Really sorry for all the crying and blubbering but y’all, this one has got me all in tears.  Tonight, 8 months after the flood, she sleeps back home.

None of this would have been possible without all the amazing and generous donations of time, money, sweat, and free labor from friends AND strangers.  University Baptist Church and it’s members not only served for days mucking her out and sorting through her things, doing her laundry, ripping out flooring and drywall, but they also donated over $8,000 to pay for her appliances! My parents, without hesitation, let this kind stranger and her dog live in their condo while she waited for her FEMA housing.  My landscaper, Lorenzo Carbajal donated his time and labor to give her a new flower garden in the front and the back even in the midst of doing his own flood repairs.  heavydutypocketdoorframes.com donated a pocket door frame, including shipping and a flight down from Phoenix for the installation. Forgital USA donated funds for her garden.  Mindy Thompson spent hours listening, elbow deep in moldy muck, carrying, packing, folding, hauling, and listening some more.  I could NEVER have managed those first few weeks without her.  My girlfriends and my mom gave up afternoons to help clean out her garage.  Y’all revived and refreshed me and your support was so encouraging.  My husband let me borrow the work truck half a dozen times and did a TON of dirty, heavy lifting.  Thanks, babe.  Last but not least, there’s Pastor Steve.  It was your kind heart that saw a need and jumped in head first to meet it.  Thank you for dragging me along with you into this life changing adventure and for being there with wisdom and encouragement every step of the way.  You are an inspiration and I’m following where you’re leading.  Stuck with me, I guess.

Nita…that’s a long list of love.  I hope you feel it and are surrounded by it every day.  Welcome home, sweet friend.

Below is how I found her condo on the day I met her, September 2, 2017.

This is some footage of her complex from the week we met.  Her things are piled out there with the rest of the hurricane victims’.