That’s the magic.

Frontenac Friends, today by complete chance, I took one of those photos that unexpectedly means a lot to me.

Soon our new library will formally welcome the public. Like all Frontenac projects, the public have been sneaking quietly in for months when library director Seth Nutt waves them over the barricade to check it out every chance he gets.

I've known and respected Seth for many years, but it's his mother who I adored first. Lisa is such a treasure, even among Frontenac women. As strong as she is gentle, as no nonsense as she is forgiving, Lisa is the kind of person most people want to be. Frontenac has always had those kinds of women and I look up to many of them. Vicki Haden, Sunny Zafuta, Kay Gobl, Sally Neville, Linda Grilz, all come to mind, and many many more.

Absolutely nothing makes me more proud than when I'm able to do something for one of them.

Today I stopped by the library to get my new library card in advance of it opening next month. I was absolutely delighted to turn around and see Lisa Nutt there to do the same.

Already planning to take a few photos for Hello Frontenac, I knew I'd become double lucky. How special to take the photo of the library director's mom getting her first library card. I knew Seth would love to have this moment captured.

And… In typical Lisa Nutt fashion, without meaning to at all, she turned me asking for the favor of a photo, into a gift.

As I snapped away, the amazing Elizabeth Bonner prepared Lisa's card. Then while her son gave a tour to onlookers in the background, under the watchful eye of the Tavella Family dedication, Lisa looked up and smiled.

That amazing Frontenac matriarch “I'm so proud” beaming smile.

What you can't see beyond the frame is her son's office is directly in front of her. The window of which looks out onto the new library.

The library that her son spent so much time and worry and effort into. The team he led was spectacular with its use of funds and imagination. The construction company was the best around, with Frontenac at its heart. It's definitely a gem of a library. Something any mother would be proud of.

There as she looked at her son's office, with a beautiful smile, surrounded by the library he was a massive part of creating, you can't help but see that maternal pride.

Yet, if you know her, you know Lisa beams that smile on so many more than just Seth or his brother. For years she sent it across the lunch line to thousands of kids. (A tradition the amazing Cindy Bugni continues despite definitely earning some year long vacations.)

Frontenac Friends, men and women, just do that. They step up at every chance they can, to do what they can, with where they are, for all the kids of the community.

And that proud smile? It beams from hundreds of faces every time a child does well, and especially when they give back to the town. It's why our kids succeed, because they know the entire town wishes them well. That's a heck of a force. No one cheers harder for everyone's kids than Raiders do.

I'll always see this photo two ways. As that beautiful maternal smile for her son. Seth in the background giving a tour, and the amazing thing he created all around her. A portrait of well deserved motherly pride. I hope the family loves it.

But I also know what she said when she came in and I congratulated her. “Look what your baby did! It's beautiful.” I said. Lisa agreed, thanked me and immediately said “He had an amazing team. We really hope this place becomes a gathering place for the kids.”

Because like her son, Lisa knows this place is about more than one person. It's a place of strong community pride, deep belonging, and hope for the future. Built with the unshakable belief that Frontenac matters, in the town she loves.

So while I'll always see that smile as a lot of maternal pride, I know she would be beaming it just as brightly if it wasn't her son's name on the door of that office.

That's the secret of Frontenac. We each matter to one another. We're so darn proud when ANY of us succeed, and so happy to celebrate that success.

In a small town like ours, you can have a thousand cheerleaders. Dozens of people who are ready to help, or sing your praises. Because in Frontenac we really do care about each other.

We want happiness and success for our neighbors, and our town. It's the thing that makes it all work.
That's it.
That's all.
That's the magic.
And that's everything. And to me, you see it in this photo of one proud momma's grin, in a beautiful new library, in a happy little Kansas town. - Keesha