Demolishing to Rebuild

A lot of people have been asking me how it is going to feel to tear down my childhood home. The answer is, I am not sure yet. This home has many memories for me. I was essentially born in this house. This is the home that I was given physical life and also spiritual life. My most significant memory in this home was receiving Christ as my Savior at a very young age. I crawled underneath my mom's sewing machine cabinet, acknowledged myself as a sinner and asked Christ into my life. I took many detours along the way, but He made good on His promise to keep me and to bring me back to Him. What better memory could there be?

I love this old house, but tearing it down means rebuilding it so we can continue to grow as a family. If we left it in tact, we would eventually sell it to a stranger who couldn't possibly love it like we do (we being my parents, brother, sister-in-law, sister, husband, kids and 5 nephews). Rebuilding this home, where my parents and my family can live means so many things. It means:

• Securing my parents future. In the event that they need our help, we will be right there to assist them. If there is an illness or a surgery, we can all pitch in doing laundry, cleaning, cooking, shopping, and just being close for emotional and physical support.. 
• Teaching our boys the value of work.  This project alone has already taught them about work and how we all need to pitch in together to make this happen.  They aren't always happy about it, but in the end it is essential for them to grow in to men that can work with their hands.  And yes, to sweat.
• Securing my boys' future. We will have extra space for our boys in the event that they move and want to come back and visit, or if they need a place to live as they start out into adulthood.
• Being able to grow some of our own food.  We are getting a couple of steers this month and also plan to grow a nice sized garden.  I am spoiled with home grown beef.  Nothing tastes better in my opinion!
• A place for family gatherings. My hope is that Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, birthdays and other special events will be at our house. Mom and I work well together and I love to host events at my house. My brother, sister and their families live within 1 mile of this house and I look forward to getting to spend the holidays with them as well and my husbands family.

This week we are moving my parents in to our rental.  The boys are especially excited to have Grandma and Grandpa living with us!  Next week demolition begins.  All of our plans are coming together and becoming a reality!