Thursday, November 11, 2010

This Old House


To our very first home...

After the papers were signed and the key was turned over, we drove over and unlocked you for the first time as homeowners.


I'll never forget our first night together.

As Rob and I turned up the music and painted your living room walls this fantastic red.

We stayed up until 2:00 a.m., drove home and then moved in the next day.
We were so excited to call you ours.

You had such character. Your original 1920 hardwood floors that had never been touched were one of my favorites.


Your kitchen always made me feel like I was part of the sunshine as it sparkled and filled in throughout your windows. I loved learning how to cook as a new wife and mother in this kitchen.

Your character could be found through little nooks and crannies.


You didn't have a dishwasher to start us off, so we were always washing dishes by hand. What a treat when we saved up for a small, portable dishwasher!




Your electric was original as well...1920s knob and tube. Everyone said we were foolish for buying you with so many things that needed upkeep, but we loved and you and knew you were a gift from God. We worked on you and fixed you.





You had your original doorknobs and SOLID wood doors.






BUT, time has done things to you. Nature hasn't always been kind. Vines have shown your age and how you have been unkept.



Your beams have needed work.


I will miss your white pickked fence.


Your lock that our mailman finally got the hang of.


Your Oak trees that we planted in the first few months of owning you. They were so small, but have grown so tall, just as we have grown.


Our children will no longer grace your floors.



We won't be knocking on your door.




But we did make some memories on our final visit and we'll never forget your warmth, your strength, your protection from hurricanes and storms, your beauty and charm.


We'll drive by from time to time to see what new family moves in. Hopefully, they can fix you up and love you the way we did, but just couldn't anymore. I'll never forget praying and thanking God the first time I dug into your soil, thanking Him for providing you to us.

You'll always be our first and favorite home.



2 comments:

The Dryden Family said...

Have you guys finally been able to sell it?
Lovely story, I thought that house was very cute too!

Homegrown Tribe said...

oh how our first home holds a special place in my heart as well. bittersweet.

britt