About three years ago, the kids and I thought about selling the house and moving back to Colorado. The thought, a gentle shove, had us selling off things, painting, landscaping and fixing up the place right nice like. One of the items that sold rather quickly was a slide/swing set/fort type jungle gym. This back yard delight, purchased in 2002, was a favorite of Justin's and then soon became Annie's favorite place in the backyard as well.
Every summer, it hosted the water balloon fights, water slide, hide and go seek and bubble fairy game. Once that childhood memory was sold, I was absolutely sure that soon the house would follow and then us as well. Well, you know about the best laid plans and all that jazz and it so happens that the "PLAN" never came to fruition.The next few summers presented a lackluster backyard, missing it's most loved and favorite item. Almost every day during the summer, Annie would comment rather gloomily how she wished she had her swing set with the slide and fort.
Normally, I don't ask for anything for Christmas, but this year I did. I asked my daddy and my ex hubby to build a tree house/fort/play thingy in the back yard for Annie over the Thanksgiving break. It's a difficult situation for a young child, especially a little girl, to only see her daddy four or five times a year, but I'm hoping and believing that the tree house symbolizes everything good for those shared visits.
It's not completed yet, but the foundation is strong. The wood is recycled and old, with knotholes here and there and the smell of pine still lingers within its walls. Each hammered nail broadened the smile on my little girl's face. Everyone needs a hiding place, a place of refuge, somewhere that floods your soul with pleasure. I'm believing that this is her place.
