with intention

We are finally home here in franklinton. Residential guests is what I like to think of ourselves. That will be our status for years here I believe. It's truly a different world here ... 2miles from where we used to lay our heads at night.

Two nights after we moved in we got our "welcome" to the neighborhood. It was after dark and I was getting ready for bed. As I looked over the back yard I saw a man and thought to myself, "Wow, he sure is pushing that stroller really fast through our yard!" "Or is that my lawnmower?" And it was, along with my grill, fire-pit, and numerous things from the glove compartment of my truck. The next day the neighbors were already on it. One by one, the items started showing up. Each item was handed back to us with a "welcome to the neighborhood...and lock your shit up."

There are more stories, but my favorite happened just this morning. I met Dion in the gardens. He wanted to mow for money. I thought to myself, "why not, he seems industrious. Most other teenagers are off doing other things and Dion wants to make some money." So I gave him a few bucks to mow an entire lot that was severely overgrown creating a wonderful little habitat for city rats. He did a wonderful job and worked quite hard.

This past week, he came to my front door and asked if I had any more work. I gave him a broom and he swept my front porch and walkway for 3 bucks.

He came back again, this time with a friend. We didn't have much for him to do and we were leaving so I told them to come back the next day same time.

They did...
Heather had just gotten home and she set her purse down on the front porch by the door because Riley greeted her with a football... so they played for some time then ran inside to get a drink...

Heather said, "someones at the front door" We only saw a couple shadows through the glass turn around to leave. "My purse is out there!"

I confronted the two boys as they were leaving... They claimed that they didn't think we were home and they were leaving... Heather asked them if they had seen a wallet that was sitting inside of her purse. They immediately said no. I pushed them on it and asked Dion's friend what was in his pocket... "a book for school." A couple more requests to see the book and out came Heather's wallet. "We wouldn't steal from you man" and they left.

Sitting in the pew this Sunday morning and the priest invites the congregation to greet one another in peace... so I turned around and there say Dion with his mother. I smiled at him and went straight for his hand... "peace to you Dion."

We were sitting down for lunch after the service and Dion came to our front door to apologize.

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currently playing:: go fish : kerri jen riley trey : on the front porch