We did it. We said our goodbyes and we left.
To the piece of our family that had been there for 30 years. The piece that had seen us through the good times and the bad times. The piece that had witnessed so much, from the growing up from a child to an adult, to the baby being bought home for the first time, to the bride waving goodbye as she left for the church.
Many Christmases, Easters, birthdays and parties that had taken place there, welcoming so many people over the years.
The piece of the family that had always been there at the beginning or the end of the day. It was there, not asking for much. Just maybe a lick of paint or to be heated up once in a while.
Yes. We said goodbye to the "Family Home".
Admittedly it was home for me for 20 years before I moved out, but it was the home I grew up in with my family. It was the place I had keys for, and the place that was so familiar to me that it felt as though I had always been there.
Personally I had been dreading moving day and saying goodbye to a place that was part of my family for so long. Of course I understood why my parents were downsizing, but there was a part of me that didn't want to say goodbye.
Again it was the uncertainty, change and not knowing what life would be like not being in this house. We moved here when I was three, and apart from my Mum, Dad & sister it was one of the things that had been in my life the longest.
We had worked together as a family clearing, sorting and getting everything ready for that day when it wouldn't be our house.
The only saving grace was that we were doing it as a family and that it wasn't under other sadder circumstances.
As a family I think we all put on a brave face because I don't think any of us wanted to admit that we didn't really want to go. But amazingly and together as a family we did it.
We moved my family into their new house and although there are boxes still to unpack and things to sort they have done the hardest bit and actually moved. They were brave and went through the moving process and have come out the other end.
They don't look back and regret it. Instead without knowing they're being positive and proactive and starting to create new routines and get on with their lives.
I kept thinking that it was just a house but in that house you make a home and from that home comes the memories. And we still have those.
The house was tired, it needed love and it needed a new family, chapter and new memories to be made in it.
A house is what you make it and this can be the same for your life too. It's what you make it. It's what you do and it's how you embrace that change. x