Over the last week and a half, we have been working tirelessly to slowly move out of our home into another home within our neighborhood. We were so blessed that the sale of our home went through and that the opportunity of living in another home nearby opened up. It was the answer to many heartfelt prayers...we are so blessed. But as I stood, in my now empty house I decided to pay a little tribute to the home that has brought so much healing, joy, and happiness.
After my Dad's passing, it was wonderful to have something to put my heart into. A safe place to feel in control of my world. Blake and I dug out this cute little sandbox on my Dad's Birthday when Clayton was a tiny baby. I have had so much joy come from watching my boys and their friends play and get SO dirty in this tiny backyard.
I LOVE this bathroom. I love the little porcelain footprints of my boys on the wall. I love the collage of bath pictures I created last fall. I love that I spent so much time here, bathing my dirty little boys every night, and many mornings too. I love bath time...especially when it involves really little babies that end up smelling so sweet when we're done.
I have enjoyed the size of our front room and this was honestly a big selling point for us. Although the square footage is relatively small, we have hosted many gatherings and parties here.
My kitchen. The heart of the home, really. I have spent so much time looking out that window as I have cooked and cleaned up countless meals for my family. The little sign above my stove reads, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." When I was first given this sign, I was pregnant with Blake and I interpreted it to be a warning to my family. As the years have passed, I have slowly began to understand it not as a warning, but a reminder. A reminder of the overwhelming influence my attitude has over the entire family. It has become a goal of mine to meet each day with a grateful, happy heart...to bloom where I'm planted....to fill my home with sunshine. I know there have been many days I have fallen short of this goal, especially after a lousy night, but the reminder is always there.
My kitchen table has been the home of MANY creations. From coloring file folders, alphabets, endless "Papa" bears and sewing crafts, to painting, and blocks. I have spent hours in the seat closest to the window, mindlessly listening to a show and creating in my many lonely evenings with Warren at school.
Blake's animal room. I painted the hanging animals for Blake while pregnant with Clayton. Blake realized today that he would never sleep in his room again and he began to cry.
Sweet baby Clayton's room....although he's not much of a baby any more as he turns TWO tomorrow! I can feel his warm little body in my arms, rocking him to sleep when I look at this photo.
The CRAMPED Master Bedroom/office and bathroom
The park near our house that was part of so many fun play times.
It has been such a whirlwind to return from Colorado, celebrate Warren's graduation with family, and move to the new house. It has taken so long to finally get everything done and Warren and I have struggled this week with body aches and sore throats, making the final efforts even more difficult.
Tonight, as Warren worked to clean out the garage with the boys, I gave the house the final cleaning touch...I mopped. Mindlessly at first, focusing on each tile. But nearly halfway through completing the front room, I stopped in my tracks. There on the floor was a perfect little muddy footprint from Clayton. I hesitated to wipe it away and when I did, a sob escaped me. (It must have been audible because a few seconds after it escaped my lips, Blake opened the door and said, "Did you say something, Mommy?"
I suddenly realized that the last few days I had cleaned every carpet stain, wiped every wall, scrubbed every crusty finger-print from every door knob, and scraped up every hardened cheerio and noodle on the floor. Warren has patched every nail hole, and dents in the wall.
Essentially, we have removed every bit of ourselves from the home we have all loved so much.
And so I did the thing I do best when faced with change...I cried! I wouldn't describe it as a sad cry necessarily, more as a nostalgic one. I know that happy memories will be made wherever we happen to lay our heads and I look forward to more happy times. But with every good change, comes a little sadness of letting go. The end of so many memories in one place.
I just hope that the next tenants will fill the walls with laughter and music as we have.
Goodbye, sweet little home.
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