Dear Hawthorn Home,
When we met twelve
years ago, I felt you were inadequate and unworthy of my affection. You were
located far away from individuals my heart holds dear. This fact alone made me
feel an ache in my heart and overwhelming fear. Dreadful chicken wallpaper (with
sliding door curtains that matched) was only the foundation of a long list of
criticisms I had regarding the inside of your walls. It was a sticky, hot, and humid Iowa day when
my family moved in. As we observed your crispy dead lawn, wild forest of
shrubberies, and tall sunflowers in the most random places, we weren't sure whether
to weep or laugh out loud.
Almost twelve
years have passed since the day we met you. Today, one of the many things I
love about you the most is that you never let these feelings of mine get in the
way of how you treated me. As I sign you
over to someone else, unmanageable sobs keep showing up as unwelcomed visitors.
I think that is so impolite. The thought of leaving you behind brings an ache
to my heart. Every inch of your surroundings carries with it a memory that I
want to bottle up and take with me. The
wild forest has been replaced with manicured landscaping and recollections of little
children playing sports with dad in the street. Your backyard occupied our Sundays with family
kickball games and bonfires. Last year, we spent hours painting your porch for
Daxon's graduation party. You looked so happy when the project was complete. If
I would have known it would make such a difference on your personality to have
that one feature taken care of, I would have accomplished it sooner. The thought of leaving your swing set and
shed causes my heart to twinge. I remember how mad I was the day I found out my
husband payed for you to have that insanely large swing set built in the corner
of the yard. I wanted nothing to do with it. I find myself in a drastically different
position today. I would not trade the memories made during hours of play on
that set for any amount of money today.
Hawthorn, you
allowed our family to have a place to call home. Ashlynn and I loved the way you kept us warm
as we sat on a blanket eating taco soup in front of the fireplace on frigid winter
nights. You carried us through deployments, helped us welcome home baby numbed
five, and managed to bring us through many late teenage nights. You continually
rose to the occasion for last minute parties as we sent missionaries out and
welcomed them home. You never protested when
every square inch of you was covered in glitter and wedding decor for months in
2016. I felt an all-embracing joy as I entered your walls with Daxon following
his brain surgery.
Over the last twelve years together, we have done too many
DIY projects to count. Three of our children have left your walls to venture
out into the world, yet apiece of each of them is what I have come to love so
much about you. I see them in you. Hawthorn, how dearly I have grown to love
you. You are close to so many of those I now love and hold dear to my heart. You
really could not have chosen better neighbors. As I prepare to leave, I want to thank you for
being a safe-haven all of these years. It has been a cherished journey
together.
All my love and admiration,
Lori
