COHASSET — Temperatures plummeted, and winds whipped the landscape into a white wasteland Thursday, Dec. 18, but warmth emanated from the Jarvi-Britt home in Cohasset.
The house was largely empty: a bed frame in one room, a lamp and a rug in another.
But the colorful Christmas tree in the corner and the gifts underneath reflected the wonder that filled the already cozy space.
Misty Jarvi, Rhys Britt and their daughters Adeline and Claritie were one of four families chosen for a home by Itasca County Habitat for Humanity this year.
It was the little things that they marveled over at their home dedication just a week before Christmas: the light and shower door in the bathroom, the gem shape of the hardware — and the two cakes, stashed in the fridge, to share with everyone who gathered to celebrate.
Nearly 30 people came, despite the bad weather.
“Typically, we do just one cake, and don’t usually have people having to line the back hallway in order to be able to fit in to hear the comments and so forth,” said Amanda Macdonell, Habitat’s family support manager.
She said that’s a testament to how special Jarvi and Britt are.
“You don’t meet people every day that you think about even after hours, after you’re done with work,” Macdonell said. “They’re like a family that are my family now that I want to stay connected with for years to come.”
A special family gets a special house. Their home is Itasca County Habitat’s first net-zero build.
Macdonell said there's a perception in the community that people are “working the system.” That’s not Misty and Rhys.
“They are ones who are working as hard as they can to improve their future, for themselves as well as their kids,” she said.
Standing in front of the Christmas tree with her family, facing the crowded room, Jarvi’s mouth was open in disbelief. Soon, it was pinched with emotion.
“I had no idea we’d have this much support in our community, or even this much hands to even help us,” she said, choking up. “We really thought it honestly was going to be no one besides us.”
As part of the Habitat process, families put in sweat equity, helping to build their home and the homes of other Habitat families. But volunteers are needed to make the workload lighter.
Connie Daigle said groups that came to help Jarvi and Britt expanded their family.
“You have your Walmart family. You have your neighbors. You have your church families. You have your Habitat family. You have your school family; the Cohasset teachers came and helped,” she said. “You are loved by a lot of people.”
Daigle is a longtime member of Habitat’s family selection committee. She’s also a substitute teacher.
She’s subbed for Adeline’s class each of the last five years. She recounted their joyful meeting in January when the committee visited their old home.
“And I go, ‘Well, I didn’t know you were here!’ And she says, ‘I didn’t know you were coming either!’” Daigle said. “And that was not why you got the house. There were many other reasons. But it sure didn’t hurt.”
Executive Director Jamie Mjolsness said the family’s journey started almost a year ago, when Misty wrote a prayer.
“She wrote that prayer, not for anything extravagant, but for the simple, vital need of a safe, healthy home, where her family could find stability and a sense of belonging,” Mjolsness said. “In January 2025, this family was chosen for this project. We saw the beginning of the answer to that prayer. It has been clear to all of us that God had a hand in this from the very start.”
Before Daigle presented the family with the keys to their house, the family’s pastor led everyone in a group benediction.
“I’m very blessed to have what has happened here,” Jarvi said.
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It was a packed house for Misty Jarvi, Rhys Britt and their two daughters' home dedication one week before Christmas 2025. -
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