Today, mom and I (later Chad and I) worked on tearing down the old wash-house at my mammow Lillies house. We are all but finished there and the old homeplace is next. She still stands, but now in shambles; on her last shaky legs. Those strong, sturdy walls that witnessed decades of childrens laughter and protected us during storms and harsh winters have all but crumbled. I took the doors off, and looked everything over carefully today. Every doorknob, hook, board, or nail that can be salvaged is a good thing......somehow it feels like less of a crime, even though she is failing in every way on her own. It was interesting that today, in the midst of our work, a rainstorm interrupted our progress. I was upset initially, but I think God wanted to remind me of what was, and how special that place is to me. As the rain spattered on my cheeks, and dripped off my hair to the ground, I remembered. I could feel the 7 year old me running in that rain with my sister, catching water in mammows wash tubs. I cleaned my hands with run off water from the downspout and watched the rain with my mom. Today was probably the last time we will sit in the wash house or on the porch and listen, feel, or be....... in that time. I was sad for what was....... My little ones dont remember the things that make my heart smile about that place: My first glimpse of the bible and Jesus took place sitting on Mammows lap with that old home bible draped over us, in that living room. I dont suppose I will ever fall asleep again to the melody of quiet rain, mingled with the tick tock of a wind-up clock in a distant corner of next room. I will never wake up again to the bed made up around me and her homemade gravy and biscuits waiting on the stove. In the coming weeks and months, that place will be gone. We will focus now on making this a happy place for the kids. I pray that when they are grown and pull that card from their memory box, they will smile, remember, and be happy for the memories made and love given in that place, like generations before.
Posted on: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:46:21 +0000
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