16 years after ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ Raleigh family says it’s a gift that keeps on giving

Now 16 years later, existence is providing the Riggins relatives yet another major gift.

It was 2006 when the “Excessive Makeover” crew tore down the Riggins’ old, troubled household in Raleigh’s historic Mordecai Village and transformed it into a 2,300 square foot, home finance loan-totally free masterpiece.

Now in 2022, the Riggins household is nevertheless dwelling in it and continue to loving it.

“It confirmed God’s claims coming genuine,” loved ones matriarch Linda Riggins reported.

Just after 16 several years, Linda lovingly phone calls the renovated property “lived in.”

“I phone this my mommy wall,” Linda reported pointing to a wall adorned with photographs of her relatives and placed so she can see it whilst she works in her kitchen area.

A joyful collage of pals, household, Linda, her spouse and their a few kids by way of the yrs. So numerous pics, spilling across the space on the refrigerator, she now calls the “Good friend Fridge.”

Another of Linda’s favored areas is a space that was in no way exposed on the demonstrate.

“Welcome to my composing space,” Linda beams. ” I have normally liked examining and composing that was my protection.”

Having a youthful family members when they moved in, Linda failed to use the home in earnest right until a couple of years in the past. She believes waiting around all these a long time to use the distinctive home was God’s perfect timing.

“Just before 5 several years ago I heard, ‘Linda, you can create you have a way with text.’ But Barbara, I didn’t believe that that,” Linda explained to ABC11 Anchor Barbara Gibbs. “But I kept crafting and I retained looking at and now I say it out my personal mouth, ‘A momma can generate.'”

Now, Linda Riggins is a released author.

“Phrases: Beholding Black Gals, that is the title of my initially publication,” Linda mentioned proudly showing off the manuscript. “It is a assortment of poetry that celebrates the Black female that I am and that I am turning out to be and fairly a little bit the Black girl I was.”

The cover, created by Linda’s brother, exhibits Linda searching in the mirror, “and I am observing all the faces of these gals–my mother, my grandmothers and my sisters–who formed me.”

So from the gift of her magic formula creating room, within the present of an Extraordinary Makeover property, arrives Linda’s present to others.

“This is a snippet of my everyday living tale of resilience, of celebration, of persistence, of survival, of like, of joy, of hope. These are huge factors,” Linda mentioned.

Linda’s e book of poetry — Text: Beholding Black Girls — is accessible on Amazon. You can also join with her on Fb and Instagram.