"THE HERITAGE HOUSE", last story about that old house!

I dreamed the night after I wrote the first story about "THE OLD HOUSE".. I called that story "MEET THE WILSON'S"  But somehow at the time, I made it more about the family instead of the house.. I didn't intend to, and I had not meant to in any way.. So, here we go again, and just maybe to your delight, this is the last story about the Old House, But just perhaps you've enjoyed them as much as we enjoyed creating them.. either way, "God bless you and yours"

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As some of our family members were out riding one wonderful, warm late spring day, they passed by an "old house" laying in a pile. Or was it just laying there resting from it's many wonderful years of service and shelter? Perhaps we'll never know.

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This house was built in 1889 and was occupied by "one loving family". It was passed down generation by generation and was loved and cared for by many people of that family. We will call it

         "THE HERITAGE HOUSE"

          This house, like many was the birthplace to many of the people who loved and lived there. Many of the babies were born right there at home, with the "help of grandma's, aunts, sisters of the mother or father, or even neighbors. They didn't very often have doctors around, nor did they feel the need to see them. So as the saying goes, "if walls could talk, many of these walls could tell of some precious times, and even some sad times". When the house was first built, windows were scarce, it didn't have many, but over the years a window was added here and there to make it brighter and lighter inside.  They used candles at first, then oil lamps, also the had "spring house" to help with keeping the milk, butter and things cold and prevent spoilage. Vegetables were grown and canned, sausage, deer, and some beef were also canned. They also had a smoke house and smoked some of their meat in the autumn, some was preserved with salt. The meat was then stored in a "meat house". They raised most of all of the food that they ate, and money was scarce, but then they didn't need to buy much, they "lived off the land". So, the truth is, the "Simple life" was a busy life. Many of the occupants, especially back in the early days were farmers and they "peddled" their goods, and that was their income. They also would do little odd and end jobs, like helping with fencing and make a little bit now and then, but then a lot of the time, their neighbors would repay your helping them with helping you in return. So, at times the house saw tired "old" people, even if they were still young in age. They got up early, at daylight and went to bed at dusk, but they were tired and ready to rest.  When many of the youngest siblings were teenagers they disliked the old house and wished for a huge, fancy home in the city. And true to beliefs, many moved on, but always returned for visits and sometimes just to recapture some of the more simple life.

The house and all the memories were a "solid foundation" to base life upon and so it's memories were precious. It seemed that as the family members aged, the memories of that more simple time became sweeter and more precious, and the memories of their heritage was with gratitude. Still someone always loved and wanted to be right there in that home, and it was always kept "in the family". It seemed that many of them remembered their childhood, with the house as a main part of their family and way of life. It went through many changes, in the beginning the owners brought water there by horse and buggy, then a well was dug and over the years the well was updated, re-dug, and at one point filled in and another well dug, it was deeper and sweeter and the water was mineral free (such as sulphur or iron), what a terrific improvement. There were porches added, porches replaced due to rot and age. Rooms were changed, walls added, walls knocked down for expansion, two new bedrooms added on and then a completely new kitchen with the well water pumped right into the house. Also at that time, an indoor bath room was build on in that new addition. Then plank siding was placed all around the house, and you couldn't even tell that it bore scars of all the improvements and changes it had been through. Much later in the life of the house, even electricity was put right into the house, so the occupants at that time could just flip a switch and turn on the lights, another blessing for the occupants, and another improvement to the house. Then a few receptacles were put on the wall to make life even easier for them, then in the later years a newer larger electric panel was put in and lots of receptacles were put in and a newer washer and dryer installed. Time goes on and so does "progress", improvements and aging (of the house, it's support, foundation, walls, roof. The family too was going through many changes, "time" being the culprit. And over time, it lost complete older generation (one at a time) it happens in every family, that is how life is, and thus the life of houses also. When the house was one hundred and three years old, the last family member passed away and her children and nieces and nephews had all moved away. The house stood another 17 years before it slowly gave way and landed in a heap on it's side, that was in the summer of 2009. Tired from all the years of service and from age, and what a loving, helpful, peaceful, shelter it had provided. Many, many precious and loving memories it left behind, and they grew sweeter and sweeter as time went on and all the 'memories' were passed from generation to generation. You may see this as a pile of old wood and a tin roof.. I see it as many, many years of shelter to some precious family that new the goodness of what was given to them by God above. Many sweet memories by all who lived or even visited there. And now, it's at rest. It has been a blessing to many, and God has blessed it with strength and endurance. Again, my mind is saying ...

"if only walls could talk"... Just how interesting it would be to hear the many years of memories that this old house has seen and endured. So just maybe this should have been called

THE HERITAGE 'HOME' because any building could be used as a house.. But it takes something special to make a house a home.

And to Kayla, Anna, and Abigail.. thanks again for your stories!  Love Grandma...

WE NEVER KNOW WHAT PATHS OUR LIVES WILL TAKE, BUT HAVE YOU EVER LOOKED AT A PATH, EVEN A COUNTRY PATH AND WONDER OR EVEN IMAGINE JUST WHAT BEAUTY COULD BE AT THE OTHER END? WE CAN ONLY BE FAITHFUL AS WE CAN TO GOD, TO FAMILY, AND TO OURSELVES, AND DO OUR VERY BEST. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR WHATEVER PLANS GOD HAS FOR US, AND TRY NOT COMPLAIN. WE ARE NOT PROMISED TOMORROW: JAMES 4:14 says : ... whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."

