Read about Gina’s Hopes for the Future.  Her Safe and Affordable Home was Dedicated in Worcester on June 30, 2017   

My dreams for the future, my hope for the future: never have to move again! Everyone wants only the best for their children, and I am no different. I want to see my daughter happy. She smiles most of the time now. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen those teeth. I’m sure the braces didn’t help either. Those of you who have teens know you never see your kids come out of their bedrooms unless they want something. Tara actually hangs out in the living room. It’s really a small miracle.

My hope is to have holidays. I want to have people come over for dinner, and I like to plan menus and parties and shop for food and run around like a nut just to get ready for entertaining. It may seem like a little thing but I want to argue with my family about who gets what holiday–just like you.

I want my daughter to invite her friends over. In our last place I would tell her to invite a friend over and she would always say no. She didn’t want anyone to see the old place. I’ve been introduced to at least 4 friends just in the last three months. Now if I could only get them to stay awhile and eat something!

I want to see my neighborhood turn into a mini Habitat for Humanity city. I can walk to my new neighbors Lindsay and Steve’s house and hopefully in the near future be able to walk to new home locations and volunteer to build. I will see my daughter graduate from high school this year, and later college from this house. I will be able to see her wave when she comes home for the weekend/vacations or moves out. With that said, I want to see the neighborhood kids grow up and move out as well.

I want to see my granddaughter feel comfortable in her new bed. I want her to feel special. She has her own closet and bureau and will say let’s go home when we are out and about. I want her to feel safe and secure and I want her to know this is her house, as well as ours. She loves to find a recipe, and then we bake. The kitchen is the heart of the home. Home is where Tara and Kairi are.

My home is beautiful but what is more beautiful is all those people that give up endless time and talent to put me in this house. Thank you to all of the staff, volunteers and partners for building us a decent home to live in, dream, grow and prosper!