832 Lancaster Way SE

David and my parents are now living in Palmer, Alaska, while my dad works in Anchorage. Our house is for sale and I am sad to think this will no longer be my refuge to come back to. It's silly how sentimental I am over a dang house!

So here it is, and why I love it:

The house "stager" made everything look really neutral (and boring) so it appeals to a greater audience. So it definitely does not have the same life to it but the pictures are still nice.

I was usually in the room on the top left. The walls of that room have changed as much as I have! They have been painted red, yellow, green, blue, purple (and back to boring old taupe) thanks to me! I had a hammock that hung from the ceiling, a wall plastered with pictures/posters of Aerosmith, friends, magazine ads, shoe calendars, drawings, and of course Jesus himself.

When I see my parents room I picture my Dad at the bedside, on his knees in prayer. I see myself cuddling with my mom, which has been and always will be the solution to life's struggles.

The room below makes me think of:
-Wonderful home teachers - Art Vikari, Tim Matthews, Grandpa Hoffman and more.
-Jana Bell's secret toy cupboard used to win the hearts of adorable children
-Games with the Cluffs- when my dad did a somersault, reenacting a post-touchdown celebration.
-Christmas Eve - my dad reading scriptures and meant to say "and the angel said, HAIL!" (with emphasis), and it sounded like "HELL!" ...caused excessive, inappropriate giggling.
-New Years Eve Parties
-My mom reading Parade magazine on Sunday afternoons

Mom's cute dishes, Christmas caramels, Amanda's ice cream, and Dad's famous chocolate chip cookies.
Dancing in the kitchen circle

The Treehouse my Dad rebuilt:
-Slumber Parties, Falling asleep to Remember the Titans
-Getting in trouble for laughing too loud with friends in the wee hours of the night
-Bonfires (in the fire pit, not in the tree house) - end of the school year parties, burning school papers, birthdays
-Neighbors and kids in awe of our awesome rope swing. My cousin Scott Savage climbed way up a tree and out onto a branch to make the swing when he lived with us one summer. A few girls had the privilege of watching my mother fly off the rope swing into the stinging nettle... TWICE :)Her favorite wrist-watch still resides there.


Dinners on the Deck:
My favorite is eating summer meals on the deck that I helped build and later refinish. Seattle's lush greenery mixed with Daurell Bell's hard work creates the picture perfect yard. Perfect for party-hosting too! (I sound like a commercial...)

Amelia cleaning and organizing, shooting hoops out front with David, always having an extra person living with us, Amanda nannying the funny neighbors- the Hines. Sledding on our big driveway, sneaking Mom's dipping chocolate, "we need to talk" fights in the den: if the door is closed, I wouldn't go in there!, and my favorite was how BEAUTIFUL the house always was at Christmas. Lots of lights and decor :)

I know I have been blessed to grow up in such a beautiful home/area with happy memories so hopefully I can just be grateful for what I've had instead of sad it will no longer be ours. Time to make a new home.