Ode to a Creaky Home....

As we are approaching the one year anniversary of our official move into our first house, I thought I appropriate to pontificate on the complete and absolute love I harbor for this home. We actually received the keys over Labor Day weekend last year, but spent most of the month fixing, cleaning, and painting. Oh! The painting! Even though my wrist still cringes at the sight of a paintbrush, it's difficult to believe we've only been here a year. It feels like we never lived anywhere else! So without further delay, I offer just a few reasons I love our home.

I love that the girls rooms are PAINTED in pretty colors they picked out - "precious purple" for Bug (fancy words for lavender), "pretty yellow" for Bear.

I love that the girls have space to run, swing (at last!) and dig in the garden. After years upon years of apartment dwelling, it still brings tears to my eyes to look out over our quarter-acre yard. (Now if I could only get the hang of gardening and yard maintenance!)

I love that I still do a double take whenever I leave home - just to see my cute house one more time.

I love that I fell in love with my house years ago when I walked an old boyfriend out to his car following my sister's wedding reception. ("Wouldn't it be wonderful to live in such a lovely little brick home across the street from such a beautiful reception center?" Me, July 1999.)

I love that I can wash and DRY our clothes within the confines of our home. This doesn't mean that I manage to stay on top of the laundry, but it is a sheer joy to have the freedom to do as much or as little laundry as I need to, whenever I need to. Over ten years of laundromat fun have taught me gratitude for even the most mundane blessings.

I love that our home has a history. The hardwood floors were walked on over sixty years ago! And the creaks and squeaks that have ensued over time were earned!

I love our gigantic twelve-paned window in the living room. Yes, at times it can feel as though we live in a fish bowl, but to have a wall almost entirely made up of a window? And not just any window, but a window that looks out over our enormous sycamore trees? It's heaven.

I love that we have TWO full bathrooms. Need I say more?

I love our cozy family room in the basement. Due to a lack of remodeling prowess by former owners, this room has neither window nor heating vent. Yet somehow it is the most perfect, coziest spot to curl up and read, watch a movie, or just hang out. It's our little bunker that is completely sheltered from the outside world.

I could go on and on and on..... But I will spare you, for now. In closing I would like to include just one more thought.

More than anything, I love that the perfect circumstances converged to allow Dave and me to give our girls a home of their own. A home that will be theirs for the foreseeable future. This is where we will nurse injuries - of both body and soul. This is where we will hold holiday dinners. This is where we will enjoy Cinnamon Roll Saturday for many Saturdays hence. This is where the four of us can always retreat for love, joy, and security. This is OUR home.