I've lived in several homes over the years. Each one holds sweet, special and unique memories for me.
But each one also shares something in common with all the rest. At every home I've lived in there have been great neighbors who became dear friends - many of whom I'm blessed to be in contact with to this day - some by phone, some by Facebook, all by sweet memories. Some have even gone home to heaven and I look forward to seeing them again someday. :)
One special memory I have is tied to my only brand-new home. Located in Roseville CA, it was a large and lovely single story home with four bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It was fun getting to pick the color of the paint. I enjoyed choosing the tile for the kitchen and the bathrooms (I would NEVER recommend carpeting in the bathrooms - too many accidents can happen that require something much easier to clean up :) ).
I think I had the most fun when I got to plan out the backyard garden and had a terrific landscaper turn my dreams into realities. On one side of the house, I did my best to recreate my grandparents' side yard using my favorite plants like roses, hydrangeas and wisteria. It was a veritable "hidden garden" complete with a stump and little chairs for sweet tea parties with grandchildren.
In the back, I had lemon and fig trees along the back wall, a concrete walkway installed that was wide enough for tricycles for the grandkids as well as wheelchairs and walkers for my senior parents. With grass in the middle, it was the perfect spot for a swing set. I still get a smile when I remember my sweet dad grinning at his one-year-old great-grand-son while he "pushed the little one's swing" from his wheelchair, by pulling on the clothesline we had attached to the swing. Sweet joys!
That home was made with multigenerational needs in mind, including in that delightful backyard, and we put it to grand use for the years we lived there. It was a blessing and a delight. I do miss it. But I also loved each of the other homes I've lived in since then, also full of sweet moments, grand multigenerational memories, and great neighbors. Life is good, good neighbors abound everywhere, grandkids are fun, and helping our senior parents is a blessing, wherever we may live. I do miss that hidden garden a bit though. And the teeny tiny grandbabies who are now sweet-and-getting-taller-by-the-minute grandkids. :)
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