visions of home

Back in college, my future husband and I walked hand in hand through the quaint streets of Amherst and shared visions of our future together.

After some time spent living in the city and traveling, we would settle into a classic New England home. It would be a graceful old house with classic architecture, beautiful moulding (I have always been big on moulding), a front porch and a big old maple tree out front. One of the ones that turns beautiful shades of red and gold in the fall, with leaves fluttering to the ground and children running beneath, jumping in big piles of leaves.

There would be lots of bedrooms for all of our future babies and a sunlight filled kitchen. This lovely, welcoming home would be in a quiet neighborhood within walking distance of a quaint town center that included a coffee shop, a bakery, a bookstore, a restaurant and the subway train to the city. There would also be a park within walking distance where all those babies could play and I could effortlessly meet other fabulous mothers.

Reality being what it is, we built a house in a pretty little subdivision out in suburbia. A practical cookie cutter house in a kid filled neighborhood. And we planted a maple tree out front.

It may not be perfect, but we have filled it with children, love and laughter. We have made it our home.

And while our maple tree is not quite big enough to run and play under just yet, we did recently find one at our local park that is.

The girls have had lots of fun chasing leaves, making leave piles and having leave fights.

And I am happy just to take it all in- the warm autumn sun, the crisp air, the beauty of the leaves and the girls. Not exactly what I imagined all those years ago, but also better than I ever imagined.