The House that Built Me

Yesterday was a bitter sweet day. Mostly bitter for me, but I imagine it was sweet for the new owners of my house on Palisade Dr. This dwelling was more than brick and mortar and a roof above my head, it was where I became me. As a family, we visited the house one last time to say our goodbye's. We walked through the house and everyone spouted off memories, "remember when?" "how funny was that?" "yeah, not as secret as you thought Geoff" our farewell tour was as close to closure I could have hoped for. That house will always be a part of me, and as long as the new owners don't redo the kitchen counter tops and find the time capsule I placed in there as a pre-teen, I will always be a part of that house.

My room as a little girl. I always wanted a window seat, so I used to sit in the windowsill and pretend it was large and full of fluffy pillows.

I later graduated to this room, where friends would come visit me at the window, since it was so conveniently located above the fence to the backyard.

Just seeing the outside of this home makes me feel all warm and cozy inside.

My daddy's office where, as we were growing up, he would hold Personal Progress Interviews (PPIs) This is also the room in which Jason asked my dad if he could marry me.

And this is the living room where I cried and cried and cried on the couch on April 29, 2005 after Jason and I broke up. It's also the room where I waited and waited and waited on the couch while Jason asked my dad for my hand in marriage in March 2007.

This kitchen ... So much of what I am today I was taught here. This is where I learned to cook, learned to clean, and you can't see it, but to the left of the fridge is the door to the backyard where I was standing when I stuck my tongue out at my mom. She promptly marched me over to the sink and covered my tongue in soap. Not only did I learn by her teaching of how to be a wonderful mom, but I also learned by her example here in this room.

So many magical Christmas's began in this room. So many fun times jumping off the balcony as well.

The day my family moved into our house, I was playing on the swing set by myself when two girls ran in through that gate and started playing with me. "Hi, we're going to be friends!" they told me, and to this day Brittany and Macie are more than friends to me, they're like sisters.

Geoff and his two buddies dug a cable line to each of their houses so they could game online together before the days of super fast wifi. 

This stage is where I got ready for cheer tryouts all four years at OHS and one year at BYU. I spent countless hours perfecting each dance, cheer and chant along side some of my favorite cheerleader friends.

Now I hope the new owners and their young family will treasure this house and create their own happy memories.