Disarray

Well, the SOLD sign has been put in the yard and the inspection is done and I think I have only now begun to realize that we are, indeed, moving. As if taking a look around our chaotic house wasn't reminder enough. Boxes are everywhere, walls have been stripped of our family photos and memories, and clothes lay stacked in piles on about every level of our house since I decided that putting them away only to pack them in the next week was absolutely pointless. With all this mess and no place of our own to move into for a least 4 months, I guess you could say that more than my house is in disarray. Adam and I decided about a week ago that we would forgo finding an existing home to buy and enter into the crazy world of building our next house from the ground up. And while this provides us with a lot of exciting opportunities and "choices," it also leaves me feeling a bit overwhelmed and unsettled. Luckily, we have a few things lined up in terms of temporary housing and we're going to make the most of living simply and at the mercy of whomever might be "putting us up" for the next few months.

Over the weekend, after we had finished a day that included packing, loading up trucks, and moving some of our boxes into Adam's parents' house for temporary storage, we both sat on the back porch reminiscing about all the "firsts" that took place in our house. After a few good laughs and sincere smiles recalling fond memories, Adam asked me what I would miss most about our Broadway Street home. Of course, I thought about those first few blissful weeks of married life in our house. I thought about the day we arrived home, much to our own surprise, with a new puppy. I recalled countless BBQs on our back porch and all our friends whom we have enjoyed hosting at this home. I thought about last summer and bringing our beautiful daughter "home" for the first time. And, of course, I thought about walking over to the local farmers market across the street and how much fun it has been to be able to "walk" to so many fun restaurants and shops in our neighborhood. But then my mind recalled what to many might be a ridiculous "best"- my plants. And, in particular, three beautiful Sum and Substance hostas that I planted just a few short months after moving in.



Having grown up with a father who loved "working in the yard" and who effortlessly passed that love on to both my sister (who is a Landscape Architect by trade) and I, one of my favorite memories of living in this house was taking a planting plan that my sister created for our front yard and "making it come alive". Not only did it give me a new appreciation for just how talented and knowledgeable my sister was, it also gave me an incredible sense of accomplishment. There really isn't anything like taking care of something and watching it flourish and grow over time. I think that is why I have a particular love for these 3 hostas. When I planted them about 2 years ago, they were 3 small "splits" from one Sum and Substance hosta that my father had given me. The first year they barely looked "alive" and now they are thriving.

And while I will certainly miss soooo much more about this house than just the "plants", it sure will be hard to walk away from all my hard work. But there certainly is some reward in turning nothing into something beautiful that will bless more than my family's eyes.

Blessings,
Katie