Hickory House

It had been many years since I'd been in the house.As we walked thru each room so much of us was still there.The tiles in the kitchen and bath,as well as the bedroom in the garage .Years of memories and the faces of all those we had shared time with.Steven asked how could 15 kids and 2 parents live in a house this small.It had a strange coziness about it.Jolene and I use to sit on the porch and watch all the kids get off the bus from Hopewell.The first year we were there it snowed so much the kids were out of school 13 days-I was ready to shovel the roads myself towards the end.Endless laundry and meals to prepare.I was at the school so much I should have had an office there.The 40' x80' basketball court we poured-my first and last concrete project.Being an only child and then having 3 of my own well 15 kids was overwhelming.Someway some how God gave us the strength and the sanity to get thru it all.We have a way of pushing all the hard places to the rear and only remembering the good times.After making my way thru the house I realized that I really didn't miss the house but I did miss the people and that time in my life.As we go out the door I look at the playground overgrown with weeds and in there places I see the kids playing and the green 15 passenger van with all the girls in the back-they talked way more than the boys.I see a long dining table full of people that has turned into 2 people eating in their recliners.I see a lot of miles and a lot of memories.A long time gone.