story

s the summer sun sets and warm orange hues pour in throughout the cozy new home at Evergreen Meadows, a happy couple embraces all they have come to realize. The story-and-a-half Craftsman style home perfectly reflects homeowners Scott and Kristie Nielsen’s vision and lifestyle.

Scott sums up the experience of how they arrived at this place with one word — grateful. “If I had to say only one thing about this whole deal, it’s how God provided. From the lot, to design ideas, to just everything, we are astounded.” Scott regrets not journaling along the way as he states, “It would make quite a story.” theAnd so, the story began when Kristie was invited to an adult Bible study Sunday school class. Scott was leading the class and as they say, the rest is history. With much in common, including long previous marriages, divorce, Midwest roots, and three children each, Scott and Kristie married in 2014 and began their lives together residing in Kristie’s twin home.

They soon began to talk of building a home together, a place where their children and grandchildren could come to visit. Many factors played into their decisions of finding the per- fect builder, a location that would suit their needs, and a style of home where they could live for years to come.

Kristie’s work as a labor delivery nurse at Sanford connected her with co-worker Melanie Anderson, whose husband owns and operates Benjamin Custom Homes. “Because I knew Mel,” states Kristie, “I started paying attention to the articles about Ben and learning about him that way. I liked what I read as far as his quality, his work, his experience, and his philosophy. He just sounded like a real solid guy.”

As planning continued Scott and Kristie turned to their faith to help them along the way. “This whole process was kind of interesting,” says Kristie. “With our thoughts about wanting to build a home together and our faith in God, we wanted to pray about it and see what he would have for us and so we both asked God to put his desires in our hearts.”

A few nights later, Kristie pulled out a piece of graph paper and started drawing. In a few hours time, she had drawn out the entire plan. “It just flowed; it came so easily,” says Kristie. “It was really exciting to be able to take that graph paper and give it to Adam at Benjamin Custom Homes.”

Adam LaPlante, designer and project coordinator with Benjamin Custom Homes worked extensively with Scott and Kristie bringing their vision into reality. The Nielsens fondly remember the day LaPlante presented them with a drawing showing the exterior of the home, based on the graph paper plan and the additions LaPlante contributed. “Adam brought it to life for us. When he showed us the picture of the front of the house, as it would look, we were so amazed,” says Scott. They knew in that moment that this was their forever home.