The House That Built Me

I know they say you can't go home again. 

I just had to come back one last time.
Ma'am I know you don't know me from Adam.
But these hand prints on the front steps are mine.
And up those stairs, in that little back bedroom
is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar.
And I bet you didn't know under that live oak
my favorite dog is buried in the yard.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself
if I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years.
From 'Better Homes and Garden' magazines.
Plans were drawn, concrete poured,
and nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama's dream.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness 

inside me might start healing. 

Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

You leave home, you move on and you do the best you can.
I got lost in this whole world and forgot who I am.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could walk around I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

Here's to you, 4411 Landon Drive. You provided the perfect backdrop for countless adventures, STNPs (stay the night parties), Gilmore Girls marathons, Tuesday night dinners, and oh so much more. I know you will do the same for the people who now call you home. 

Surprise!

Nothing beats a good surprise and a great friendship.

I am beyond excited to spend the next week together!

Here's to sharpies, yellow tiles, and best friends.

Movie Forts and Sammies

Today I tucked John and Hans in for the last time until February. How will I make it two months without movie forts, playdough fights, countless readings of Elmo's adventures, and car races? To tell you the truth, I am not sure.

These two have taught me more than I could have ever imagined. There innocence is sweet and their love is deep.

I simply can't imagine my weeks without them.

Here's to all the Sammies, bubbles, laughs, and love we've shared.

Football and Farms

Bluegrass. Bourbon. Basketball. All things someone would think of when they hear Kentucky. Football not so much, but that is exactly what landed me there. Samford was playing UK, and conveniently my friend Paul lives in Bowling Green. Perfect? I would say yes; the only thing that could make it even better would be a farm. Oh wait, that's where we stayed.

So there you have it, the perfect mixture for a harvest weekend. Football and Farms.

Most of our friends spent the first night in Nashville, so Rex, Paul, and I held down the fort with some monopoly (which I would have won, but Rex made sure that would not happen... smh) milkshakes, and a fire. It was the perfect Friday night.

The rest of the group joined us Saturday, and we headed to the game. We had to drive about two hours to get to UK, and of course that became an adventure of its own. Rex decided to eat Doritos (the one thing forbidden on any road trip... That smell. Ew.), we learned our hands were in the shape of Kentucky, and the Mississippi River was the star of conversation ( which, Paul can discuss with anyone later if he has a map).

By the time we found our seats, I would feel confident in saying it was 32 degrees. We were frozen by the end, but it was great to see the Bulldogs play. Although, we didn't come away with a W; the memories made were worth it all including the freezing temperatures.

We traveled back to Samford on Sunday, but not before having breakfast at the farm, playing a few rounds of connect four, and sitting in traffic for seven hours.

Memories made? For sure.

Here's to Neil Taing (the real reason we visited UK)