Roughly one year ago, I shared something personal - a story about my grandmother's home and how heartbreaking it was to see her once-impeccable yard fall into disarray. That corner lot was so much more to me than a patch of grass and some flower beds. It was my grandmother's pride and joy, her sanctuary, and a quiet act of love for her community. She trimmed her edges with scissors. I am not exaggerating (IYKYK). She believed in pride of ownership, and it showed. That yard was a reflection of her heart, and to many of us who grew up in our small town, it was basically a Main Street landmark.
Soooo when I drove by last year and saw it looking neglected, it totally crushed me.
This weekend we went home again, and everything shifted.
The new owners put in the work. A LOT of it!
If you see this, THANK YOU!! Truly. From the deepest part of my heart, THANK YOU!
You didn't just grow some grass or pull some weeds. You brought life back to a space that holds a thousand memories. You took a corner lot on Main Street that was fading into the background and made it beautiful again. You made it fresh and seen. And for someone like me, someone who grew up waving from your front porch, someone who once curled up under those trees to watch the Pioneer Days parade...you gave me back a piece of home I didn't think I'd get to feel again.
This small act means more than you will ever know.
I know it took a lot of time and energy. I know it wasn't easy...trust me, I know. I also know how powerful pride in ownership can be, especially in a small town. It's no secret, our little town has seen better days. There is no denying that. But when one house gets loved on, it reminds the rest of us that there's still hope. It shows everyone what is possible. It's proof that pride and care are contagious.
We need that.
We need people who care...people who show up...people who understand that how we take care of our spaces is a direct reflection of how we value our communities.
Small towns across America are hurting - losing population, losing resources, losing their identities. But they don't lose their souls overnight. Thye lose them slowly...one neglected building, one empty storefront, one overgrown yard at a time.
They also heal one effort at a time.
One fresh coat of paint...one mowed lawn...one cleaned-up corner lot...one roof replacement.
That's how we get it back! That's how we preserve the charm and heart that makes small towns the best places on earth.
So again, to the new homeowners on the corner lot - I see you. And I am sooo grateful for you! 
You are exactly the kind of people who make a tiny little town feel like home.
You are exactly the kind of people who make a tiny little town feel like home.What can we do next? I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I will come back and help because many hands really do make light work.
