my life aside from having my three daughters. Being a single mom, working, going to school and navigating a grieving teenager was intense to say the least. But I believed, and still beleive that hard work pays off! I'm actually still in school working on my Masters Degree. Just 8 classes to go!! After going through a divorce to the father of my two children (after 9 years together) my credit was negatively affected. I simply couldn't afford the car payment and the high rent. Over the course of the last few years I've worked really hard to improve my credit and am finally in a position to buy my first home!! All we need is a down payment. Im asking with a hopeful heart for a hand up. 

Phew; that covers my story! My other half has also had a difficult journey but is optimistic! He was in foster care until he was 18 bouncing from home to home. This makes owning a home his ultimate dream. Like me, he values education, graduated high school early and enrolled in college right away. He earned a degree as well! Life was finally looking up for him; he had two children a loving partner and optimism about the future.   To his dismay, the mother of his daughter passed away. She was just 31 and it was completely unexpected. Rather than give up home he continued to work hard (he's had the same job for 5 years.) We found each other; were married and just had our only child together! She's 8 months old and the light in our life. We dream about building her a tree house and giving all of our children the childhood we wish we had. Owning a home would allow us to finally have roots. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. We are working hard to obtain half of our down payment (by working overtime and creating leather goods.) Your donation could make the difference for us to have our forever home. 

Blessings, 

Chris & Jasmine