Temporary Home

I wish I had all the time in the world to break down our last weeks events. I'll spare you the boredom (this time) and fill you in on our where-abouts. I can finally take a deep breath (ironically on Mothers day) and do what I have missed dearly for several days now. Write.


Without hesitation we are settled in our new home (for now anyway) and waiting in high hopes that in six months we will find ourselves planted firm in our final destination. 


There will be plenty to do over the summer with our new project, but I'm really looking forward mostly to spending time, and living with, one of the greatest people I know. My mom.

I grew up in this house and lived here for 20 years. When Justin and I decided (or rather we had no choice really) to live with my mom for the next few months, I wasn't thinking about all the memories that would surface when we pulled into the familiar driveway, and entered through the familiar back door. The house smells the same. My room looks the same. Heck I still have A+J carved in my wall closet, and a few mentions from my grade school/junior high years.  And then I remembered........the last stretch of time spent here, was when my dad was sent home on hospice to finish out the last four weeks of his life. I can still picture him set up by the living room window, talking with friends and family, sharing his final words, and humbly waiting for the new life ahead of him.


It's sort of bittersweet. Our family pulled together during a time of loss. And this home was our "mourning grounds" while we waited for dads final breath. We all took shifts feeding and nursing my dad to make him as comfortable as possible. I was thinking "it wasn't all that long ago that dad was doing just the same for us kids".  As I look up now from this screen I stare out that very same window my dad looked through for days. The flowering cherry tree sprouts it's blossoms, and the sun, nearly blinding, warms every bit of my soul. I wonder what his thoughts were. If he had any regrets. And how life must have seemed so short as his last days came so quickly. 

What I do know is he and my mom made this a place of security. A place of growth and vitality. A place of rest. A place called home. 

I feel honored to be back under this shelter of life, love, and loss. And while we are only passing through, we're passing through with purpose and direction. With hardship and pain. With laughter and joy.


For now......


We share the same bathroom, living room, dinning room, laundry room, and lets not forget the most important......


The same kitchen.

And hopefully making a whole new set of memories to last and take with us.