RIFLE, COLO. - Her husband told her to shed no tears, but Shari Edwards couldn’t hold them back, as she looked down from the balcony of the family’s new home.

“We can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done,” Edwards told many people who helped make the home possible. “Our hearts are just so full right now, there’s no words.”

Edwards, her husband, Scott, a paraplegic, and their children received the keys to their new handicapped-accessible home at 805 E. 17th St. in the North Pastures subdivision off 16th Street in Rifle on Sunday, March 22. In their new home, Scott and Shari will have a bedroom; daughter Danika, 7, gets her own room and the twins, Corey and Caleb, will share a room.

The duplex is the first Habitat for Humanity home built in Rifle.

“We were looking at a calendar and noticed it took one year and three days to finish this home,” said Habitat for Humanity of the Roaring Fork Valley President Scott Gilbert.

The family plans to move in on Friday, March 27.

“We still need some help,” Shari Edwards said. “We’ll be moving in.”

Scott Edwards was seriously injured in an Oct. 30, 2002 automobile accident and left in a wheelchair. The Edwards had purchased a lot for a new home when they were chosen by Habitat. They plan to sell that parcel to help pay the 20-year mortgage on their new home.

Habitat for Humanity homes are built by volunteers and most of the materials are donated as well.

Gilbert said the Edwards’ new home includes approximately $69,000 worth of special amenities to allow Scott to get in and out of bed himself, take a shower and other activities.

EnCana Oil and Gas donated $40,000 for a solar hot water heater and solar panels on the roof of the home.

The Savage family donated the land and Cottle Carr Yaw Architects in Basalt designed the home.

Jen Bozak, volunteer coordinator for Habitat, said she was “astounded” how much the Rifle community welcomed Habitat.

“Not only did we get services and goods, but everyone pitched in for every building day we had,” she stated.