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Well, today Abigail has practiced picking up the chickens. Nathan stands and watches her and gives her advice (*.*) They seem more interested in the chickens right now than they do the bunnies.. I have to admit, they are pretty interesting to watch.  Norman and I worked out there some between his trips down to work.. Uggg, this "on call" stuff! It wouldn't be so bad except that you can't make any plans, and it's a good ways down there and back. But still, we are grateful for his job! Today we got the roost poles updated some, and finished the laying boxes (except for the straw, and two more dividers) Looking forward to those really fresh eggs (*.*) and for hearing the little roosters learning to crow! They can make some weird noises while learning.

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YESTERDAY AT HIS WORK, THEY CAUGHT A BLACK BEAR.. HE SAID IT WAS APPROX 100 POUNDS! YIPES! TO MUCH BEAR FOR ME! HE SAID THAT HIS CO-WORKER SAYS THERE ARE THREE MORE BEARS THERE.. BUT SO FAR HE PERSONALLY HASN'T SEEN THEM! PRAYING HERE THAT THEY CATCH ALL OF THEM WITHOUT ANY INJURIES TO ANYONE, OR THE BEARS.. I GUESS THEY ARE JUST HUNGRY AND LOOKING IN THE EASIEST PLACE (THE DUMPSTER) TO FIND FOOD... THE ONE YESTERDAY SEEMED TO HAVE A FETISH FOR PEANUT BUTTER, LOL
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HE IS BACK WORKING NOW, SECOND TIME HE'S BEEN CALLED OUT TODAY! ... LAST TIME HE WENT EARLIER FOR ONE THING, AND DID A COUPLE WHILE HE WAS THERE.. WELL, THEY CALLED HIM BACK A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR AGO, AND WHO KNOWS WHEN HE'LL GET TO COME BACK HOME. OR EVEN HOW MANY TIMES HE'LL BE CALLED IN THIS WEEKEND!  NATHAN AND ABIGAIL RODE DOWN WITH HIM, THEY HAVE A POOL PARTY TO GO TO AT 6:00 (IT WAS 5 WHEN THEY LEFT HERE) BUT I KNOW THEY WERE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING. THEM RIDING WITH HIM SAVED NORMAN AND LEISA A TRIP UP TO GET THEM, OR ME A TRIP DOWN TO TAKE THEM.. AS FOR ME, I AM GOING BACK OUT TO FEED THE BUNNIES, AND TO FINISH CLEANING THE SPACE THAT WE ARE GOING TO PUT OUR PICNIC TABLE AND SHELTER.. I ALSO HAVE FLOWERS TO GO AROUND THE FRONT SIDE AND A FEW WICKER CHAIRS TO GO INSIDE THE SHELTER.. I KNOW WE WILL REALLY LIKE IT IF WE EVER GET IT DONE! ONE DAY NEXT WEEK, I AM GOING TO TRY TO GET THE "CHICKEN WATCHING CHAIR" REPAINTED.. THE BARN RED PAINT LEFT OVER FROM THE CHICKEN COOP ITSELF AND THEN JENNA GAVE US SOME RED AND WHITE (old fashioned looking) SMALL, CHECKERED CUSHIONS TO GO ON IT! ACTUALLY SHE GAVE US THE WOODEN GLIDER ALSO (that we call our chicken watching chair) LOL, THANKS JENNA!

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                                     Psalm 23  King James Version (KJV)
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the     house of the Lord for ever.
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PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOURS TONIGHT AND NIGHTLY.. SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR JAKE AND FRANCES TOO.. PRAYING FOR EVAN AND ALL THE CHILDREN WITH EB, CANCER AND EVERY OTHER DREADFUL DISEASES.. AND THEIR FAMILIES...PRAYING FOR EVERYONE WITH NASTY OLE CANCER.. SUCH A DREADFUL THING.. GOD COMFORT, HEAL AND BLESS EACH AND GRANT INNER PEACE TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS.. PRAYING FOR EVERYONE NEEDING A JOB AND (OR) THE WANT AND WILL TO WORK! UNSPOKEN PRAYERS FOR JENNA AND BETTY JO AND HER FAMILY.. PRAYING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND GOD'S GUIDANCE UPON IT.. PRAYING FOR ALL OF OUR SOLDIERS AND THEIR SAFE AND QUICK RETURN HOME AND THEIR PEACE OF MINDS AND SOULS AND THAT OF THEIR FAMILIES.. PRAYING FOR ALL OF MY CO-WORKERS.. THAT THEY WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND AND COME BACK IN THE FALL REFRESHED, AND FULL OF ENERGY.. PRAYING FOR ALL THE "UNSPOKEN REQUEST, AND NEEDS" .. (and asking that you'll pray with us about ours) PRAYING ALSO FOR THE FOLKS AT "THE RETIREMENT HOME"AND THAT ALL OF THE THREE OTHER BEARS ARE CAUGHT WITHOUT INJURY TO ANYONE OR THE BEARS!.. AND THANKING GOD FOR ALL HIS GOODNESS, HIS LOVE, GRACE, MERCIES, GUIDANCE, AND BLESSINGS.. THANK YOU GOD IN ALL THINGS IN JESUS HOLY NAME, AMEN..