Peaceful Easy Feelings....

Dearest Bug,

We live in the house that I grew up in. It's not a big house (especially not for two boys, Daddy, Mommy and you!) but it's as comfortable to me as an old pair of jeans...it may be worn in places, but it still fits me perfectly. :) By far my favorite place in the house is the front porch. 

My fascination with front porches came long ago. Lazy summer evenings spent watching Caleb ride his bike and play with his friends, while drinking sweet tea (or sometimes adult beverages) with Joy, who started as my neighbor and became one of my dearest friends. We spent many good times on my porch (or hers) sitting back and watching the world go by. That porch was the site of some of my greatest joys, funniest stories, and even my greatest sorrows. Thus began a true love affair.

When I moved to this house, several months before I met your daddy, one of the very first things I did was buy comfortable chairs for the front porch. I spent many evenings of that first summer ensconced in the ambiance of "country" living. Our front porch is where I mourned the passing of the greatest woman I have ever known, and it is where your Daddy and I spent our first date. :) 

Life got hectic and I found that I had less time for porch sitting in the evenings, which is my favorite time of day to spend there. I had forgotten how easily that old peaceful feeling creeps in when I sit there and let go of all the stress of the day.

Until last night.

Our neighborhood goes to bed rather early. The darkness surrounds me like a warm comfy blanket, and the only light is moonlight. The stars spread across the sky like a thousand diamonds, and lightning bugs play tag among the tree branches. A symphony of tree frogs sing from the softly rustling leaves. This is what I have been missing. :) 

I came in last night more at peace than I have been in a long time. And I made myself a vow. Every night from now until winter, after the kids (including you!) are all tucked in and the chores are all done, I will spend at least 10 minutes soaking up the peacefulness found on our front porch. I hope that when life gets stressful, I will be able to find my little piece of paradise nestled sweetly there in front of the place filled with all the people I love most. 

From My Front Porch Looking In~Lonestar

Oh yeah
Yeah oh yeah

The only ground I ever owned was sticking to my shoes
Now I look at my front porch and this panoramic view
I can sit and watch the fields fill up
With rays of glowing sun
Or watch the moon lay on the fences
Like that's where it was hung
My blessings are in front of me
It's not about the land
I'll never beat the view
From my front porch looking in

There's a carrot top who can barely walk
With a sippy cup of milk
A little blue eyed blonde with shoes on wrong
'Cause she likes to dress herself
And the most beautiful girl holding both of them
And the view I love the most
Is my front porch looking in, yeah

I've traveled here and everywhere
Following my job
I've seen the paintings from the air
Brushed by the hand of God
The mountains and the canyons reach from sea to shining sea
But I can't wait to get back home
To the one he made for me
It's anywhere I'll ever go and everywhere I've been
Nothing takes my breath away
Like my front porch looking in

There's a carrot top who can barely walk
With a sippy cup of milk
A little blue eyed blonde with shoes on wrong
'Cause she likes to dress herself
And the most beautiful girl holding both of them
Yeah the view I love the most
Is my front porch looking in

I see what beautiful is about
When I'm looking in
Not when I'm looking out

There's a carrot top who can barely walk
With a sippy cup of milk
A little blue eyed blonde with shoes on wrong
'Cause she likes to dress herself
And the most beautiful girl holding both of them
Yeah the view I love the most

Oh, the view I love the most
Is my front porch looking in
Yeah
Oh, there's a carrot top who can barely walk
(From my front porch looking in)
A little blue eyed blonde with shoes on wrong, yeah
And the most beautiful girl
(Beautiful girl
From my front porch looking in)
Holding both of them
Oh, yeah~

Good night sweet angel...I'm off to commune with the porch!

XOXOXOXO,

Mommy