This House

This house sometimes feels too small.  I know this is relative...as my mom often reminds me, our ancestors had many more kids in much less space.  (But, our ancestors didn't have Toys R Us and grandparents that couldn't resist spoiling their grandchildren either.)  There is very little closet space.  The shelves in the pantry are so deep that a box of cereal could go missing for months.  Whoever designed the girls' room neglected to leave a wall large enough to put a bed against, but we've somehow managed to fit in 2 beds.  There is a large yard, but no sprinkler system.  Watering in the summer is a full time job, and one we don't always do that well.  So, the lawn needs some work.  There's just not a lot of extra space, and I get a little aggravated with it sometimes.  I often swear that it was designed by a young bachelor architect who had no concept of what a house with a family in it would need. 

But,

this house has welcomed all three of my babies home from the hospital.

it has stood through 11 Texas spring times and all the storms that come with them, many times while we were all huddled together in the tiny bathroom.

we have picked peaches together here.

we have put up bird feeders here, and we watch them through the kitchen window together.

just this week, we watched over 30 butterflies drinking nectar from our privet hedge.

we have a mama squirrel that visits our bird feeders every morning.

we have hosted family, and friends that feel like family here.

we have honey-suckle vines and irises that make me long for my grandmother every spring.

we have had countless Popsicles and bubbles and sidewalk chalk drawings on the back patio.

Aidan learned to ride his bike on the sidewalk out front.

we have chased down many an ice cream man here.

we have planted flowers together here, and enjoyed watching them bloom year after year.

we have planted tiny stick trees, that our now big enough to drink tea under.

we have watched lots of movies, and spilled lots of popcorn.

So, while we may be crowded, and a little disorganized, we have been very happy here.  We have made many memories here.  It might not be the best house, but it is an amazing and beautiful home.  We are so blessed.