The House Next Door

01/29/2011

It's sad, really. A lonely, frozen, barren, wasteland comes to mind. Gloom crashes in like icy waves, extinguising all of the warmth from my body, culminating in a moment of complete and unavoidable despair.

The sadness is overwhelming.

It clouds the eyes and turns my thoughts toward darker days.

This house is old. The woman living inside is even older. At 104, she has outlived her children and even some of her grandchildren. What have her eyes seen? How many times has her heart been broken and...yet...it continues to beat?

It's amazing, really. A sturdy, unsinkable ship comes to mind; made with strong hands and bound by family ties that, although broken long ago, weathered yet another storm.

Yes, this house is old. The woman living inside is even older. It is her home.

Grace lives there and her next door neighbor's name is Hope.

Posted by Liz@ThisFullHouse in It's not the years, HONEY - it's the mileage!, Raising Teens, Tweens & Killer Dust Bunnies, So, You From Joisey?, Who's Parenting Who? | Permalink

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This is a totally different take from you but I love it. The house is beautiful, you can see the stories there. And I love your new look in here!

Posted by: Heather | 01/29/2011 at 03:48 PM

The children in the picture shoveling are a lovely contrast to the surrounding white.

Posted by: Art of RetroCollage | 01/29/2011 at 06:15 PM

This was beautiful, both in words and images.

Posted by: Tara R. | 01/30/2011 at 12:19 PM

This is beautiful Liz. Really awesome.

Posted by: Headless Mom | 01/30/2011 at 12:46 PM

Very moving, Liz. Loved this.

Posted by: Donna | 01/30/2011 at 02:43 PM

Love this.

Posted by: Busy Mom | 01/31/2011 at 09:55 AM

I adore this post. The photos and words made me think. And cry.

Posted by: Jamie | 01/31/2011 at 10:36 PM

A poignant, lovely post.
It's easy to imagine the life and times that house, and the woman who resides within, has seen.

Beautiful pictures.

Posted by: Catootes | 02/02/2011 at 11:13 AM

What a lovely story! My best to Grace - and Hope.

Posted by: Susan @WhyMommy | 02/02/2011 at 03:21 PM

What a touching, lovely post. The words and the images mesh so well. Thank you for the ending for it's full of Grace and Hope.

Posted by: SurprisedMom | 02/02/2011 at 06:14 PM

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Welcome! Coffee, Tea or Chocolate?

My name is Liz and I have been blogging at This Full House of mismatched socks and crunchy floors since 2003. This is where I enjoy writing about the trials and tribulations of raising 3 teens, 1 tween and killer dust bunnies. I also manage a review blog where I share information on products and services that perhaps help make life for families (like mine) a little easier. Feel free to stay a while, but mind the killer dust bunnies -- THEY BITE!!!