It's where the seasons of quiet and beautiful chaos were imprinted deep inside us. Here, we slowed down, breathed deep, praised God, and really began to see. In the slowing and in the quiet it's where I also began to listen and hear. Not just God's voice, but the gentle sound of the creek, the frogs, the bats, and the breeze.
It's where my husband got his first two English lab puppy brothers and where they met their sister Onyx, and their cousin Gus.
It's the season where my daughter became a mother, and then a mother again, and again once more. Three boys, two years apart.
It's where I got to watch her motherhood form and grow, and where she got to watch me fall in love with her boys. The time she and I got to spend together in that home with those babies.... It was simply the most precious of things.
It was here, where my son brought me baby turkey's for a house warming gift and where he'd jump and hang from the rafters in the den. It's where he made a creek new with his father as they turned it into a babbling brook. It's where he swam with dogs on his back in the pool, and where he climbed to the top of the windmill to fix it.
It's where our youngest redhead daughter read books on the back porch, let baby lizards trek up her arms and took black and white photos on a walk to the creek. Its where she pulled wagons full of apples from the orchard to the porch. It's where she became an aunt, and cut all her nephews hair.
It's where I had my first real long Christmas and went a little crazy. I love Christmas and decorating for Christmas, and I now had a home that begged me to do it. So... I had a tree in almost every room. Candles in every window.
It's where every Spring's new life bloomed with flowers that held the promises of fruit. And it's where I learned to garden. I picked sour cherries from our tree and by year 3, I learned the perfect way to pit them. I used my finger and became a pro. I am not a baker, but once a year I became one. And those Father's day ready, Cherry pies, were not only beautiful, they were delicious. And if you came to our house when the cherry's were ripe, we'd put you on a ladder and give you a bowl.
It's where sisters and brothers, nieces and nephews, aunt's and uncles and cousins loved and laughed and made special memories.
It's was where the Mother daughter Christmas parties began. And the baby showers, and the Easter feasts, and the Super bowl parties, and the Weddings. Oh... the Weddings.
It's where I became Mamo and rocked three sweet baby boys. I can still smell them and feel them cuddle into me if I close my eyes. "Lullaby and goodnight, with pink roses delight, with lillies overhead is my baby's wee bed. Close your eyes now and rest, let your slumber be blessed." I miss singing that song at naptime.
Later It's where we raced these same three boys around the outside of the house to tire them out, and where I supervised three brother baths that had me laughing until I cried. "Oh I wish I was a fishy in the sea."
Its where Papa would take three clean pajamaed boys and settle them in for snuggles and a movie so I could take a break. And it's also where Papa raked up huge piles of golden leaves so we could jump in them.
It's where we played in the dirt box and sandbox and garden.
It's where brother number one named me. I had him for a long time before his brother number two came along, so he was my best buddy. It's embarrassing how many pictures I have of this child.
It's also here that brother number two ran and got all the ripe strawberries from the garden before he even came into the house. And it's where I followed him to the pond every time he went that direction because I knew he would fall in. One day he did. He was the only one. It's also where he climbed so high up a tree that it scared me, and Papa wasn't home. And he always picked flowers for his mother, and told me once that I looked beautiful.
It's where the third baby boy brought tears of redemption to his Papa's eyes and healed something in his heart when we heard he was coming. And It's where I was so in love with chubby hands and feet that I couldn't stop snuggling him and thought I might die from it.
It's where three boys became warriors. The Lion, The Wolf, and The Bear.
It's where Paul and I took long walks. It's where we had our forever favorite dates. Long afternoons climbing back roads with a picnic in the Rhino.
It's where little hands dripping with creek water were held up with eyes of wonder, as little boys showed me the shiny treasures inside.
It's were my baby cows were born twice a year along, "My Road home." And where they came over to say Hi when I stopped and parked.
It's where I saw more stars than I ever knew existed, and when I found out was dark really was.
It's where Mount Tom lived right outside my front door and became mine.
And it was here, that I became the hostess to nests of baby birds every Spring. I remember the first time I saw nest with eggs. I was so excited. And then, when they hatched, I could stand on my kitchen stool and see the babies. The motion of my moving close made them open their mouths thinking they were being fed. And Mama squawked at me sometimes, but I think she knew I loved them. We worked it out too, because she had more babies in the same planter box the next year. Watching all of that, was precious to me. Paul and I used to sit on the porch and watch Mama feed them. Dad sometimes flew in too. And one night we sat as both parents squawked at the babies to fly to them in a near by tree. Two babies were brave enough and did. The third was never made it out of the nest that night, but in morning he was gone.
It's where the sunrises and sunsets took my breath away and where winters always came, at least once, and turned everything stunningly Hallmark card beautiful. It's where there were Mountains and the promise in the orange light of morning. Its the place where I planted memorial stones deep in my heart.
I know. I will never forget. I will always remember.
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