Summer has come and gone.  I am always amazed at how my boys continue to grow in all aspects of their life.  Many districts have officially started, but Cardinal isn't starting until Thursday.  This time of year always takes me back to a small tradition in my neighborhood growing up...we had a neighbor, Lucy, a widow that lived alone.  She would sit out on her front porch and watch us kids play.  We would end up on her front stoop swinging on her porch swing, sitting on her old milk box, or in her rocking chair.  She would teach us the simple things in life.  She taught me how to braid.  She taught me how to make a whistle sound come out of a piece of grass.  Oh, the games of Chinese checkers too!  She was part cheerleader and part counselor...she would listen and reluctantly give her two cents worth.  Each school year brought excitement and one of the traditions were the kids in our neighborhood would get off the school bus and race to Lucy's house.  She would measure our height on her old white hutch and then give us a whole candy bar!  Lucy has passed on now, but I will never forget how simply she gave back.

God equips those that are faithful.  Sometimes we think that we can't do much, but all Lucy did was be available and use what little resources she could to bless little Clark and Reighard kids that made up our neighborhood in Richland!  If she can do it, so can you!