Wednesday was the day Jenny Edge had been patiently waiting for since September 2009.

After Edge and her two sons, Jaylen, 18, and Adin, 5, were selected as the family for the Habitat for Humanity of Cass County home, construction of the house began at 503 N. Front St. in

Leader photo/ALY GIBSON Jenny Edge moves into her house built by volunteers through Habitat for Humanity

Dowagiac.

Through a long process of finalizing details and wrapping up the project, Edge and her kids moved in Wednesday with an open house and house-warming celebration. Visitors, next-door neighbors, the Habitat for Humanity Board and people who helped build the house gathered in the new driveway and congratulated Edge.

“It feels great,” Edge said. “I feel like it was all in God’s timing.”

Edge, as part of being selected to receive the house, had to be able to pay and also put in 350 sweat-equity hours. Sweat-equity hours require families moving into a Habitat house to aid in the construction of their house.

“I got the hours in really quickly,” Edge said. “I was there from day one when they told me I could start helping on the house.”

Habitat for Humanity Board President Heather Carter said she was happy to see Edge finally reach this point.

“I’m glad it’s done,” Carter said. “The family can finally live in it and enjoy it.”

Carter said when construction began, Southwestern Michigan College had students help begin the house. From there, Cass Construction and Adam Dahlgren finished the project. Land Bank of Cass County donated the land.

“There’s a lot of companies that help complete the process,” Carter said. “It’s a lot of collaboration.”

For Edge, the next task is to settle into the new house and enjoy the proximity to her job.

“I can come home for lunch,” Edge said. “I’m happy…it’s my home.”