this old house 351/366

This old house has seen a lot of changes since we were first introduced in 1989. Mirrors at the top of the stairs and carpet in the bathrooms were the first things to go. Carpet around the toilet and two little boys just didn't last long together. Brick paneling, indoor outdoor carpet in the kitchen and dark paneling in the family room followed. The linoleum seamed down the middle of the kitchen floor was replaced with hardwood accompanied by reworking the floor plan, new kitchen cabinets and cutting a hole in the wall to build a bar between the kitchen and family room. New carpet. A large closet converted to a small, but very serviceable bathroom. A wall removed in the miniscule half bath opening it up the laundry room prevented us from stubbing our knees on the wall when we sat on the commode. Eventually new siding and windows. Central heat and air to replace baseboard heaters and the need to use a wood burning fireplace to keep warm in the winter and an attic fan and window air conditioners to try and stay relatively cool in the summer. Honestly, especially with the new paint and hardwood floors throughout the house almost three years ago, it's hard to imagine what it used to be. The bones are the same, but almost everything else has changed in the last 31 years. 

Our family has seen a lot of changes too. There were six of us when we discovered this house early 1989. Andrew was born a week or so before we moved in. Three years later Ruth was born. Bill and I raised our six kids here. Plus the ones we "adopted". I wish I knew how many friends have come through these doors. One by one the kids grew up, left the nest and started their own families. Two of us are widows now and when my children and their families are all together there are 31 of us. Unless the older girls bring a boyfriend, then there are more. This house is homebase, the place they launched from, but it is not what keeps us grounded. Anywhere we are together feels like home because our foundation is built on Jesus. 

In this old house and in our family, changes are inevitable. But Jesus never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Our confident faith and hope in Him is the one thing that will never grow old or need repaired or replaced.

 "Jesus Christ 

is the same yesterday 

and today 

and forever. " 

Hebrews 13:8