This Old House

When I was a kid, I remember an old song that Rosemary Clooney sang, "This Old House," which went, "This old house was filled with laughter, this old house was filled with light..." I guess that is how I will always remember this old house we have made into a warm, comfortable home here in Omaha. When we found it, it was awful! The beautiful woodwork had been decorated and covered over with frilly curtains, and the lovely hardwood floors were covered with a baby-poop brown colored carpeting which had died many years before. The stove was a '50's disaster with bare wires, and the sinks all had rust stains. That was just the beginning, but somehow, we saw what it COULD be, and loved it. Now, 3 1/2 years later, we are leaving it, a wise decision financially, but a difficult decision emotionally.

We have had so much fun here with all five children and with 11 of the 13 grands, as well. We have the memories of Mom making dozens of Christmas cookies with 5 grands, whereupon Kristy exclaimed, "I'm glad this isn't at MY house!" We've enjoyed backyard cookouts, gourmet dinners, many visitors, and exciting Husker games. We'll remember the doggies, Duffy, Bobby, and my dear puppy MacGregor. We've made pickles, jams, and brownies galore! We've snuggled before crackling fires, and fanned ourselves in the summer heat on a swing in the back yard. I've watched as Chuck developed a marvelous talent for creating stained glass art, and I've loved his teaching the grands how to do it, as well. What a pleasure it has been to cook a tableful of dishes for birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter feasts! How much we have loved having Kristy, Tim, and the children over for an Italian spread or just for pizza! How much we will miss our Mondays with the youngest grands here! And how very much I loved my Mother's Day Surprise last year with Kim, Chuck, and the boys visiting! How special it has been to spend time with our dear friends, Rachael and Dennis and Harold and Beth, eating dinners, playing cards, and laughing beyond all measure. What fun it has been to watch children of all ages swing from the tree that Chuck risked life and limb to hang from a tall tree branch. There are so many delicious and wonderful memories, that one page cannot begin to describe them all.

So, this has been a difficult move, and one that will continue to give us countless lovely memories as we continue to wander on. SO, for those of you have shared our memories and joys here, we say a heartfelt and loving thank you! We hope you will let us wander into your lives some more, even after we have wandered on from Omaha!