Melinda Slade

Well this New Year feels like just that, a new year.  Usually it’s just another day.  But what makes this one so special is that in just three more days, Tom, the guy that will be living in the house we just finished, will be home.  What a wonderful way to start the new year off.  I don’t know if Tom will be able to keep the surprise until his wife comes home in about 5 more weeks or not but I hope so.

Tom’s parents said that he probably won’t want to stay in the house until his wife and whole family can stay there all together.  This is a very special family all around.  The kids are great and have done without their parents far more than any child should have.  They haven’t complained one bit their grandparents said because their parents have told them that they are doing what they have to do to keep their family safe here. Isn’t that a wonderful thing to tell your child.

I have already been looking around for another house and will surely keep you posted on that.  At any rate, here’s hoping you have a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR FILLED WITH LOVE, PEACE, AND JOY.

Since I have been alone for so many years, Christmas has lost it’s magic.  Well this is a Christmas Eve like no other ever in my life.  When the parents of these two special people saw the home we all worked so hard to make for their children and grandchildren, there were tears in every one’s eyes, including mine.  They loved it and said their children and grandchildren would too.

They scurried about putting their families belongings here, there and everywhere and suddenly, the house became a HOME.  I watched it transform before my very eyes and it absolutely amazed me that this was the same house.  It wasn’t the same house after all, it was someone’s HOME now.  The family that will be living here still does not know about it so it will be a total surprise to them.  The family wants me to be here to open the door and welcome the father and children for the first time they see it.  I can’t wait to see their faces.

My lawyer has drawn up all the paperwork on the house and now all it needs are the signatures.  Both sets of parents of this couple have asked to have the loan on the house put in their names.  Of course the house will belong to the people that will be back from Iraq, but the parents are cosigning so that if the family gets a little behind, they will be there to help them.

After the purchase of the house, the repairs that were done and everything else involved, I have a grand total of $47,000 in this ‘home’.  The interest rate I am charging is a full percentage under the prime rate right now which is the lowest it’s been in years.  I’m asking nothing down and they payments will be well within the range that this family should be able to make.

On Christmas Eve, both sets of parents will come see the house for the first time.  The children will not come.  They want the kids to see if for the first time with their parents.  It’s only a couple of weeks now before their father will be home.  Just a few weeks after that and their mother will be home too.  Their parents are going to put in what little they had left of their personal items when they come on Christmas Eve.

My heart is so full right now that it feels like it will bust.  The last family I helped is doing great in their new home and I couldn’t be happier right now.  Between the families, my friends, and everyone that has helped make my dream a reality for two families, I am a very lucky woman.  There is a Santa Clause after all.

Well the house looks absolutely beautiful and now all it needs is a family.  There’s a Christmas Tree up in the living room all decorated with presents for everyone under it all donated by the churches.  The kitchen is fully stocked, the house is furnished and the beds are made just waiting for their new occupants.  All of this was also donated by the churches. Every bit of the home improvements came from people in the church working hard from the new flooring, to the furniture, to the new appliances.  It’s a wonderful feeling standing here looking at what we all have accomplished together.

I feel so much love in that house because of all the hard work all of these people put into it.  I can’t wait until the family gets home so they can come ‘HOME’ here.  They still know nothing about it and it will be wonderful to see their faces when they find out that so many people cared enough about what they have given to serve our country.  Again, I am going to finance the home myself so that I can be sure they can not only afford the house but are able to keep this house.

With the interest rates dropping, I’m still financing it below what the national rates are.  I guess I’m getting soft in my years (and no I’m not going to say older years because I’m not that old yet) but I have found something that not only makes me feel like I’m doing something worthwhile but I’m also helping those in need.  I have a good life and want to give back.  That’s what this season is all about but I hope to carry it on through out the year and not just during Christmas.

Boy talk about working fast and hard, these men from both churches are doing just that.  One of them installs the double pane windows and donated windows for the north side of the house.  As most people know, that’s the coldest side of a house.  That will help them save on their power bills.

Another member does flooring and donated tile and laminate flooring.  Another member paints houses so he donated the paint for inside and out.  Another member does yard work and landscaping so he’s been working on the yard, digging up things and putting them in other places so they look better.  A local tree service donated mulch for around the house and where ever else the landscaper needs it.

The ladies of the church helped make curtains for every room.  They even made some quilts and shams for the bedrooms to match the curtains.  The furniture was all donated by members of the church.  Some pieces are being reupholstered by a member of one of the churches while another member is updating the main bathroom.  The half bath is okay once the new tile floor and paint was put in.

This is the one that brought tears to my eyes, one of the members donated a heat pump.  It came out of a home that only had it for a year and decided they needed a bigger one.  It’s almost like new and he ran all new duct work too.  These people have worked so hard on this home that it amazes me.  Every bit of their time and items they brought were in the form of a donation for the new owners.  I can’t wait until they come home to find out what these wonderful people have done for them.

Of course there will be a Christmas Tree with presents under it for the family too.  The cabinets will be stocked as well as the refrigerator.  I am honored to have worked with so many wonderful people to help someone in need that has served our country well.