Personal thoughts from Mommy:
I don't know if any of my readers are familiar with the song by Miranda Lambert called "The House that Built Me" but basically the whole idea behind the song is that the person is journeying back to the house where she grew up as a child. I have, for some reason that I am now understanding, been drawn to this song for the past few weeks.
The last few weeks have been quite an emotional journey for us. As I previously posted, we sold our home in Montgomery. After the realization of this fact finally hit home, I for some reason began thinking a lot about the home I lived in as a child in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Note: To my mommy and daddy you might want to grab a Kleenex.)
This home meant a lot to me...Just like the song says (paraphrased) the people that now occupy that home will never know what happened in each room, but I do. I remember where I was for each special event. I remember very vividly trying on my mother's wedding dress, sliding down our dual staircases with my brother in sleeping bags to see who was the fastest, and I remember sitting on those back stairs numerous times to "just think about it" after crossing the line. I remember where the piano sat and I spent many a hours practicing various instruments with music leaned on the piano. I remember making chocolate covered cherries with my precious Ama and drying homemade noodles with my strong, yet gentle Papa on the large kitchen island. This was and still is "The House that Built Me".
I believe that the reason so many of the memories are flooding into my mind at this time is because Daddy and I have recently purchased our second home (since being married) and are getting ready to pretty much re-do 80% of the home cosmetically. I commented last night that I have never bought so much paint and supplies as we did at one time! But the main thing that I think about are the amazing memories that SG will have of this home. What will she be writing 20 years from now about the house that built her.
I also believe that another reason that I think about our home in Knoxville is because my immediate family is facing some big medical trials right now. About 2 weeks ago my Mommy was diagnosed with Melanoma found in the shoulder area of one of her arms. Knowing that this can be pretty common, I have to admit that I pretty much shrugged it off at first. However, her surgery to remove the rest of the cancer from that area and further, if necessary, was Monday. I have to admit that the reality of it began to set in around 2:00 PM (at which time she was undergoing surgery). Then when I got the report from her that the area in which they removed measured 6 inches long by 3 inches wide...I got worried. So a flood of memories began to flow because I wasn't expecting it to be this much of a removal. I honestly thought that it was "contained" in the small area where the original biopsy was performed. So the house that built me now was transported from the physical home in Knoxville into the spiritual home of God.
I knew right then that God had destined me to be studying the first book of James this week, not only for that reason, but for many circumstances combined. For in James, and I leave you with this, it states
I don't know if any of my readers are familiar with the song by Miranda Lambert called "The House that Built Me" but basically the whole idea behind the song is that the person is journeying back to the house where she grew up as a child. I have, for some reason that I am now understanding, been drawn to this song for the past few weeks.
The last few weeks have been quite an emotional journey for us. As I previously posted, we sold our home in Montgomery. After the realization of this fact finally hit home, I for some reason began thinking a lot about the home I lived in as a child in Knoxville, Tennessee.
(Note: To my mommy and daddy you might want to grab a Kleenex.)
This home meant a lot to me...Just like the song says (paraphrased) the people that now occupy that home will never know what happened in each room, but I do. I remember where I was for each special event. I remember very vividly trying on my mother's wedding dress, sliding down our dual staircases with my brother in sleeping bags to see who was the fastest, and I remember sitting on those back stairs numerous times to "just think about it" after crossing the line. I remember where the piano sat and I spent many a hours practicing various instruments with music leaned on the piano. I remember making chocolate covered cherries with my precious Ama and drying homemade noodles with my strong, yet gentle Papa on the large kitchen island. This was and still is "The House that Built Me".
I believe that the reason so many of the memories are flooding into my mind at this time is because Daddy and I have recently purchased our second home (since being married) and are getting ready to pretty much re-do 80% of the home cosmetically. I commented last night that I have never bought so much paint and supplies as we did at one time! But the main thing that I think about are the amazing memories that SG will have of this home. What will she be writing 20 years from now about the house that built her.
I also believe that another reason that I think about our home in Knoxville is because my immediate family is facing some big medical trials right now. About 2 weeks ago my Mommy was diagnosed with Melanoma found in the shoulder area of one of her arms. Knowing that this can be pretty common, I have to admit that I pretty much shrugged it off at first. However, her surgery to remove the rest of the cancer from that area and further, if necessary, was Monday. I have to admit that the reality of it began to set in around 2:00 PM (at which time she was undergoing surgery). Then when I got the report from her that the area in which they removed measured 6 inches long by 3 inches wide...I got worried. So a flood of memories began to flow because I wasn't expecting it to be this much of a removal. I honestly thought that it was "contained" in the small area where the original biopsy was performed. So the house that built me now was transported from the physical home in Knoxville into the spiritual home of God.
I knew right then that God had destined me to be studying the first book of James this week, not only for that reason, but for many circumstances combined. For in James, and I leave you with this, it states
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything...Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:2-4,12
