Goodbye, Fox Trace...

Tonight is the last night we will spend together at our first house. We don't move until Tuesday, but the kids are all spending the night at friends tomorrow so we can do both closings and moving on Tuesday, and they can play. So, I wanted to make our bed time special tonight, making sure we read together and all prayed together. As I prayed, I thought of so many great memories of our family in this house....and a few not so good ones too.
I remember looking at this house, almost exactly seven years ago, with a little 14 month old boy, and thinking, wow, this house is so big for us! And then, two weeks after moving in, finding out we were expecting another baby. And bringing that little girl home, only two have to take her back to the hospital not even two weeks later because she wasn't breathing. This was the house my son became a big brother in, and we became a family of five.
I remember Bekah's first step and Caleb calling her Gekah. I remember birthday parties, play dates, and telling Mike we had a third on the way. (way before we were ready) I remember getting the news of Mike's grand dad's death, and Mike's grief. I remember bringin another little girl home, and recovering from sugery. I remember many long winter months with three very young children, cooped up because I didn't want another baby with RSV. And I remember Elisa's first steps, and that she could climb on our dining room table before she could walk.
This is the house my kids learned to run in, skip in, jump. This is also the house I started my homeschool journey in, three years ago. This is the house I taught my children to read , add and subtract, and much of the bible.
This house has trees out front, on the side, and in the back that bear my children's names. It's the house my mom taught me how to plant tulips and iris'.
Here, Mike and I have laughed and cried. We have watched many a tv show and movie, had so many conversations, invited friends over, and grieved over the loss of a baby.
And so, my prayer was one of thankfulness. These are memories that I cherish, and will always hold in my heart. So, as we move on to a new house, and new memories, I just say, "Thank you, Lord. How could I ask for more?"
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Comments
Jun. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SmallWorld
Such a beautiful post. I am all choked up! But I am looking forward to the HOUSEWARMING party that you are going to have.
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Jun. 26, 2008 - I can't wait...
Posted by QueenoftheHill
...to read about the memories you make in your new house. I moved to this house 4 years ago and still get choked up if I go anywhere near the old one!
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Jul. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Suzanne
Just hopping over to see what you've been up to... I don't know if you remember me or not, but I met you over a year ago when I drove from the Chattanooga area to the picnic in Maryville. Are you still going to live in Maryville? Just changing houses? I really enjoyed reading this nostalgic post. Thank you for sharing so many special memories of your first "family" home. (*Sorta* reminds me of our time in our current home.)
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