God’s Beauty

By 7017444915 March 26, 2026
There is a certain kind of peace that comes when you know someone you love is safe. One mother, Jeanelle Stokes, shared that before Smart Living, there was always a quiet tension. Even when things were going well, that lingering question remained: What if something happens when no one is right there? At Hope Haven, we believe safety and independence should not compete with one another. They should work together. That belief is what led to the development of Smart Living. Smart Living blends personalized technology, remote support, and in-person care to help individuals live more independently while maintaining a dependable safety net. From our Remote Support Center in Spirit Lake, trained professionals are available 24 hours a day, ready to respond when assistance is needed. Jeanelle put it simply: “I don’t feel like I have to hover anymore. I know someone is there if he needs help.” Homes are equipped with thoughtfully selected tools such as motion sensors, wearable devices, secure video connections, and interactive reminders, all tailored to the member’s individual needs. These tools aren’t designed to replace care, but to enhance it. For Jeanelle’s son Jerrod, constant staff presence was increasing his anxiety. When part of his support transitioned to remote monitoring, there was a noticeable change. Within days, he began reaching out just to say, “Hi, I’m okay.” With that change, he had more space while still knowing support was just a call away. As Scripture reminds us, “The Lord himself watches over you.” - Psalm 121:5 Smart Living reflects that same premise of watchful care, encouraging independence while still keeping support within reach. As this initiative expands, more individuals will have the opportunity to live confidently in their own homes, and more families will experience the peace that comes from knowing help is always near. Your generosity makes that growth possible. It allows us to expand Smart Living into more homes, strengthen our Remote Support Center, and ensure that independence is never separated from safety. If you wish to contribute, please CLICK HERE to donate today. Thank you for your continued support, prayers, and partnership in Hope Haven’s mission.
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In this blog Direct Support Professional Stacia Spaulding shares her experiences working at Hope Haven: 

This summer I lost someone I loved. There were days where I didn’t want to get out of bed. Where I didn’t want to see anyone. Where I wanted time to stop and reverse. I was angry. I was confused. How could a God so wonderful allow something so horrible to happen? I remember working one day and overhearing a client tell another client “it’s okay to be sad.” Wow. “It’s okay to be sad.”

That really hit home. Such a simple sentence yet is hard to carry out into application. It’s easy to put on a brave face and go through the motions. The ‘I’m fine everything’s fine’ face. But sometimes everything’s not fine. And that’s okay. It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to mourn. It’s okay to not understand and be upset. God is there through it all and everything we go through. Life isn’t meant to be easy. If it was would we rely on God as our source of strength? Would we understand the depth of needing redemption?

“It’s okay to be sad.” When I overheard that I thought also of how anytime I’d felt some joy throughout the summer it was at work. Whether it was an adorable quote a smile a hand shake a hug with a happy “hi!” clients would give me a reason to smile every shift. They continually show me God’s beauty. And they’ve shown me that amongst trials there is beautiful lovely triumph and joy. They are not diagnoses or medical records or a name on lists. They are lovely beautiful human beings. And without their knowing it they were a great source of peace and comfort this summer. They were a reason to get out of bed in the mornings. Yes there is client and staff but we are also like a big family. And what a wonderful family it is.

My favorite part of working at Hope Haven is building relationships with clients. To be a part of their lives is a great privilege. To see there personalities shine brings joyful butterflies and I find myself doing a happy dance in my heart when watching them grow. Staff care deeply for clients. But staff doesn’t just care deeply for them; Believe me when I say that when clients care for you. They deeply care for you and will care for and think well of you forever if you let them. Hope Haven shows me how deep God’s beauty and love runs. A real-life look at the gospel. And let me tell you the gospel is truly a beautiful thing. 

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