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John and I have loved this song because of its spiritual significance. We have used it as an example with our kids of going to the temple. The specifics lyrics say:
You leave home, you move onAnd you do the best you canI got lost in this whole worldAnd forgot who I am
I thought if I could touch this place or feel itThis brokenness inside me might start healingOut here it's like I'm someone elseI thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could walk around, I swear I'll leaveWon't take nothing but a memoryFrom the house that built me
When we get overwhelmed with the world and all its trappings, going to the temple is a way to remind ourselves of what's really important, and to remember that we are children of our Heavenly Father.
Yesterday, as I was leaving Washington DC, and more significantly leaving Ethan, this song came to mind. And at almost the exact moment, this image appeared on the beltway:
Perfect, huh?
I must admit though, that the song meant something else to me at that moment. With my boys now coming and going with more frequency, I long for the days when nobody was leaving. I long for the days when my children were all here, and I was learning all about myself by taking care of them.
My life with John and my kids is "the house that built me". By choosing this life, I chose a path that I thought I would never travel. I gave up everything to be with them and to have them in my life. In the beginning, it felt like I was sacrificing everything and giving away myself, but I now realize that I have found myself in my family giving themselves to me.
What I wouldn't give to return to that "house". To return to the time when the kids were small and tasks seemed impossible. There's such a sweetness in remembering those moments, as hard as they were at the time.
To John and my kids, thanks for being the house that built me. My heart is full of so much gratitude to all of you.
John and I have loved this song because of its spiritual significance. We have used it as an example with our kids of going to the temple. The specifics lyrics say:
You leave home, you move onAnd you do the best you canI got lost in this whole worldAnd forgot who I am
I thought if I could touch this place or feel itThis brokenness inside me might start healingOut here it's like I'm someone elseI thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could walk around, I swear I'll leaveWon't take nothing but a memoryFrom the house that built me
When we get overwhelmed with the world and all its trappings, going to the temple is a way to remind ourselves of what's really important, and to remember that we are children of our Heavenly Father.
Yesterday, as I was leaving Washington DC, and more significantly leaving Ethan, this song came to mind. And at almost the exact moment, this image appeared on the beltway:
I must admit though, that the song meant something else to me at that moment. With my boys now coming and going with more frequency, I long for the days when nobody was leaving. I long for the days when my children were all here, and I was learning all about myself by taking care of them.
My life with John and my kids is "the house that built me". By choosing this life, I chose a path that I thought I would never travel. I gave up everything to be with them and to have them in my life. In the beginning, it felt like I was sacrificing everything and giving away myself, but I now realize that I have found myself in my family giving themselves to me.
What I wouldn't give to return to that "house". To return to the time when the kids were small and tasks seemed impossible. There's such a sweetness in remembering those moments, as hard as they were at the time.
To John and my kids, thanks for being the house that built me. My heart is full of so much gratitude to all of you.
Oh Mama, we love you so much! I can't wait to see you next weekend. And I sure do miss having you guys around right now.
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