Tilson Homes, alongside Operation Finally Home, is building a mortgage free home for U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Shawn Friesen and his family in League City, Texas. For the last 15 years, Operation Finally Home has dedicated their time and resources toward building these mortgage free homes for veterans across the country. With this special process comes a unique opportunity for us to show our respect for SSG Friesen and his family for all they’ve sacrificed for the safety of our country: with Notes of Love. 

The Notes of Love ceremony generally involves friends, family, and members of the community visiting the home during the framing stage of construction to show their love and support. Participants write notes on the frame of the house before sheetrock is installed, forever sealing these notes inside the home. For those writing the notes, it’s a chance to give thanks and reflect on the sacrifices made by the military member and their family. For the family, this event allows them the opportunity to create lifelong memories together while recognizing the support their new community has for them. 

What kind of note should you write? Some inscribe their thankfulness for the service of the family with notes of support and gratitude. This can be as simple as one example found inside the home of a service member and his family which read “Thank you does not represent enough what I want to say.” Another simply stated, “Thank you for your service to our country.” 

Others have left their well-wishes of good health and fortune for the family residing inside the walls of the home. Many include excerpts from religious scriptures to share their faith and prayers with the family. One person who wrote “Thank you for your service. God bless you and your family. For every home is built by someone, God is the builder of Everything. Hebrews 3:4.” In the future kitchen of one home, someone else wrote “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2.”

There is no guide or blueprint for writing your notes of love. Our own customers frequently write notes on their frames and foundations and the results are fantastic. From some scribbled initials to the handprint of a newborn child, it’s the small things that truly make a house a home. For Staff Sergeant Friesen and his family, this home will be more than a roof and walls. It will be a lasting reminder of sacrifice and salvation. Within their walls, everlasting love and thankfulness will speckle the lumber that supports their home and protects them from harm, much like Staff Sergeant Friesen and the U.S. Military have done for our country and our wellbeing.

We accepted virtual notes of love from our customers and team members across the state.

If you're looking for ideas on how to write your note of love or host an event for your home, we've put together some examples and ideas.