(((Caroline))) ~ What a sweet/sad story. It is nice to hear how your lovely home came to be.

FlowerLady

Caroline, that house was meant for you, sometimes out of sadness comes a shining light. The love and care you gave your parents has had its rewards. Things always happen for a reason, I think finding the perfect house is an example of what I firmly believe. What goes round, comes round. You are a very special lady.

Annette

Sniff, sniff, pass me a tissue. What a sweet and wonderful story. You are "home" for sure. Stories like this remind me of my favorite song In My Life by the Beatles.

Hugs,
Cameron

You can pass the tissues my way when you are done with them. What a great story. Some things surely are meant to be.

Jess

Thank you Jess, Cameron, Flower and Annette. I had not set the whole thing down in words before. It seemed to just flow out of me. I guess it was time and I needed to do it. I had to leave nursing after all of that. Momma got sick shortly after coming here . I took her to treatments and she did very well until she didn't anymore. I tried to work full-time but then I just couldn't do it . I have moved on and leave the nursing to others now. I appreciate your sensitive response. This is such a good place to be. c

What a lovely story. Thank you for sharing.

My your home be a place of laughter and treasured memories.

Here is a link that might be useful: Creative Soul

And they lived happily ever after. : )

Bravo to your sweet hubby for knowing you so well that he could confidently buy a home you'd both love. Of course that beautiful front porch would have sealed the deal for me, too.

May you have many, many wonderful years in your lovely home, filled with happy memory making!

Diana

Caroline,
Isn't life funny. I was downtown tonight in a historic part of the city and saw a house with a fabulous porch. I immediately thought of your beautiful home with the lovely porch. I really enjoyed reading how you came to live in your present home.

We have a lot in common. On June 3, 2002 my dad passed away after spending 2 years in a nursing home in Florida. That August my mother was diagnosed with cancer and was given 6 months to live. I was eligible to retire from my job so (like you) I immediately left home and went to care for mom in Florida. Mom passed away Feb 15, 2003. I was with her for seven months. It was a difficult time but not everyone gets the opportunity to pay their parents back, in a small way, like we did. I will always be grateful that I was in a position to care for her when she needed me the most.

Thanks for sharing your story. Wish I had your phone number during that time. I sure could have used someone to talk to that was going through the same situation!
Vikki

Caroline,

What a sad but sweet story. It takes time for the pain to pass when you've gone on such an emotional journey. I'm so happy that your husband is a take charge kind of guy and that he knows you so well. It must have felt like such a blessing to be able to come back to a new home and feel like you were at home. My condolences on to you for the loss of your beloved parents.

Merry Christmas, Caroline

MeMo

I feel like deputy dawg...boohoohoo. What a bittersweet tale. That tissue has made quite a trip, from NC to CO and TX.
My DH died July 5th 2004. and Mother died from cancer May 2003. Sounds like many of us had had major events in our families at about the same time.

As you know, from the first picture, I have had serious house envy.

Your Daddy sounds so much like mine. I bet he's bought more cars than any one man, except a dealer. He said he wants to buy a pickup. I asked him why he needed a pickup to go to the post office and coffee shop/liar's corner. He will be 90 in May.
He and Mary Mom celebrated their 2nd anniversary in Sept.

Kathy

Wow. You are so lucky to have a DH that wanted that porch! :) I love beautiful houses... big porches... I looked through a bunch of your photos (via another thread) -- it's just gorgeous!

happy: thank you for your kind wishes, I love reading your Blog and appreciate you sharing your stories.

Diana: he does indeed know me well...better than I know myself, I think. We both say we'll never leave this house.

