Changes,  Childhood,  Family,  Flashbacks

A Trip Home

This past weekend, our family took a trip back to our hometown of Gulf Breeze, Florida.  One of my oldest and dearest friends, Sarah, is expecting her second little girl in a few weeks, and I was so happy to be able to celebrate her this weekend.

IMG_2069

IMG_2065

IMG_2064

IMG_2054

We spent the rest of our weekend spending time with Chris’s family. We hung out at his grandparent’s house, playing with a new remote control airplane out in the yard (which, incidentally, Bean and Chris have now accidentally crashed into our pool and are, at this minute while I sit here writing, trying to dry it out with my hairdryer).

IMG_2042

IMG_2035

IMG_2045

IMG_2050

IMG_2053

It was a bittersweet visit, actually, as we learned last week that Grandma and Granddaddy have sold the home they have lived in for 45 years and are moving just down the road into a house that will be easier for them to manage. We are so happy for them to start this new journey, but it is sad to say goodbye to the home that Chris practically grew up in.

IMG_2006

IMG_2010

IMG_2026

I can remember countless summer days spent drying out with saltwater in my hair on this deck after a day of jetskiing, boating, fishing, or swimming with Chris and friends. We’ve had family Christmas parties out here around a big fire pitt, and set of fireworks in the yard here on the Fourth of July.

IMG_2015

We had a family luncheon on the lawn here the morning that Bean was christened, and when Chris’s grandmother made our wedding cakes, she set them on the table in the kitchen window the night before we were married.

IMG_2018

I’m so glad that Chris grew up in this house. It is a huge part of who he is as a man today. And I’m even happier that I was able to spend my summer days (and sometimes the occasional sneaky summer night…) lazing around on this dock.

IMG_2027

But I think I am happiest that Bean and Gracie have been able to run in this yard, fish off this dock, and run through this house, too.

IMG_2024

Time marches on, and while I am certainly sad to know that coming “home” from now on will have a slightly different meaning, I remind myself that what has made this house a home are the people living inside of it.

IMG_2007

4 Comments

  • cathy

    Katie,
    You are such a sweet person. It will be hard on Chris’ grandparents, I am sure, yet you were able to paint them such a lovely picture of how change doesn’t mean the end.

  • Tabs

    Sheesh, you made me feel like I grew up there and that MY grandparents were selling the house. Like I was gonna cry because I felt like family. What an amazing house and location to grow up in. Seriously, looking at those pictures I could just imagine all the fun Chris’s family and yours has had over the years. Change stinks sometimes…but it is always good in the end. 🙂

Leave a Reply to Tabs Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *