Shelli's husband, Terry Markgraf, is with the Minnesota National Guard Red Bulls. He's been stationed in Iraq since February of last year. And while he's been away, work around the house has sort of piled up.
BETHEL, Minn. (WCCO) ― It's going to be a big surprise for one Minnesota Soldier when he returns from Iraq to his home in Bethel.
The kindness of strangers has made his house a little warmer and more secure.
"This is my husband's second deployment and the first one we didn't have a child, that was a little bit easier," said Shelli Markgraf. "But this one is a little bit harder."
Shelli's husband, Terry Markgraf, is with the Minnesota National Guard Red Bulls. He's been stationed in Iraq since February of last year. And while he's been away, work around the house has sort of piled up.
"The honey-do list gets long, let's put it that way," Shelli Markgraf said.
But not any more.
The Markgrafs are getting a mini home makeover with the help of some Minnesota businesses known for their extreme makeovers.
"She mentioned that her husband was in the service and over in Iraq and that's what really captured my eye," said Tom Budzynski of TJB Remodeling and Design.
Also helping out is Minnesota Exteriors.
Shelli Markgraf wrote an email to the Blaine-based company after seeing their work featured in two episodes of the show, "Extreme Home Makeover."
"I thought, 'Well, if they can help those people build a whole entire house, maybe they can help me with just a couple things,'" she said.
It's all being paid for by TJB Homes' Dream, Give, Build Foundation.
"The windows were donated," Budzynski said, "but these are all my guys working here."
Budzynski hopes to do many more mini-makeovers like this one. Helping those who are serving our country is important to him.
"It's doing a small thing you know," he said. "We've been in the business 30 years and we can give a little bit back here and there."
"I'm very thankful," Shelli Markgraf said, "because it's something that we probably couldn't pay for."
Shelli's husband is expected home sometime in the next couple weeks. But he was laid off just before he was deployed. Thanks to TJB Homes, he won't have to worry about his honey-do list being quite as long.
If you're interested in donating to the Dream, Give, Build Foundation, click on the link provided.
Don Shelby
Jan 20, 2010 11:07 pm US/Central
