Going through the Diocese annulment process changed my life. It pushed me to take ownership of my past, look at my children with new clarity, and turn intentionally back toward God. In the years since, I’ve realized He had been preparing my heart all along, leading me toward what I now call the Neighbor Project.

Since my annulment, I’ve felt drawn to support other moms navigating divorce, though I never knew how. This time, God showed me.

As a Realtor, I’ve always loved refreshing homes—patching, painting, making spaces feel new. This year, I felt called to use those same gifts in service. I offered a free mini home makeover to someone who needed encouragement and soon connected with a recently divorced mother of three trying to rebuild her life.

We completed three projects—a bathroom refresh, deck repairs, and yard improvements. The work was meaningful, but the real impact came afterward, when she called to say the makeover gave her the motivation to reclaim her home. She had started cleaning, rearranging, dreaming again—and she wanted to help with the Neighbor Project next year.

When you offer your time, talents, and resources to God, He connects the dots in ways you never could. What began as a simple act of service became a reminder that He can use our wounds, our gifts, and even our paintbrushes to lift someone else toward hope.