Life House Corporation
  • Home
  • Donate Today
  • LHM Video
  • Wish List
  • Resident Application
  • Charlane M. Chapman House
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Parenting Classes
  • Tribute Donations
  • Core Values
  • Quarterly Newsletters
  • More
    • Home
    • Donate Today
    • LHM Video
    • Wish List
    • Resident Application
    • Charlane M. Chapman House
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Parenting Classes
    • Tribute Donations
    • Core Values
    • Quarterly Newsletters
Life House Corporation
  • Home
  • Donate Today
  • LHM Video
  • Wish List
  • Resident Application
  • Charlane M. Chapman House
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Parenting Classes
  • Tribute Donations
  • Core Values
  • Quarterly Newsletters

Life Experiences Birth the Vision

Cheryl's Story

As a founder of Life House I am so grateful to have the opportunity to help bring this dream into a reality. The idea to have a safe home for girls and women with an unplanned pregnancy has been a dream of mine for many years.


At 17 I was a young mom with an unexpected pregnancy. I experienced so many thoughts fears and questions of the unknown. How would I do this? How was my life going to change? What if I wasn't enough? What if, what if, what if?


I was fortunate to have love and support from my family yet no one I knew had walked through this before. There were very few that I shared my fears with.  So, very few that knew the nights I laid in bed and cried determined to raise my child, but oh so afraid of the unknown ahead.


I wanted to appear strong and confident to those around me. How much of this could have been eased just a bit if I had shared my fears. Through the years I have dreamed of a place where I could help nurture others through that difficult time and help them to see the beauty and wonder of how their life is changing. I sometimes wondered if this dream would ever happen.

 

Now as a mother of five grown children and grandmother of six, I am at a place that I can devote more of my time and effort to making this dream a reality.  


With the help of my husband, some long time friends and many new found friends, we have a team working together to build this dream. I am looking forward with great anticipation all that is ahead for Life House Maine.

Maine abortion, unplanned pregnancy

Cheryl and Rich Carlson

Impacting Our Community

Life House Maine is making a difference in the mothers and babies of our community, with the dedication of our many volunteers. Spoiler Alert: Have your tissues ready.

Defining Moments

"It's amazing how all of us have defining moments in our life. And, the day I was in the doctor's office, and that test came back positive; it literally changed my whole life."   -Mary Rose Pray

Meet the Board

Paul & Rachel Balsamo

Paul & Rachel Balsamo

Paul & Rachel Balsamo

 Rachel and Paul met while attending college in New Hampshire. Country Maine boy falls for New York City girl, and the rest is history. It was there that Paul began serving at a local church, and Rachel first met Jesus as her Lord and Savior. In 1992 they tied the knot and began their life of service together in Lewiston, Maine. Rachel an

 Rachel and Paul met while attending college in New Hampshire. Country Maine boy falls for New York City girl, and the rest is history. It was there that Paul began serving at a local church, and Rachel first met Jesus as her Lord and Savior. In 1992 they tied the knot and began their life of service together in Lewiston, Maine. Rachel and Paul raised three beautiful children, with love for the Lord, service to others, and an appreciation for God’s beautiful creation. Family time was always a priority. Whether in camping trips, beach days, game board nights, or school concerts. For Rachel and Paul, involvement in Life House is the culmination of their life experiences. Serving their community, advocating for children, and fighting for healthy homes and marriages. We are excited and feel extremely blessed to part of what God is doing here in

 mid-coast Maine. 

Cheryl Carlson

Paul & Rachel Balsamo

Paul & Rachel Balsamo

Rich and Cheryl first met in Brunswick Maine in the spring of 1991. Cheryl was a single mom of a four year old boy 

and working in home health care and hospice care. Rich was a diesel mechanic and leading a bible study for his local church when Cheryl visited that meeting. It did not take long for Cheryl and Rich to realize that their meet

Rich and Cheryl first met in Brunswick Maine in the spring of 1991. Cheryl was a single mom of a four year old boy 

and working in home health care and hospice care. Rich was a diesel mechanic and leading a bible study for his local church when Cheryl visited that meeting. It did not take long for Cheryl and Rich to realize that their meeting was by God for them to share a life together as one. They were married the following summer and have been serving in that same church where they first met ever since. Rich soon adopted Cheryl's son as his own and together they had three more children before bringing another into their home through foster care; filling their home with God, love, laughter and a lot of noise. They loved camping as a family and spending time with family and friends. Cheryl has a great love for people of all ages and particularly has a tender heart for single moms; knowing the struggles she had been through herself. God placed a great desire in her to one day have a home for single moms. With their 5 kids now grown and 5 grandkids added to the family the time has come to step into that calling. The long held dream is now becoming a reality. It is a blessing, a privilege and an honor to serve God and His people by offering Hope and the Love of Jesus to all who will pass through Life House.

