Recently I went to pack up all my parent's belongings out of my childhood home so they could sell their house. For weeks before the actual event the thought of doing this would bring me to tears in seconds. I was sad to realize that I would have to say a final goodbye to the home I grew up in, and leave it empty and desolate of our personal belongings. I was delighted however to realize that I would be able to take everything attached to so many memories with me and especially to now have my parent's living close by permanently. It was at that point that I realized that a house is only a place with four walls and a roof. What makes it a home is the family and the wonderful memories that are created there.
This same principle applies to the home that I live in now. My husband and I have blended two families together into one house. When we got married my husband had five children. His oldest son (19), His second oldest son (17), His daughter (15), another daughter (12), and his youngest daughter (7). I had two children - my daughter (7) and my son (4). In the beginning of our marriage it was difficult for the older children to get use to this newly formed home. But then we started making the memories. For example, every Sunday we started making chocolate chip cookies and on holidays we did special little traditions. This created good memories and brought us together as a family and formed a home. With time and patience we have developed relationships between all of us. Then came our newest addition five years ago - a daughter that is related to everyone. She has become the "glue" that binds us all together. Our daughter-in-law, our grandchildren, both sets of parents, a sister, nephew and special friends have added to our family.
Throughout the years, we have continued with our valentine's candlelight dinner, our gingerbread house competition, funny memories of the birthday person, killer spoons, disneyland trips and our beach trips. Just like the furnishings in our house come to together to make it all work, so do the personalities and contributions of each family member unite to make it a home.
