Genesis House

12/23/2025

Annual GH cookie day went on without a hitch.
I was out sick and hated to miss but my crew marched on with all the supplies and recipes on hand.
Cookie day is one of my most favorite GH days because the joy is radiating.
We had a great pizza dinner thanks to our friends at Beyond the Bell properties followed by Saran balls and oven mitt Christmas gifts.
Teaching the ladies about traditions is important but teaching them patience and following instructions and doing things in the proper order is also important. But the most important thing is teaching them about family and togetherness.
We are so thankful to all of our friends, old and new, who have helped to make this season special. We are ready to celebrate with our family and move forward into a new year.
Merry Christmas family.

12/21/2025

Sometimes life feels dark, but you can always find light in the beauty around you if you choose to see it.

Tonight, the ladies went on an adventure to see the Christmas lights thanks to our new friends at Cave Country Canoes. They were so awesome- they reinsured the bus, fueled the bus and baked cookies, plus donated their time this close to Christmas. Talk about good people!

We spent the evening with cookies, cocoa and Christmas carols, making memories and filling cups.

12/20/2025

Grateful to our friends at choices Life resource center that hosted our annual wrapping paper night where they supplied all the necessities for the girls to wrap their kids presents as well as provided the fun and entertainment with a hot cocoa bar and cookies to boot. Thank you for loving our ladies throughout the year with your programming, but especially at the holidays.

12/18/2025

Grateful for our friends in Scott County who supported our home throughout the year and chose to bless us at Christmas!

12/18/2025

12/18/2025

Shopping spree with Santa's gifts. Having fun and making memories along the way.

12/17/2025

What a magical evening at the Genesis house Christmas party.
We are so thankful to Pfrimmer's Chapel for providing the delicious meal for our family to enjoy.
The South Pole Village for the Christmas blessings.
Santa for helping make the magic happen.
And for all the community members who have donated and supported our home.
We are so grateful for the relationships in the community we have today and for the ability to celebrate the holiday making fresh memories together.
I love the laughter and chaos when we're all together.

12/16/2025

Help us pick the winner!
The top three teams will win some great in-house perks and they are eager to see who claims the prizes.
Please like the photo you think should take first. Winners will be determined by highest numbers. Voting ends at 5 p.m. tomorrow so winners can be announced at our Christmas party.

12/16/2025

GH"s sixth annual gingerbread throwdown!
Complete with an Elf themed evening of spaghetti, cookies, hot cocoa, matching pj's and an indoor snowball fight!
This year we had 6 ladies that had never built a gingerbread house!
We love introducing them to new traditions they can take home and share with their loved ones while treating their inner child to a little holiday magic.

Class tonight:
Gingerbread houses are a lot like our program.
There is the importance of a solid foundation, just like in recovery.
The more time and care that you put into the structure, the more likely it will stay standing.
Don't rush through just to get it done, because if you fail to take your time, your house will fail too.
Don't cut corners, you'll only jip yourself.
Don't put too much on top because your roof might cave in and it's all downhill from there.

Building a house, or a new life in recovery, requires practicing patience, tolerance and acceptance; making a plan, getting it straight and then doing all the fun stuff of decorating adding all the extras to spice it up and make it your own.

Sometimes you think you've got it... then your roof falls in or your windows slide off, and you find yourself starting back over again.
Maybe you catch yourself watching others, questioning why they look so good or why they're not having problems.
Sometimes you might even get so frustrated, you're ready to flip the table and call it quits.
Some ask for help.
Some get in the zone and don't even blink.
Some decided to "move in together" and combine their projects to make it work.
Some collaborate and share ideas and tips, decorating advice even.
Some had the advantage because they've done this before and know what to expect, while others come in lost and confused.

But for those that stay the path, slow and stay, focus on the task at hand, they end with something to show for their efforts.

After lots of laughter, smack talking and messes, they completed their homes but need your help voting to determine who takes home the big prizes. Next post will contain the voting

12/12/2025

Last month a group of our graduates and I headed up to Valparaiso to partake in a 2 week certification course. We met up with our friends at the Ruth House and tackled the classroom. But after class we were blessed to be able to adventure.
We visited Chicago, lake Michigan and the Indiana Dunes. We chased the super moon and the northern lights. We had an incredible time together.
I am so proud to say that all 8 of us have passed the exam.
To say I'm proud of these ladies is an understatement. They have overcome so much in their lives and have blossomed on their recovery journey. Now they are officially Certified Peer Support Professionals.
Congrats ladies!

12/10/2025

Tonight was a beautiful night of fantastic fellowship, delicious food, fun games and singing Christmas tunes at the mentor Christmas party.
We are so grateful for our mentor program at Genesis House. We love and appreciate each and every mentor that blesses our home and our ladies.
If you're interested in learning more about becoming a mentor please send us a private message.

12/09/2025

Last night we were so excited to welcome our 70th and 71st graduates. Congratulations Miss Brooke and Allie.
We are so proud of your dedication to your recovery and the hard work that you have put in thus far.
We are super grateful you're going to stick around for a little while and we look forward to seeing where you go next.
We do recover!