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Dear Friend,
We are so thankful we get to share with you again this month about all that is going on in the lives of our families. Please celebrate with us as you read this edition of The Restoration Monthly.
Finding Restoration...TRH's First, Two-Year Graduate...
"I came to TRH terrified, nervous, shy, depressed and every other emotion imaginable besides happy."
These are the words of Rebekah, mother to Averie, and our first graduate of The Restoration House. Rebekah moved into TRH two years ago this month. She came as a first time single mom with her 11 day old baby girl, Averie. Over the past two years Rebekah has changed immensely, and only for the better. As Rebekah transitioned out of TRH, we asked her to share some of her thoughts about her experience with TRH, as well as the changes she has seen in herself over the past two years. Below are some of her thoughts.
"...I am now more comfortable and secure with my surroundings. I meet new people with a smile and I gladly share my story. I have overcome that old frame of mind. Out with the old and in with the new! I formed a relationship with God. I am learning to be patient and put Him in control."
"My mentors mean the world to me! They are part of my being. They have been there when I have fallen down and have picked me back up again. If I make a mistake, they tell me how it is. If I need a shoulder to cry on, they are there. They have been a rock for me to lean on the last two years and I hope that it continues."
"Averie is my pride and joy; the light of my life. She is the reason for everything I have done and learned in the past two years. Because of her I have become a more confident person as well as mother. In the beginning I was terrified that anything I did would be the wrong thing."
"When I first came to TRH, I was "a mess of insecurities." I though I was worthless. I thought I was fat, ugly, stupid, and that no one would ever want anything to do with me. I have learned since then though. Yes, I have made mistakes, but everyone does. No matter what errors I have made or what I look like, People will care about me. I am important just like everyone else and I have a purpose. I am beautiful and I am strong. Most importantly, my daughter and God love me and believe in me."
As you can tell through her own words, God has done" immeasurably more" in Rebekah's life. We rejoice with her as she transitions. Just last week we moved she and Averie into a new place of their own; where she is paying market rent! Rebekah also continues to work full time, volunteer at her church and explore the unlimited opportunities she is creating for her family's future. What an amazing journey! To God be all the glory!
 In October the Participating Families of The Restoration House received a very special pampering from an exceptional group of ladies from First Baptist Concord. Stephanie Turner, with the help of her professional recruits and her high school girls' small group, spent the day pampering our single moms with pedicures, manicures, haircuts & massages, all as a part of FBC's Serve Day 2009.
The families not only enjoyed the pampering, but were also treated to lunch donated by Gondelier, as well as a morning of free childcare! Also from FBC, the fantastic childcare workers spent the morning playing games and doing fun fall activities with the kids. It was such a great day as our moms were able to experience true luxuries that are not common to them. With all their hard work, the families deserved every minute! Thanks so much to FBC and to Stephanie and her crew, who gave so much to bring this special treat to our families!
That same morning Steve Spoon from FBC was at one of our families housing units repairing some torn down gutter. We can't thank him enough for being faithful to the task and working to see this project through!
Two New Families Need your Help...
In the next month and a half The Restoration House will be moving in two new families. We are so excited and are eager to help these families on their journey toward restoration but we need your help in overcoming some barriers when they first move in.
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We need one or two small groups of volunteers to help us flip the empty units. This primarily will include some deep cleaning but may be a few minor repairs here and there.
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We also need a good used car donated for one of these families. The mom is 32 with a six month old with no car. The unit she will be moving into has no bus access so this is an urgent need.
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We also need some basic household items and furniture for these families when they move in. One family is literally coming with almost nothing materially. To get a list of what we need please click here.
Thank you all so much for helping these families get some of these things out of the way so they are comfortable when they first move and get straight to work on changing their future and not worrying if they have a couch to sit on today!
What an incredible blessing!
 We are happy to report a successful Lunafest! The results show what can happen when people combine good fellowship with community spirit.
A fantastic auction, some incredible food, and a very well organized program combined into a memorable event. We thank our sponsors, our amazing volunteers, and all who participated for making it possible.
In addition to raising awareness for the needs of those with breast cancer, Lunafest produced $250 for the Breast Cancer Fund.
We were also pleased to be able to present the work of Restoration House during this event. After expenses, the total raised for Restoration House was $606.90
The total revenue for the evening was $1,396.89, with the auction brining in $1025!
We are grateful for the opportunity to participate with Stroller Strides, Luna, The Square Room, Greenerprinter, Ideal Bite, and Streamline Pictures, Turkey Creek Rental, and Boogie Down Baby. Also a special thanks to all of our A Taste of Market Square Sponsors, which are La Costa, Soccertaco, Trio Café, Café 4, Oodles Uncorked, and Shono's Japanese Restaurant at Knoxville.
Thank you so much for your support of single mothers and their children. We also want to say a special thanks to all of the churches who have had us out to speak recently; Crossings, Farragut Christian Church, West Towne Christian Church, First Baptist Church of Concord, Apostles Anglican, and Central Baptist Church of Bearden. We couldn't do it without the support of churches like these! May we all be restored back to God's good intent for our lives!
Journeying toward Restoration,
Daniel Watson
The Restoration House of East TN
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