Making the decision to buy a new home was easy for me- and, I think, makes sense to Carolyn. Leaving the old home is not quite as easy. There is a lot of history here. Raising children, the joys, the sorrows, the good times, and the not so good times - all come back as we move from room to room, packing some things and discarding others.
Kindle slept here, Heather there, Jeremiah here and there, Chad here, and there. The devil on the door, the stereo equipment and the waterbed. Girl friends, boy friends, first dates, first days at school and first days coming home from school. The arguments over homework... the parties in the back yard and in the house. The pets - Sheba, the cats - Gizmo and many others.... the Christmases, the thanksgivings... Easter egg hunts birthday parties and so very much more.
The struggles and the joys - always the love shared and a willingness to share our home with the kids married or not married bringing and even having their kids here. The joy when they each found first loves and their second. The heart breaking break ups of a first serious relationship.... the teenager coming of age... the pre-schooler going off to school.
Playing their first instruments! Flutes, trumpets, drums.. cheerleaders, poets, singers, and lovers.... growing up and all the love, joy, happiness, laughter, pain, anguish - fighting - what ever it took to try and hold things together....
The washer and dryer seemingly running without ever stopping! New cars, used cars, lots of cars, broken cars... bicycles, lawn mowers...
The pumpkin patch -
the most beautiful tree in town... The trees that blew over in the wind! I'll miss the trees - but I'll love other trees.... maybe not as much as the big one in the front yard.
The foreign exchange students, the camping trips, the family nights - the games - the first Atari, the Odessy, all the tennis shoes....
I shed a few tears this morning -- Carolyn sheds them more often. Its hard to leave 31 years of history - but, in the end I'm looking forward to a new beginning - leaving the old moments behind - giving them grace - and welcoming the new moments and adventure to come -- and all the family get togethers around the corner... space to celebrate...
Somehow we didn't need space -- everything was always full of love, laughter, tears -- raised voices -- whispers - moments... many, many, many wonderful moments past and yet to come!
No comments:
Post a Comment