today, i am expressing my gratitude for the roof over my head. the roof over our heads.
we bought this house, our first *real* house (vs. base housing/apartment), in 2006. we are transplants to clarksville, transplants to tennessee. both of our families live in other states. we have lived in other states, and even one foreign country, over the course of our time together. clarksville isn't really *home* to either of us. i still find myself phrasing it as "when i come home" when speaking of visiting NC, and eric does the same w/ Ohio. but this house is *home*, too. both of our children started kindergarten from this house. eli and silas were both less than 5 when we moved here. they have made their first little friendships here. we have learned lessons here. we have all grown, in many ways, right here within these walls.
i love this house. i love that it is imperfect. i love that it is cluttered with my children's belongings (and mine!). i love when it is filled with family for a visit, and i love when it is filled only with ourselves. i love the way it smells, and the natural light coming in through the windows. i love having a fire in the fireplace when it's cold out (or even slightly cool..lol). and i thank God for the a.c. in the blistering summer heat! most of all, i love the love, safety, and warmth i feel when i'm here inside; this has very little to do with amenities, and very much to do with the people with whom i share my little life.
there are many things this house is not ("immaculate" comes to mind), but what it is is perfect for us. someday we will say goodbye to it, and though i am open, and even hopeful, to the possibility of moving some day, i will be saddened when it is time to leave. we will carry with us our memories, and create another *home* when that time comes. but this one will always hold a special place in my heart. this is really the house where we began. where we struggled. where we not only survived, but succeeded. no matter what kind of "roof" you have over your head, be thankful for it. it is what you have now that matters.
4 comments:
perfect! And I am still so surprised you blogged. I think we need to have a party or something!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeee this!! And I'm with Jessi... we need a party! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
Oh, and I love your quote under your profile!!
Happy Thanksgiving, a delightful post about appreciating what we have and that home really is where the heart is.
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