Hurricane Katrina's devastation brought a number of evacuees to the Bryan-College Station area. A local woman came to the Brazos Valley just before Hurricane Katrina. Now, she's celebrating her new life in the Brazos Valley.

"God just let everything fall in place for me," Lynda Jones, hurricane evacuee.

Lynda Jones credits her faith for bringing her family to College Station. Five years ago, Hurricane Katrina caused Jones and her relatives to leave Louisiana.

"The Holy Spirit led my Auntie to get the family together," said Jones.

They loaded up and headed for Houston, the week before the storm hit but, took a detour looking for better lodging.

"We needed to have a nice hotel that had a Continental Breakfast," said Jones. "She said you have to put your stuff back in the car, we need to go to this place called Bryan-College Station."

Linda says her family was led to this Hampton Inn, while evacuating from Hurricane Katrina. Following Hurricane Katrina, Lynda's family went their separate ways. Her brother and sister went back to Louisiana and her mother now lives in Alabama. Five years, later she's made a life for herself and her children.

"I was blessed to meet nice people that took me and my kids in, until we were ready to get on our feet," said Jones.

They lived with her new church members at Three Angels Seventh Day Adventist Church.

"They welcomed us with open arms," said Jones.

In November of that year, she started working at a local salon -- where some of her co workers have become extended family.

"That's what really led to me to stay here, the warmth of the people and the education system for my kids and the love I've gotten from J. C. Penny salon," said Jones.

Just last month, Lynda returned home to marry her fiancee Greg Jones who's also a New Orleans native.

"I'm a newlywed," said Jones."I am still trusting in GOD. It has been a blessing that I'm here with my kids and my new husband."

But, Linda says there is still no place like home.

"We try to get back as much as we can, we were down there for Mardi Gras, down there for the Superbowl," said Jones.

And here in the Brazos Valley, she keeps reminders of Louisiana close to her heart and is thankful for the journey which led her a new beginning.