Hello, I’m Christie. These are my four children: Malorie, Maddi, Alaina, and Ava. I am one year out from leaving a very abusive relationship which left us with nothing. I used to own my own home, and when we moved together he asked me to sell it, wish I never did, then months later when I got pregnant back to back, and I was off quite awhile for medical issues, he wouldn’t help me pay my car payments, that led to loosing my car, just so many things that led us here, but I’m grateful for the healing we’ve done so far, it took a toll on me and the kids, but thankful we still have each other! We are currently, all five of us, living at my mother's house, which is great but difficult at times because there’s just not enough room.

My dream is to get back into our own house. I want to show my kids that we will be back on our own, and that everything is going to be okay, just like it was before we met the biggest abuser anyone could meet. Our custody trial just ended, and I went through that pro se because I didn’t have money for a lawyer, but it turned out great, which I never expected. But now I need a stable house so we can all be together, not at my mom's house anymore. As I said, it’s super crowded, and my mom has health issues of her own, so she definitely needs her space. I appreciate so much that she opened her doors for us, but I also feel as if we are a burden to her. She doesn’t say so, but I would like to allow her and her husband to have their own house back too.

The relationship I was in for 10 years literally took everything from us, and I just want to be fully recovered from that and not reminded anymore about it. I am asking to try to raise some money for a security deposit and first and last month's rent, as my ex also put an eviction on my background, which is making things a little harder because the places all seem to want more money down just to protect themselves, which I understand even though there was no money owed or no damages in that eviction claim. So it just seems wrong and unfair, but abuse happens in a lot of ways that people don’t understand unless it has happened to them.

My biggest dream is to be back out on our own, standing on my own two feet. I just need a little help to get there. If you can find it in you to donate, or share, or just pray for us, that would be great, and I would like to thank anyone ahead of time if you can do any of those three things. The funds will all go to getting us housing, not a dime will be spent anywhere but to get us into a house, and anything left over will go towards rent at a later time, living is so expensive these days I’m just thankful if you take the time to pray and share and donate if you can. Thank you for taking the time to read and hear our story. Forever grateful, Christie Kress.