Friday, January 1, 2010

My House Burned Down This Morning...


(the house I grew up in)
And it kind of feels like a friend died. What, over dramatic? Maybe.

But I have years and years of memories there.

I grew up here. And we were best friends with the neighbors. We celebrated my 12th birthday out by the pool.


The YW hung a banner in front of this house for my 16th:



I got ready for dances there,

High School graduation:

and even my wedding.

(front yard of this house)

We opened Christmas presents in the downstairs family room.

and had Family Home Evenings.(check out my dad's gnarly vid cam)

My mom and Mama Ginger helped me hang wall paper in my bedroom when I went through my peach and blue phase at the age of 12.
My dad helped me paint that same room when I was 15. I wish I could remember the colors. Red and something I think. He listened to Les Miserables, Nirvana, and Garth Brooks with me to try and understand me better while we painted.

This is what that bedroom looks like now:





Notice the entire top floor is gone.



The only thing that remains up there is the lonely office window. The office is gone. So is the master bedroom w/ balcony that we used to jump off of into the pool, the bathroom, the library, and the big walk in closet. They are literally toast.


Mostly it is the memories of my older kids there that I miss. Wendell and I lived in Payson the first few years we were married, and we stayed at that house when we came into town.


We celebrated Christmas there with the kids.


And Easter.



We had Rachael and Kindyl's first few birthday parties and swim parties there.

(Rachael's 1st)

(Kindyl's 2nd)



We took family Halloween pictures out front.


And big cousin pictures with the grandparents in the living room.




I truly miss it.


The people we sold it to defaulted a couple of years ago, and it was on the market. Now I kind of wish we would have bought it. Now that we have 5 kids, those seven bedrooms and four baths would surely come in handy. Not to mention the 1/4 acre it sat on.

Hindsight is truly 20/20.

(though Wendell says he still wouldn't want to pay all the extra we would have to pay with the electric bill. Always the realist...)

13 people know I love comments!:

Crissybug said...

I about died when I saw your title! So glad it wasn't your actual home, although I understand the nostalgia behind your childhood home. So sad! I loved seeing all the pics of you growing up and your kiddos so tiny.

Do you know what caused the fire?

tammy said...

It is sad, but your memories will still live on. And look at all those great pics you have to remind you. I told you my grandparents' house burned after another owner bought it. I was sad too. I had 30 years of visiting my grandparents and playing with cousins and even living in it. It's sad to see things change like this, but then you realize it's only a thing, and your memories live in your heart and mind, not in that thing. But I'm still sorry : (

Amanda said...

i'm so sorry your childhood home burned down. you still have your memories and it seems like they were great ones at that.

Sarah said...

Awww.....sad.

Callie Proffitt Christiansen said...

I seriously have to scan in some of my old pictures now.

Jamie said...

That really is so sad! My house burned down when I was 14. I feel bad for your family and for the family currently completely displaced!!

Rhonda said...

So sad!!!!! I could cry for you! I'd feel the same way. I have to admit, I'd loved the pics!
The house may be gone, but at least you still have the memories.

sista # 2 said...

So sad. I about choked when I read the title! I was raised in CA in the same home for 17 years. To this day, my dreams still take place in that house! I am so sentimental. Glad no one was there-
losing ALL their stuff!

Clarisa said...

that is very horrible for you and your family. it's cool you have pics from happenings there. there is such a specialness to where you grew up. i am going to be more careful to take more pictures of our house to help my children have memories like yours.

Jessi said...

That is really sad. Good thing you have your pictures and memories. How horrible for the family whose house it was, and that was living there and lost everything. Thank heavens they all got out safely. My heart goes out to them.

Melissa Resch said...

I wish we would have never moved from that house around the corner from you...oh i was so mad that i had to go to Kino and all my friends went to Poston...hmmm still bitter..ha!!

Tiffany said...

I would feel the same way if my parents house burned down.. They built it with their own two hands and I lived there from the time it was complete until I left for school.. That is when you are greatful for pictures and memories..

Maroussia said...

It will be great to watch Les Miserables, i have bought tickets from
http://ticketfront.com/event/Les_Miserables-tickets looking forward to it.