dear mom

Today my parents are just finishing packing up and cleaning out.

They are moving! I can hardly believe it.

If I’ve calculated it right, they’ve lived here in this home for almost 20 years.

I want to keep this simple, so I don’t get too emotional, so I thought I’d share a few of my favorite memories growing up here.

Decorating for Christmas is definitely top on the list. Even if our hands nearly froze off every time we hung the garland around the porch.

Sleeping out on the porch or the deck all summer long, the stars were always bright.

More specifically, spending our entire first July living in the house helping Dad install the sprinklers in the yard.

Can’t forget sweet Great Grandma Leavitt sitting on the porch reading Reader’s Digest and enjoying the view.

Or Sunday concerts provided by everyone in the family at one point or another. (Yes, Ryan, you did sing a song or two in your life.)

The delicious smell of roast in the oven when we came home from church.

And late night Algebra lessons given at the table.

Like I said, I’m really keeping this short and sweet. I could go on for hours.

The comforting mountain nearby with the crisp canyon air blowing down the street was just the place to raise me.