Boynton Beach woman gets surprise of lifetime


BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - To watch Yolanda Thomas at home with her four kids, is to watch an engine at work.

"I have to work so fast," she said. "Dinner, homework, showers, it's a lot."

She gets up at 5 a.m. every day so she can get ready for her new job as a clerk and run them to school.

In a word, she's: "Exhausted."

And stressed out, financially.

When she left military service in 2010, she never imagined transitioning would be this hard.

"When I was in the Navy I could get them whatever they wanted," Thomas said. "Two of my sons have birthdays in November. I didn't have the funds to give hem the gifts they wanted. So Christmas I said I'll make it up to them."

While Yolanda was at work Wednesday, dozens of volunteers from Florida Power & Light and Boynton Beach Police Explorers transformed her home.

They put up Christmas lights, snowmen and presents.

"I just can't wait to see the look on her face," said FPL volunteer Heather Kirkendall.

A few weeks ago, Yolanda told local veterans group, Stand Down House, that she wanted a Merry Christmas for her kids.

After another twelve-hour work day, she drove up to dozens of people and thousands of lights on her home.

"I don't know, I don't know what to say. I'm speechless," she said.

Hours later, as she went over a paper she'd written for the college degree she's taking online classes for, she had a moment of satisfaction.

"I learned that my service really is appreciated. I hear people say it all the time. To see it in action means so much more."

Thanks for her service in the Navy, and as a mother.