Mary Rose Pray

Paul & Rachel Balsamo

David and Jodi Swasey

John and Mary Rose celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary on December 8, 2020. They met and married in Glacier National Park, moving to Maine in the spring of 1975. Raising five children and welcoming 14 grandchildren has taught them so much about what it means to be loved by God and His Son Jesus. Amy, their oldest child, was an “unpl

John and Mary Rose celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary on December 8, 2020. They met and married in Glacier National Park, moving to Maine in the spring of 1975. Raising five children and welcoming 14 grandchildren has taught them so much about what it means to be loved by God and His Son Jesus. Amy, their oldest child, was an “unplanned pregnancy” that has blessed their lives beyond measure and given them a heart for other mothers and fathers facing that same situation. With their children raised, both have volunteered at the local pregnancy help center, Mary Rose as a client advocate and John doing maintenance work at the center. It was through working with single mothers who were homeless that the need for Life House, a home for single mothers, drew their hearts to get involved in establishing such a home in the midcoast area. John, a retired lobster fisherman, enjoys gardening and marketing hog snares he designed through E-Bay. Mary Rose is an avid birder and has an online bookstore, Mainely Firsts through Abebooks.com. Both enjoy searching out finds to add to their inventory of 2,500 plus books. 

David and Jodi Swasey

David and Jodi Swasey

David and Jodi Swasey

David and Jodi Swasey were married in 2021 and made their home in Oxford, where they have raised two daughters and faithfully served their church in a variety of ministries. David has long been involved with the church finance team, while Jodi has invested in children and families through Sunday School, AWANA, Vacation Bible School, and t

David and Jodi Swasey were married in 2021 and made their home in Oxford, where they have raised two daughters and faithfully served their church in a variety of ministries. David has long been involved with the church finance team, while Jodi has invested in children and families through Sunday School, AWANA, Vacation Bible School, and the praise team. For many years, they also opened their home to foster animals through their local animal shelter, many of whom became permanent members of their family. Over time, God transformed that passion for nurturing and providing shelter into a calling to support women, babies, and families in need. In 2024, David and Jodi joined the Life House Maine team, where they continue to live out that calling with compassion, faith, and a heart for helping others. 

Roger St. Pierre

David and Jodi Swasey

Roger St. Pierre

Roger from Westbrook serves as a board member plus operations and maintenance committee. Father of two children, proudly served 9 yrs. of military service. A 40 yr. member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 2219. 

Becca Lacey

David and Jodi Swasey

Roger St. Pierre

Becca is blessed to be married to Michael for six wonderful years, and together they built a beautiful blended family with six children and two precious grandchildren. Becca has a heart for children—both born and unborn—and feels incredibly grateful to serve on the board of Life House Maine, where she comes alongside moms and babies with 

Becca is blessed to be married to Michael for six wonderful years, and together they built a beautiful blended family with six children and two precious grandchildren. Becca has a heart for children—both born and unborn—and feels incredibly grateful to serve on the board of Life House Maine, where she comes alongside moms and babies with compassion, hope, and the love of Christ. She believes every life is a gift from God and every family deserves to be supported and encouraged. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, gardening, spending time with our children and grandchildren, traveling, and taking motorcycle rides. 

Sarah Hansen

Sarah Hansen

Sarah Hansen

Sarah from Brunswick was an original member of the Life House Maine steering committee, and now a board member. Sarah with her husband Frank, pastor Freedom Fellowship in Wiscasset.  

Resident Home Campaign

 We have acquired our first Residential Home.

Your financial partnership will assist in maintaining this home of love.

Pay with PayPal or a debit/credit card

Copyright © 2026 Life House Maine - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by

  • Donate Today
  • LHM Video
  • Wish List
  • Resident Application
  • Charlane M. Chapman House
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Tribute Donations
  • Quarterly Newsletters

Don't Miss our Annual Charity Event

Mark your calendar for Friday, Sept 11th, at 6pm. Join us at East Auburn Baptist Church for a festive evening of great food, silent auction, resident success stories, mission update, and an opportunity to partner.