Blessing #3 - Denise Simpson - A Warm Heart & Home

Blessing number three is a very recent person God has brought into my life, well within the last year & 1/2.  My family and I lived in a home just on the outskirts of Maryville, TN for three years.  The owner of our rent house was needing to sale several of his properties.  My family and I were desperately homesick for Texas, but simply knew that at the time we simply couldn't afford a move at that time.  Week after week, in the dead of one of the worst East TN winters experienced in a long time, my family searched for a home.  We either ran into the issue that the home was too pricy, or too far from work, didn't allow pets, or simply did not fit the needs of our family.  Day by day anxiety began to grow as we were getting closer to our deadline.  Out of desperation on our part, and perfect planning on God's part my family chose to go against something we swore we'd never do.  My family and I swore we'd never live in an apartment (I think there were anxieties from losing our home in a tornado when I was a kid, and the potential for house fires in apartments).  Plus we knew we were going to have to majorly downsize our belongings.  When we walked in Denise greeted us with a warm small and hugs.  Instantly we bonded, she was born in Texas, had lived in Mansfield, and of course we found "home away from home" in our conversation.  Denise calmed our fears, and to our surprised helped us make one of the biggest decisions in our lives, to take a load off, enjoy the amenities of the apartment.  When we moved in she treated us just as she does everyone who walks through the door.  She helped us to build relationships right away, and she was not only our leasing agent, but she was a rock for us in the dark times!  She has a special gift of encouraging, loving, and giving rest to the weary!  Thank you Denise for being a neighbor, a great landlord, and most of all our friend!  We will always love you and your family! Thank you for making Maryville a warm home for us!  Our best full year in TN was spent at The Reserve! Thank you for taking Travis and I with your family to morning Breakfast at Hot Rods and family outing to Cade's Cove, you don't know how that ministered to Travis and I where we were!  Thank you for making it more than a job!

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." - Proverbs 17:22