Saying Goodbye To Our Willow House
With the recent sale of our home, today I’m saying goodbye to our Willow House.
Saying goodbye is never easy. It’s an official ending and even when we know it’s time to close the door and walk through a new one, it can be very bittersweet.
Saying goodbye to our Willow House was just that. It was bittersweet.
When Todd and I first bought “the worst house on the block“, we went into the property completely focused on transforming the house and making it so much better than how we found it. We always knew our stay there would be temporary, but what we didn’t fully consider was the amount of love and life we would forever share with our Willow House.
Because as much as we transformed the house, it transformed us too.
Saying Goodbye To Our Willow House
On my last walk through of the house, after all the boxes were moved and the furniture was gone, I stood there in an empty space fully engulfed in memories as the tears ran down my cheeks.
This was our first home as a family. Todd and I learned lessons, so many lessons, about life, projects, marriage, family and more. We brought our sweet Ania home there. She took her first steps right there in the living room, said her first words and climbed her first set of stairs all in this house.
I became a mother in this house, which has been the greatest gift I’ve ever been given.
This house watched as I found new footing and took care of my baby. It heard the giggles and cries and it watched as we chased our sweet Ania all around the house and up and down the stairs. The lamp was on every night so I could make the trek downstairs to warm another bottle.
From the very beginning, our Willow House watched us grow. It saw the hard work, and the projects and it watched us learn new lessons and master new skills… and it also saw love.
Those walls were filled with so much love. And in the three years we lived there, I didn’t fully recognize how hard it would be to leave the home we knew would be temporary from the start.
But the amazing thing about creating a home, is that you get to take it with you. After all of your things are removed, the inside walls start to feel empty. It feels bare and the smells and the sounds are different, and even though you still see and feel the memories, “home” goes with you.
Todd and I will forever love and remember this home. But not because of the amazing transformation we gave it, and it was amazing, but because of all of our precious memories. Our life in our sweet Willow House was a blessing.
And even though I often cursed the lack of storage, the size of the kitchen and dining room and the noise from the street, living there was a blessing. It taught me new lessons and I learned a new level of patience as we finished one room at a time, budgeting for each and every project we did.
As we start our next chapter, and the process of creating a new home from the ground up, I’m forever grateful we had our Willow House. You changed us as much as we changed you.
This is the first time I’ve heard the comment that your home goes with you. I have never thought of it like that but you are so right! Thanks for opening my eyes to this truth.
I’m so glad that touched you! I had a hard time leaving our home, but as soon as I realized I still got to take it with me, my heart settled and I could finally leave.
Best of luck on your new adventure. I can’t wait to see what’s in store.
Thank you so much, Dee!
Dear Shayna and Todd,
I have been following your blog for more than a year. It is informative and fun to watch the progress the two of you have made on this lovely house. I’m looking forward to the next chapter. Say hi to Todd, I’m Morgan Perry’s mother. The boys met in 4th grade and stayed friends for many years.
Blessings to the 3 of you!
Thank you so much, Jeanne! I’m so happy to have you following our story! I will tell Todd you said hi! Small world! 🙂
What a life you built while living in between the walls you worked so hard to make your beautiful home. Isn’t making great memories what this life is all about….you did a good job. May your journey on making more great memories continue to explode going forward with your new home. Thank you for sharing it with us. Happy winter&Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much! We loved our time in our Willow House and we’re looking forward to the next journey! Merry Christmas!
Thanks for your perspective on leaving one home and going to the next. You post reminds me of The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein which is one of my favorite books.
You’re very welcome! Leaving home is hard, but when I realized I still get to take it with me, my heart hurt a lot less. I’ve never read The Giving Tree, but I’m adding it to my list! 🙂
So many new memories will be made during the construction and moving in of your new home.
Yes, you are so right! We’re looking forward to creating new memories! 🙂
Your post brought tears…tears remembering beautiful times. The Willow House will remain in the hearts of our family as well. It was here that we first began our friendship when you became a part of “The Queens”. It was here that your neighborhood nieces stopped by for a chat and a bowl of ice cream or oreo cookie. It was here that we had family gatherings and Ania’s first birthday. And it was here we had Tutu’s 90th birthday party. So many wonderful memories but you are so right, we get to take those with us always and remember!! So very excited for the new chapter and the memories it will bring! Love you.
You’re right… we all loved the Willow House and what it meant as a family! So many wonderful memories of happy times! I’m thankful we get to take them with us! Happy new memories to come at our new home! Love you too!
Wishing you the very best in your new home with a new year coming up – and know you will have many happy new memories to make. Good luck.
Thank you so much, Michele!
This brought a tear to my eyes. Every home at one point or another will be left behind. I’ve been here since 1993, so I get the difficulty in leaving. We are still working on new projects every year. And not to mention the yard and garden. The sweat equity and love shared will be tough to leave.
Leaving a home is so hard, especially when you pour so much of your heart into it! It’s so easy to become attached!