This Old House

I think I can hear the walls whispering as this old house starts echoing with the emptiness

With each box that crosses the threshold I hear the whispering of another memory

A young couple, one with rounded tummy, 

crossing into a big empty house

The sounds of a baby filling the night air

Sprawling crawls and first steps on slippery floors

The laughter and happiness of first Christmas morns

Hunting for Easter treasures

First days of school

Learning to share and play nicely

Reading time and bible study time

"Can I go play to ... 's house, Mom" bouncing off the walls 

Movie nights, game nights, and nothing special nights

Flashlights lighting summer nights

 and mittens covering hands as snowman are built

Bath time, bed time, and waking up time

Times to cry and times to rejoice

 

Will this old house miss us?

Will it miss the sounds of elephant feet on the stairs?

Will it miss the silly loudness?

Will it miss the quiet times and nighttime slumbers?

Will it miss the Christmas tree in that specific corner?

Many families have lived between these walls

If this old house had a soul would it ask us to stay or be ready for someone new?

 

We will cherish the moments and memories that we shared in this old house

and like the changing of the leaves on the big maple tree

we will move on and build new memories wherever home may take us.

Memories Dust

I thought the pain would lesson with the days....
I thought it would get easier with time...
Maybe it all has
It doesn't consume my every thought as it once did
It doesn't wake me in the middle of the night anymore
and I don't stop to listen for the sound of your cry in the silence

But it hasn't stopped the pain...
and it hasn't stopped the tears...
I still hear you in a baby's cry
I still hurt when I see the baby aisle
and I still want to hold you one more time

My tears still wet my pillow at night
That song still brings me crashing down
My heart stops beating
     when I hear my daughter's prayer that God will take care of her little sister
     and find my son's pictures of you when I unpack his suitcase
     and hear my child say just once more she wishs you were here with us
and I know we still miss you

Maybe the pain will still lesson with the days...
Maybe it will get still easier with time...
but for now it reminds me how precious your two months with me were
and I will cling to the memories while they are still fresh
and try and cherish the thoughts before they fade in memories dust