It takes a heap of livin' to make a house a home.

My Grandpa Robertson has often quoted us passages from Edgar A. Guest. When thinking about our new place, I couldn't help but think of this poem...

Home
by Edgar Guest

It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home,
A heap o' sun an' shadder, an' ye sometimes have t' roam
Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef' behind,
An' hunger fer 'em somehow, with 'em allus on yer mind.
It don't make any differunce how rich ye get t' be,
How much yer chairs an' tables cost, how great yer luxury;
I ain't home t' ye, though it be the palace of a king,
Until somehow yer soul is sort o' wrapped round everything.

Home ain't a place that gold can buy or get up in a minute;
Afore it's home there's got t' be a heap o' livin' in it;
Within the walls there's got t' be some babies born, and then
Right there ye've got t' bring 'em up t' women good, an' men;
And gradjerly, as time goes on, ye find ye wouldn't part
With anything they ever used -- they've grown into yer heart:
The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the little shoes they wore
Ye hoard; an' if ye could ye'd keep the thumb marks on the door.

Ye've got t' weep t' make it home, ye've got t' sit an' sigh
An' watch beside a loved one's bed, an' know that Death is nigh;
An' in the stillness o' the night t' see Death's angel come,
An' close the eyes o' her that smiled,
an' leave her sweet voice dumb.
Fer these are scenes that grip the heart,
an' when yer tears are dried,
Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an' sanctified;
An' tuggin' at ye always are the pleasant memories
O' her that was an' is no more -- ye can't escape from these.

Ye've got t' sing an' dance fer years, ye've got t' romp an' play,
An' learn t' love the things ye have by usin' 'em each day;
Even the roses 'round the porch must blossom year by year
Afore they 'come a part o' ye, suggestin' someone dear
Who used t' love 'em long ago, an' trained 'em jes' t' run
The way they do, so's they would get the early mornin' sun;
Ye've got t' love each brick an' stone from cellar up t' dome:
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home.

From the book "A Heap o' Livin'" ©1916

In any case, here's a look into our new place. And I have to say, if it takes a heap of livin' to make a house a home...that first week sure contributed!

Within minutes of moving in we received this card through our mail slot. It's pretty indicative of the complex...the staff is super friendly, things are well planned and well kept and we're happy to call it home.



dining room/view of patio



view of our bedroom

I don't know why I decided to not include pictures of every room here, BUT there is a living room, a half bath and a second bedroom.


Some of our move-in crew. Several of them had already left by the time I pulled my camera out, but I was amazed that so many ward members came out to move us in. The World is such a small place when you have the network of the Church.

I had all of the main rooms labeled and the boxes color-coordinated and to make for an easier, less confusing move in. It worked pretty well.


My whole family came out to move us in. Bry and I had envisioned a few days of unpacking and then the remainder of the time seeing St. Louis, but if you ask them what they saw when they were in St. Louis they'd say that they saw a handful of Walmarts and Targets AND they know the in and outs of the plumbing system. Basically, they spent ALL their time unpacking, painting, putting shelves together, decorating, hanging up pictures AND being sick! We think that we all got food poisoning somehow because within 12 hours ALL of the kids (Em, Rach, me, Bry, Tim and Brie) were throwing up. Yuck! That was one yucky weekend. Thankfully my Parents didn't get sick and were able to tag team taking care of us six. Needless to say, it was quite the week! Thank you guys for sticking it out. Your help made ALL the difference.

(Click image to enlarge)




So if you ever come to visit and think our place is cute.... it is THANKS to our talented and generous "crew"...

Dad: Oversaw all projects,
painted all the accent walls, stud finder

Mom: Helped to add fun touches
and details to each room

Em: Mastermind behind decorating,
chooser of accent colors and decorations

Rach: Assembled furniture, painted,
assisted in all wall hanging and decorating

Tim: Was the gopher guy, always
willing to run things here and there