Everybody Needs A Miss Nancy

When moving into a home most people have a huge check list of items they go through prior to making the final decision to sign on the dotted line.  One might consider the land or the structure of the house.  How old is the roof?  Are there enough bedrooms?  Does the neighborhood seem safe?  Will this space meet our needs?  Really, the considerations are endless.  I wonder, however, how often people consider who might be living in the house next door.  Is this a detail that should be considered?  Certainly, thoughts about our neighbors never crossed our mind. 

While our house was being built, Chad and I would often stop by to check progress and often noticed a woman working in her yard next door.  Funny, we never really considered who she was.  At that time I was eight months pregnant with Charlie and we were focused on all the changes that were about to occur.  In a million years, I would have never predicted the gift we were being handed in our neighbor, Miss Nancy.

When we claimed our spot next door to this lovely lady, more than six years ago, I had no idea that we were living next door to a woman who defines the word “class”.   Miss Nancy slid her way into our hearts as easily as we slid into the lot next door.  You know how some things are just meant to be?  Without a doubt, our kitchen windows were meant to face each other.

It was shortly after Charlie was born that I realized how special this lady is.  I remember it was a chilly, cloud-covered day when I heard a light knock on the front door.  She explained that she didn’t want to wake “the baby” but she just wanted to drop off a little something for him.  I still remember the cute blue outfit she handed me, before quietly (so as to not wake the baby) turning to leave.  I remember closing the door and thinking, wow, that was really nice.

Here we are, six years later, and she has proven that family extends beyond blood. 

It began with the way she loved on Charlie.  When Charlie was just a wee one, Miss Nancy played with him for hours, allowed him to work along side of her in the yard, and always paused to let him know that he is important.  When Chanelle came along, she had no problem making room in her heart for another.  And I suspect that she is making room for another sweet one named Meadow.  Not to mention the love she continuously pours out to her own lovely grandchildren.

Why am I talking about this today?  Well, today Miss Nancy outdid herself.  While I was at work and the kids were at my in-laws, Miss Nancy hid eggs all around her property and ours.  When the kids arrived home, she handed each of them baskets and sent them on their very own egg hunt.

We had some happy kids on our hands. . .

There is just something about watching someone love on your kids. . . oh my.  There is nothing like it.  As I stood back and watched the three of them walking around together I was, once again, struck with this special gift we’ve been given.  My heart is so thankful.

I have no doubt that the simple gift she gave them tonight will be a memory they will carry with them for a lifetime.  Knowing that they are loved by another, cared for by another, valued by another, just adds to the foundation that we are trying to build.  What’s the saying?  It takes a village. . .

It truly does.  I have no doubt that our kids will be better because of this village.  Charlie and Chanelle are delighted when Miss Nancy drives by, when Miss Nancy gets her mail, when Miss Nancy is working in her yard, because they know that Miss Nancy loves and cares for them.  She has made that very clear.

And really?  The feeling is mutual. . .

We love her and consider her among our most precious blessings.

Truly, everybody needs a Miss Nancy.