Today we are preparing to load up our hastily-packed belongings and head back to Murray, stopping in Clinton along the way to check on our house there (which still is in repair after the massive water leak we had there -- here's to no new damage). We are packing up books and knitting and laptops and clothes and Littlest Pet Shop Pets and Nintendo DS games and extra bottles of water and blankets and a spare heater...and all those other items that we tossed in the car for the trip to Memphis. We are going home.
It feels good to say that. Home. Back to our little rental house that feels more like a home than anywhere we've lived so far, I think. Back to the crazily painted walls and the chicken border in the kitchen and the saloon-style swinging doors to the laundry room and the green and white toile wallpaper in the bathroom (which has people on it -- really? Chris had no clue). Our house with a wall full of photos from my trip to San Francisco and 7 overflowing bookcases and a stained old sofa that I adore and two newly decorated bedrooms that make a certain pair of girlies so very happy. Our house with a backyard full of broken tree limbs, as well as a homemade soccer goal and two rope swings, plus a great spot to plant a garden and another place that's just perfect for sunflowers.
Home. I'm ready to get back there. We were blessed beyond measure to have somewhere to go in the aftermath of the horrible destruction this ice storm left behind; instead of having to suffer through nights in a shelter, sleeping on the floor, drinking bottled water and eating MRE's provided by the National Guard, we had warm beds with extra pillows, homecooked meals, and iced sweet tea. I know without a doubt that my life is blessed and I am extraordinarily lucky to have the things I have. And that is why I cherish the little moments all the more -- and I am grateful that I had more time to spend, this week, with my girls, and my husband, and our family. Time to do little things like read and play Nintendo with Cass, and watch baby Oliver lay on the floor and kick and coo, and knit with Cami, or eat banana pudding on the couch and watch movies with Chris.
I'm counting my blessings today, and offering up prayers for the health and safety of everyone who has been affected by this storm. And I'm going home and preparing to roll up my sleeves and see what I can do to help. It's the least I can do.
EDITED TO ADD:
Here's the randomly drawn winner (chosen by my oldest) of the Photogenic kit:
This photo I took last summmer in Italie. It's my son, he looks very serious.
http://flickr.com/photos/22908686@N08/3236735283/
I love your kit!!!
Thanks