The cozy family room was filled with our favorite people, a movie playing in the background (one we fought over, no doubt) plates of pizza everywhere... Laughter filled the air as our weekly Friday night pizza took place...It may have been messy, but we were together...
I moved into the kitchen and saw my mom and I making dinner together (I swear we have made thousands and thousands of meals side by side!) The radio played some motown oldies and we sang along as we chatted away....
In the dining room the table was beautifully set. It was Thanksgiving and we all laughed and joked as we played the water glasses... Stuffed to the max, we kicked back and enjoyed another holiday together...
The living room was on fire. The sofa engulfed, the flames spreading to the carpet... The smoke detectors blared as my dad commanded the fire extinguisher. The dog wailed in the background as we kids stared in disbelief. Ah, our first Christmas in Maine....
I walked up the stairs and peaked in my mom's room. I saw myself cozied up in my parents' bed, my mom and I talking the morning away...The smell of sweet Maine air drifted in and out of the open windows as spring announced its arrival....
I tiptoed down the hallway and stepped into my bedroom. In my room I saw the last 8 years of my life in a flash. The studying, the cleaning, the old paper snowflakes that hung festively at Christmastime when I was 16... The endless phone calls I had with Strom... The way the room looked as my wedding drew near - insane amounts of boxes and wedding decor stacked up...
Across the hall I could see myself sprawled out on the floor of my little sister's room as we talked up a storm about who knows what. You know how sisters are! Until Maine, we hated each other. It was probably the fact that we had no one else but each other when we moved that made us find friends in each other. I wouldn't trade that for the world....
My younger brother's room was a music scene. I could see Strom and Joseph jammin' away on their guitars in their pajamas. I could see Joseph's excitement as we bought him Yankee memorabilia, adding to the already cluttered Yankee-themed room. I could see him as a little 6-year old boy... only now to see a 15-year-old studying his geometry... Where does time go?
I peaked into my backyard and saw the ladies of my family sunbathing and swimming in the pool...I saw games of bocci ball and Frisbee...There were bonfires and glorious star-lit skies... There were memories in the making...
Before I knew it, I had tears in my eyes. I felt like I was the one moving. Hadn't I already done this 9 months ago?? I know memories come with you wherever you go... But to know I'll never set foot in my family home again made my heart hurt.
What an amazing 8 years it was in Maine! I loved every minute of it (okay, maybe not, but memories often look rosier than reality! haha) but I wouldn't change a thing. God blessed each day in that house and I can't wait to see what He has in store for my family in New York!
1 comment:
As I was reading your post, I found a song playing in the back of my head. Have you heard "Home is Where the Heart Is" by Lady A? I felt like that should have been playing in the background as I read your post! I'm so lucky to still be able to go home, but I'm sure it will only be a few years before I can't anymore.
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