🌾The welcome I didn't know I was waiting for

                

    

Taken on my first walk through Chase -where the leaves whispered, 

Welcome

    When I moved to Chase, I thought I was simply relocating—because that’s where my job brought me. What I didn’t expect was to be received with such warmth: so many smiles, and gestures so gentle they                                   still catch me off guard.

    My neighbor mowed my lawn without a word. Not for thanks, not for recognition—just because. They also make the best-ever Borscht—I can vouch for it, because they brought me a big bowl to taste!

     Shout-out to the girls at Home Hardware: I was welcomed not only by the cashier,                                but by the customers behind me in line. It wasn’t just politeness—it was genuine. I felt it.

    Everywhere I go, I see signs that say “for sale” with a jar beside them. The honor system. Wow! I didn’t think that was still a thing. But here, it’s alive and well—and it says something profound about the trust that lives in this town.

    Finding my home was no accident. I’ll never forget how Charlotte, the property manager, and her assistant Denise treated me with such respect and kindness. I felt like more than a client—I felt like a neighbor. And the home they helped me find, at the right price? It’s perfect. Not flashy. Not grand. Just right.

    Sometimes I go out to eat. I’m greeted with a smile. When you’re brand-new to a town and know very few people, a meal out becomes a chance to connect—even if it’s just a conversation. I'm happy to say, up to this point I have not been disappointed.

    I’ve come through a lot to get here., And now, in this season of my life -  semi-retirement, I’m learning that healing doesn’t always come from big moments. Sometimes, it’s in the quiet kindness of a stranger, the trust of a community, and the feeling that you’ve finally landed somewhere that sees you.

    This is what Helping Hands from the Heart is rooted in. Not just service—but connection.  Not just care—but community.

Thank you, Chase. You’ve given me more than a place to live. You’ve given me a place to belong.

Have you ever felt truly welcomed by a place or a person? I’d love to hear your story—feel free to share in the comments or reach out. Connection is what this space is all about.