We moved into our new house this past weekend.
Boxes still line the hallways. Paint is drying. The tools haven’t been put away, and we’ve been living on takeout, caffeine, and sheer willpower for days. Between setting up furniture, hauling things in and out, and making sure the plumbing works, there hasn’t been a single moment to just breathe.
We were exhausted.
Then today, as the sun started its slow descent and the house settled into an evening hush, there was a knock at the door.
Standing there, with a soft smile and arms full of food, was our neighbor. She’s 82 years old, barely taller than the boxes we’ve been unpacking—but carrying something so much bigger: care.
She came bearing what I can only describe as a feast. And not just for us—but for all the friends who had been helping us move. Every dish wrapped in love. Every bite whispering, you’re home now.
There were fluffy homemade biscuits. BBQ chicken that made the whole house smell like summer. Potato salad, cabbage, and sweet, buttery corn on the cob. A honey-glazed baked ham. And the desserts? A pecan cake that melted in the mouth, and a chocolate pie that made grown adults fall silent in awe.
We were stunned. Overwhelmed. I nearly cried.
And then she said something that will stay with me forever:
“I used to be a pastry chef. I still love cooking. You work full time, honey—just call me if you ever need dinner. I’ve got you.”
At 82, she has more generosity in her hands than most people I’ve known in a lifetime.
In that moment, every ounce of stress we’d been carrying seemed to melt. Not just because of the food (though my goodness, it helped), but because of the gesture. Because someone saw us—tired, new, out of place—and chose to make us feel welcome in the most beautiful way.
We didn’t just get a house.
We got a neighbor.
And not just any neighbor—an angel in an apron with a pecan cake recipe that could bring peace to the world.
We may still be surrounded by half-unpacked boxes, but one thing is certain: we’re not moving again. Ever.
Not if we can help it.
Because sometimes, when you least expect it, life gives you a soft place to land.
Ours just happens to come with BBQ chicken and chocolate pie. ❤️
