"Bus Driver, MOVE THAT BUS!!!"....Home Makeover

The long awaited slideshow is finally here. This weekend I was honored to participate in the best thing I've ever done in my entire life (short of delivering a baby, and getting married or course!)

Let me explain how it all began. God blessed US by allowing single mom Lisa and her 3 kids visit our church a few months back. The rest is history. A few of us met her a couple weeks back, as she volunteered to help with Vacation Bible School. As we began to talk to her, we learned her story. She recently moved out of a homeless shelter that she's been living in for over a year with her 12 yr old daughter Quianna and 5 year old twin's Zoe and Zion. She's a single mom who's had a very rough life these past few years. She's not one to ask for ANY TYPE of help, although she desperately needed it. She has a college degree and took her test for teacher certification this past Sat. This was all the time we needed to kick a plan into action. So, in true Extreme Home Makeover fashion (Ty Pennington would be so proud) we kicked her and the kids out of the house for 2 days (they stayed with friends) and told her not to return until 6:30pm Sat. night.

Last Thurs. emails went out from our small group at church asking for donations for our home makeover transformation. Never in a million years would I have thought how it would all end up. It was nothing short of a miracle how the Lord sovereignly brought together JUST THE RIGHT people, donations, color scheme's, decorating talents, organizational talents, etc......Every room has a story from the way colors, furniture and accessories match to last minute donations. Lisa is able to lease this house and has been there since March. It is a 2 year old house that literally had 1 bed that all 4 of them were sleeping in. It had a bistro kitchen table that Lisa bought at a garage sale for $75 bucks (it was the envy of all of us- just gorgeous) They had a couple washcloths, towels and that was about it. No pillows, sleeping bags on the floor in the kids rooms and no toys.

EVERYTHING YOU SEE IN THE PICTURE SLIDESHOW WAS DONATED. From 2 fridges, 5 tvs, beds for EVERY room, dressers, computer desk, formal and non-formal living room furniture, formal dining table, china hutch, dishes, curtains. We painted the house from the front door to the back door. The reaction on her face when they walked in was priceless. I am so humbled at the things I take for granted. That night Lisa told me, "Oh, my gosh we all have blankets tonight". Like me, you've probably got at least 3 spare blankets sitting in a closet. She couldn't believe she had lamps on her nightstands and that someone had given her a George Foreman grill. It's the little things that those of us who haven't been through what Lisa has, take for granted.

We (all 25+ people physically involved)were so blessed by being part of this project that a couple of us are considering starting a non-profit ministry and do this on a regular basis. NOTHING I have ever done blessed me as much as this experience. GOD IS SO GOOD! Thank you to everyone who donated time, tangibles. She now has a stocked pantry, two stocked refridgerators and MUCH, MUCH more. There is enough stuff in the garage still to furnish a second house. She's going to go through that stuff, keep what she wants, give away what other's she knows needs and have a garage sale for the rest. She's so excited to get to do this for someone else. What a giver she is. Lisa, we pray this is a fresh start for You, Quianna, Zoe and Zion. You deserve nothing but the best. Glad you like your yellow bathroom and that the kiddo's are enjoying their fun rooms.

Heather