Making a house a home.

I sit here one last time, looking over the house I have called home for 8 1/2 years. I have cursed this place and swore my undying hatred for it several times. So why am I unable to sleep, with tears streaming down my face as I begin the next chapter of my life? Because I have made this house my home. This house is where Joe and I faced our biggest pains and most immense joy. This is where Joe sat on the edge of the tub, stroking my hair as I sobbed uncontrollably, morning the loss of another baby and the loss of a dream. It is where I spent my first, most amazing night with my first son. It is where I sat up all night crying with my daughter for months. It is where I became a mother. It is where Joe would come home from work to cabinets off the walsl because I just decided I wanted them to face another way. It is where Joe came home to my awesome electrical work just because it was time for an updated thermostat. It is where Joe came home to this beautiful window seat that I drew up and made all in one day. (The thing I will miss the most about this place). It is where Joe came home to the baby's crib put together because it was FINALLY time! (he was only 9 months old!) it is where Joe can't home to some of the best April fools pranks ever! (Poor Joe!) It is where Joe would come home and the phrase, "what did you do????" Was a norm. It is where we decided to saw, by hand, all the grout around our tile, leaving the tile untouched, and replace the grout ourselves (only took a couple years!). We painted, refaced, rebuilt from scratch. We did most of the work on our own. Joe became an electrician, a plumber, a painter, a fixer of all things. It is where I saw the most beautiful sight I will ever see. My husband holding our children and being THE BEST dad I have ever seen. You never know how much you truly love a man until you see him as your children's daddy. This house was just a house. It wasn't the best house. It wasn't the most beautiful house, it wasn't anything special. But we made this house our home. This house now holds some amazing memories of the best times of my life. My kids running around from room to room. Chasing each other all around. Rayann following me everywhere I go like a little puppy (we call her "Fluffy"!) Joe's constant "oasey" (hoursie) rides. Grant's gymnastics. Grant's extreme excitement when he sees the lock turn and Daddy is home from work! My crafting. Joe's running. This home is beautiful to me and I am sad to see it go. But I am so happy to be moving on and giving my children a better home. One with a backyard and room to run. Where we can make new, just as amazing memories. A house we can make our home. I cannot wait! So here's to the best, craziest 8 1/2 years of my life. If the next 8 years are half as good, I will be a truly blessed woman! No more tears! LET'S DO THIS THING!!!