Vikki: if ever there were 2 "sisters" I think we must be the ones. How wonderful it would have been to talk. It was such a hard time and I do continue to struggle. My Dad was bigger than life in all things. Momma had a wonderful time coming up here. She made a new best friend in Miss Mary next door. They were both tiny grey haired ladies. They walked together nearly every day til Miss Mary died.Everyone in the neighborhood watched out for them and enjoyed talking to them and giving them flowers when they walked by. They loved gardenias most. Momma was devastated and never got over missing her. She continued to walk 8-10 blocks every day til a few days before she passed. She had been in the hospital for a couple days and came home and still felt really bad. We knew we were going to have to go back the next day. Momma was up and down most of the night. I peeked in her room that AM very early and she was asleep in her chair. I went to run and when I came back the household was up and about and she was still in her chair....I went in and called to her and touched her arm...she was already gone. Her Kitty Boots had spent the night every night with her til that one..he wouldn't come in at bedtime. It was a very hard time. Thank you for your story , it means a lot to me.

MeMo: I always love to hear from you. Thank you for your wise words.

Kathy: how wonderful that your Dad has found such joy in his life. I love the picture in my head of him in his truck tooling down the road to the coffee shop/liars club...what a hoot! Yes we have many friends who are oging through this or already have. That is what happens when you get in your late 50's early 60's.

Party: thank you for your appreciation of the house. It is a real pleasure to share on this forum. As you said in your post not everyone gets it and it is so special to be part of a group like this, thank you all. c

Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and instinct. Your DH got the right vibe and went with it!

I think it was destiny, too. I believe that everything happens for a reason and that there are signs everywhere. We just have to recognize these "signs".

Just as your DH was house hunting, your house was patiently waiting for your family to discover and claim it. It was a perfect match.

I'm glad that your family recognized this sign! May you have many happy years in your beautiful home.

Marilyn

Reading through more posts in this thread has brought tears to my eyes. My heart goes out to all of you who have lost your loved ones.

This is such a great forum to come to. It's home away from home, filled with caring, loving 'family'.

FlowerLady

Caroline, you just don't hear much about families who care so much about each other and trust each other that much anymore.
Here you trusted your Daddy to buy your first house, and then you go take care of him in his time of need, and you trusted your husband to make the right decision for you with your "real" home. How wonderful.

ggg

Marilyn: you are right about reading signs. I think what happens so often is the sign isn't what WE want or think we want. So we wait . Then when there is no other direction we feel bereft when as you say we needed to see the sign that was there all the time. Opening ones self to the possibilities is what gives the opportunity to grow and learn and love.

Flower: this has been a celebration of sharing

GGG: you have put in words exactly what so many lack...trust...thank you for saying it so well. c

Caroline, I've been quiet on this thread, but I've been following it closely. It got me thinking a lot about the death of my mom and set me to processing some things. I don't want to go too deeply here, just know that you posting this helped me. And thank you.

You live in a very happy house.

Steven

Steven

((( Steven ))) Bless your heart!

FlowerLady

I am glad that you found this when you needed it. I had a thread last year "my Momma used to.." I will link to part of it...I am afraid the rest has scrolled off. I did print it out though. If there is anyone who would like to have a copy just let me know through e-mail and I will send it.

Here is a link that might be useful: My momma used to....

Caroline, that tissue has crossed the Atlantic and been put to good use here in the west coast of Europe... What a bittersweet story, and what lovely words everyone here has said. I agree, this is a very special place, but I've known that for a long time.

I too lost my father 13 years ago very close to Christmas and always remember him when I'm sorting the Christmas tree lights ready to hang on the tree. As everybody knows, there is some mischievous elf that entangles Christmas lights after we store them for the year and then has a lot of fun at our desperation the next year. Sorting the lights used to be one of my Dad's tasks every Christmas and one he performed with the utmost patience. And that's why I have never complained about them ever again.

May you live in your lovely blessed home for many years to come and then pass it on to someone who will treasure it as much as you do.

Eduarda

Eduarda, thank you for sending such a wonderful memory our way. I think many of us find solace in flashing back to times spent with loved ones. May you too have a wonderful holiday with your family. c

Caroline!

Your story should be a MOVIE!!! I'd pay money to go see such a heartwarming story!

Leasa