Kevin and Mindy Mies of Lawrence, left, along with their twin sons, Cole and Luke, accept a Bible from Mary Gordon, of Lawrence, during a dedication ceremony for their new home. The house was built by the Lawrence chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Gordon, who was a longtime teacher to blind children, has known Mindy, who is blind, since she was a year and a half old.

Mindy Mies loves spending time outdoors with her 3-year-old twin boys, but being blind, she said it’s too risky to be in her front yard alone.

She expects that will all change, however, when she moves into her newly built house in a quiet North Lawrence neighborhood, where she can have a guide dog, take her kids outside to play and feel comfortable her neighbors will help watch out for them.

“It’s more independence,” said Mies, 35.

Mies and her husband, Kevin, are excited to own their own home, a place where they can make lasting memories and raise twins Cole and Luke. They are the soon-to-be owners of the newest Lawrence Habitat for Humanity House in the Comfort Neighborhood.

It’s the nonprofit organization’s 65th built home, which was dedicated to the family Saturday.

The home, at 167 N. Comfort Court, will be the fourth completed in the neighborhood of 16 homes. Seven must be complete by the end of June for Habitat to receive a $130,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“We’re scrambling to get it all done,” said Jean Lilley, Habitat executive director. “It’s going to be a challenge.”

On Saturday, 100 Kansas University athletes helped work on the Mies’ house and three others currently under construction.

Needy families purchase the finished homes for only the cost of materials, on an interest-free mortgage. In exchange, they’re required to put about 450 hours of labor into building the homes. Habitat also uses community volunteers to help construct the homes.

So far, the Mies have put in more than 400 hours of “sweat equity.” Initially, Mindy Mies volunteered her time as a receptionist in the office, but learned it wasn’t where she belonged.

“The first time I came out here, I just had the best time,” she said. “Sanding is one of the things I’ve found out I’m good at. There’s some things they won’t let me touch!”