When we first set our sights on Laurel, Mississippi, it was supposed to be just a short stop — two days of exploring, relaxing, and maybe catching a glimpse of the charming small-town life we’ve come to love watching on HGTV’s Home Town. But as life often reminds us, even the best-laid plans can take a sharp turn.

As we were making our way into town, our goldendoodle Millie began showing signs of what we initially thought was car sickness. However, once we arrived, it became quickly apparent that something more serious was going on. Her condition worsened, and we found ourselves searching for the nearest emergency pet hospital — which, as it turned out, was 33 miles away.

After a thorough exam and a proposed treatment plan, we returned to Laurel, hopeful for a quick recovery. But by the next morning, Millie still wasn’t herself. We made the difficult decision to take her back to the hospital, where a CT scan revealed the cause of her suffering: her entire digestive system had shut down. Our hearts sank. Millie was admitted immediately and placed on IV fluids and medication. Watching your pet suffer is hard enough; watching it happen while you’re far from home makes it that much harder.

Millie, home from the hospital with her new “get well” bunny

Needless to say, it’s been an incredibly stressful time — emotionally and financially — and just as we were trying to catch our breath, a severe storm (complete with hail threats) is forecasted to roll through Texas at the same time as us. Millie’s hospitalization along with this storm has delayed our departure another two days.

But even through all this, Laurel has quietly wrapped us in its arms.

This little Southern gem, made famous by Ben and Erin Napier from Home Town, has been a surprising comfort. The people here are just as warm and kind as they appear on TV. There’s a genuine hospitality in Laurel that’s hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it firsthand. From the staff at the pet hospital to the local coffee shop waitress, everyone has greeted us with compassion and grace — something we’ve needed more than ever.

Walking through downtown Laurel, you can’t help but smile. The streets are lined with restored historic buildings, blooming flowers, and friendly faces. You can feel the pride in every shop window and every brick wall — much of which has been lovingly brought back to life by the Napiers and their team.

We didn’t plan on staying this long, and we certainly didn’t plan on the emotional rollercoaster. But in a strange way, it feels like we were meant to be here — to experience not just the picture-perfect version of Laurel we see on TV, but the real, heartfelt version of it, too.

As we wait for Millie’s condition to stabilize and for the storm to pass over Texas we’re holding onto the silver linings — the gentle moments of kindness from strangers, the beauty of small-town life, and the reminder that even in the hardest times, there’s still something good waiting to be found.

Thank you, Laurel, for taking care of us when we needed it most.