Home makeover an 'extreme' blessing for Alabama Catholic family

Published: 2008-02-22

MOBILE, Ala. (CNS) -- Sometimes good things happen to good people. Months ago, when the Gaudet family's application for ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" was first sent in, any oddsmaker would have made it a long shot to be one of five finalists nationwide, let alone the one chosen. But oddsmakers rarely consider the power of years of consistent personal and communal prayer and almsgiving as active elements of good fortune. For the Gaudets, a long-held dream, revitalized by a popular television program and perhaps divinely energized by many prayers, finally came true. A broad community of friends, neighbors, parishioners and other partners in prayer were moved to tears as Steve Gaudet, his wife, Lydia, and their six youngest children emerged from a pearl-gray limo to be greeted on a brilliant Feb. 8 afternoon by "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" host Ty Pennington and get their first glimpse of the family's new home. The installment of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" featuring the Gaudets is tentatively set to air Sunday, March 23, 8-9 p.m. EDT.

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