The Blue House with Stairs
I was three. My sister got a dollhouse for Christmas. I told my parents I wanted a blue house with stairs. They told me to ask Santa. I told them I wanted a real house. They said that was out of Santa’s league, that maybe I should pray about that one.
Ten months later we moved into a blue house. With stairs. After a grueling day of house hunting, the realtor mentioned a possible option to my parents, but it was a fixer upper. When we pulled in the driveway it was a Miracle on 34th street moment where I proclaimed “Thats it! Thats my blue house with stairs!” I’m sure they looked at each other with what-have-we-gotten-ourselves-into eyes as they signed the papers and we moved in October 23, 1986.
We lived there for 9 years. It was my childhood home. I have tons of memories there and leaving it was the hardest thing I had ever done until 2016. I left another home that was a answer-to-prayer-dream-house. But that’s another post.
Home is a big deal. Its a place where you feel safe. Some children in foster care have moved so many times you cannot count. Some children don’t have running water and electricity, like children down the street from you. Some children do not know what its like to come home to the smell of a fire in the fireplace and the smell of hot fudge cake or cookies. Some children do not know the feeling of a mom’s hug-probably the most common, comforting and first home any child knows.
This year with COVID, home is supposed to be the safe place. Home is a place we are more often than ever. This year home matters a lot-like a ton. I could use this post to raise awareness about child neglect, about foster care, about social distancing, about fixing up houses, BUT, I chose to say let us all make HOME a place where people can feel safe. Our family, ourselves, and may we look for ways our homes can reach those without one, in someway or another.
If you need help knowing how to show care for the homeless or motherless, contact me. I have some ways you can help.
If you want help making your home feel safe and a haven that welcomes and serves your family, I have some ways I can help.
If you want help making your home feel like a well organized relaxing place to enjoy and rejuvenate, I have some ways I can help.
Thanks for stopping in,
Joy