The house that built me

This is the home that built my incredible mother. It was two bedrooms, a tiny bath, a family room and kitchen.  I loved this house! The yard felt huge as a child and oh how I loved the grapefruit, pear and tangelo trees that seemed to drip with fruit each year! I loved to sleep under the “sleepy time blanket” that was my aunt Jerri’s when she was a child. The tree limb that looked like motorcycle handle was perfect for running thru the backyard with and playing policeman.  Grandmas old green car always sat in the carport and I adored the “going to grandmas” bag that had my name written in white felt letters! Grandma made chocolate Pepsi floats in “fancy” crystal glasses after dinner. There was toast every morning with those little packages of every different flavor of jam. There was always wheat chex and bananas too! I thought the old fashioned radio that stood in the kitchen was incredible and the refrigerator that had the freezer on the bottom. I miss this home and the memories that I hold dear from it. Just as I miss the house I grew up in, across the street from kat. The big lap pool in the back, the wood shutters on the living room windows and the big Olive tree in the front that we would climb and hide in. I loved that we had a third car garage that we played “office” or “house”  in. I can still smell the monsoon storms rolling in and can feel the happiness in my heart when Meg would crawl into bed with me and we would watch the lightening from my bed in the corner of my little bedroom. Oh how I wish I could just see the inside of these two old houses and have just a moment of the memories that feel so far away.  Every time I hear this song I smile thinking about the houses that built me and my family! Thanks Miranda!!

 

I know they say you cant go home again.
I just had to come back one last time.
Ma"’am I know you don't know me from Adam.
But these handprints on the front steps are mine.
And up those stairs, in that little back bedroom
is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar.
And I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
my favorite dog is buried in the yard.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like i'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself
if I could just come in I swear i'll leave.
Won?t take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years.
From ?Better Homes and Garden? magazines.
Plans were drawn, concrete poured,
and nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama?s dream.
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like i'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could just come in I swear i'll leave.
Won?t take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

You leave home, you move on and you do the best you can.
I got lost in this whole world and forgot who I am.
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like i'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could walk around I swear i'll leave.
Won?t take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.