our first home as a family (things i'll miss #3)

This afternoon I gathered a few red leaves from the backyard to press into a book while getting surprisingly sentimental. One week until the movers show up. My rational side is trying to convince my other half that it's just a house. But it's the longest we've been in one place, and it's where we became a family. A lot of love filled the space inside these walls.

Our little yellow house by the train tracks, you will always make me grin.

Comments

[amyc]

It's a house that smiles! I love it! :)

[The SwedeLife]

Best wishes with packing and the move, and the adjustment. It is exciting to be a mom in the USA, so many things you can do. I have been here two years and am torn by my love of home and the beauty of Sweden in the same things you write about -the quiet, my cute home, the forest, the berries, and the hacked spinach ...and the love of my home. Please give some good honest reports of how you feel to be back in the USA, inquiring expats want to know. We who have lived overseas forever have two lives. You could not be transitioning to a better city though, Portland is great. If it helps, I have a high school friend that is a family practice doctor there, super sweet with a kid the same age, Katherine Glassberg, if you want a recommendation, and my college roommate lives there and runs courses on being creative http://www.kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com/. And Portland has the most lovely hot spring ever, Bagby Hot Springs, http://www.bagbyhotsprings.org/, which is a place with natural hot tub in a magic forest. Not sure any of that helps, but, it is my way of wishing you well to pass on some things I love about the city of roses....Good luck in the USA!!

[Sue your IKEA fan from Cincinnati]

Ginny: When my husband was transfered from Philadelphia to Cincinnati, we had to sell our first home. A home where we two become a family of four. All the memories came flooding back when the movers left and we found our home empty. I cried all the way to Ohio. I even saved a piece of wood from the pear tree in the front. I still get a lump in my throat when I think of our little 3 bedroom home that we built with love. Yeah, it's just a house, but when you add love to the mix it's more.

Good luck with your move. I know you and your family will be happy in Portland. Much peace and love.

[Andrea]

I bet it is bittersweet. Maybe frame a photo of your Swedish home to hang in your new place. My mom had sketches made of our houses when I was growing up so when we moved into the new one. We had a pencil sketch of the old one hanging. She also had notecards made.

[Bonnie]

So sweet! You will always have such sweet memories of houses where babies first come home. Many blessings in your new home!

[Amy]

Ginny, you're killing me.

[Sally]

what wonderful memories for all of us faithful blog readers as well! hope your move goes smoothly. We look forward to reading the next chapter.

[Brianna]

Coming from someone already in Portland I am so happy for you. Even when I have had a bad day at work I drive home to downtown and see what a beautiful city it is and realize how lucky I am to get to live here.

I am sad to not read about anymore Swedish adventures...(your blog almost helped me move there!) but excited to read your journey ahead. Best of luck!

[swedishfig]

Brianna, you don't know how much I am clinging to your comment right now. Thank you.

[Jolene]

Like some of your other readers, I too am sad, I really enjoyed following your Swedish adventures written from an Americans perspective. I don't know why it's taken my so long to write, I'm sure you would have appreciated knowing all this time your posts were inspiring more people out there.

I came across your blog because I had often dreamt of packing up everything, moving around the world to Sweden to following my dreams. After seriously considered working for IKEA in Sweden, but not knowing how to go about it, I ran across your blog just from a goggle search. I was instantly hooked because I love Ikea, art/design and Sweden. Anyway over time the more I thought about it, the reality of family and responsibilities set in and the idea of moving remained a distant dream I now just toy with in my head. Your blog is fun, honest and inspirational and for those of us who haven't made the leap of faith to leave everything behind, we got to live vicariously through your stories. Best wishes and luck on your next adventure and keep blogging!

Oh and one random question, there is the cutest green (Souris) hedgehog tote hanging in the background of one of the pictures in this post. I love the tote, where did you find it?