Dear 6732 Clernates Dr,

It is 2 in the morning and I am sitting on your floor. You are completely empty, except for the sofa sets your new owners purchased from us. My family is gone. Britten and I are the only ones here. He couldn't sleep, so I had the idea of coming here to let him scream. The funny thing is, I laid him on the floor and he fell right to sleep, on his own. Maybe because he knew I needed to be here one last time.
On June 16th it would've been 13 years since I walked through your door as your new owner. The only thing waiting for us was a ward list and map. It was taped to the inside of a cabinet door.
I remember how excited Dustin and I were. We were home owners! You were perfect. You looked a lot different than you do now. Blue carpet and white and gray linoleum covered the floors. The main bath had tan carpet though. The walls were eggshell in color. And your basement only had one room done- now that I think of it, the carpet in that room was tan too and the hallway was maroon! The basement bathroom was complete. I remember when I opened the door it hit the toilet!
Things are different now. Your walls are an array of brown, tan, gray, white and gold, so colorful! The floors are laminate, tile, and brown and  gray/ green carpet. This all sounds awful as I write it, but it works. Had we stayed, you would've gotten new carpet throughout.
On the outside, you are just as lovely since that first day. We added shudders and new flowers, but you were lovely without. You still have the huge concrete pad in the back, but the garden boxes we added around it helped me to love it. I just always wanted more grass, but that concrete was just what my little ones needed. So many memories in that backyard. So many memories in you!
I think back to my kids jumping from the 8th step up, into the arms of their father. Your 12 foot ceilings were perfect for tossing them high into the air. He only ever dropped Aaron; he hit the couch and bounced right into Dustin's arms. No injuries.
Do you know how many pictures I have taken in your entry way? Too many! I used to complain about its size, but it was the perfect picture taking spot!
Each bedroom housed my children, their toys, and their stuff. If walls could talk, those bedrooms would have a lot to say. I might not want to hear all of it...
6732, thank you for being our home for the last 13 years! You hold a special place in my heart. You hold all the memories of my children being tiny. You welcomed 4 of the 6 from the hospital. You are where Dustin and I even grew up! I was 23 when we moved in and Dustin was 25. We were new to everything! You watched us all grow.
You saw the good, but also witnessed the bad. I believe there is a couple spots of cream of chicken soup on the wall, just over the window. I got mad at Dustin and threw it in his direction. I couldn't wipe it away. It served as a reminder for years to never lose my temper again. So many lessons learned.
I must end. I could go on forever. It’s the last night I will sleep on my green couch with a baby that wont sleep. He's asleep now and I’m tired.
Of all the places I will miss most, I will miss the front porch. We loved to sit on the steps and watch our kids play with neighbors, or even just them. We would sit till it was dark. Kids playing, adults laughing. All having a splendid time.
I will miss you, but don't think I won't drive by when I'm in the area. Take care of the next owners. Help them find the joy that we have found here. I'm leaving them a ward list and all your paint. And ,I'm leaving you my cream of chicken soup stain. Hopefully they won't notice.

 Thanks for all the memories! Hoping the new owners know how lucky they are!

Love,
Larae

Ps just for me to remember:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the flowers have bloomed so lovely this year!! Wish they were in this picture.