The House I grew up in...

My children always think it's funny when the question is asked, "Where did you grow up"? And my answer is Mesa Arizona! my family moved to Joseph City when I was a sophmore in high school, if I wanted to go back to the house that holds my childhood memories it would be our home in Mesa, 1532 West 7th Avenue. My memories are of walking 5 houses to the corner to school, riding my bike to the corner of longmore and broadway to the U-Totem for some candy bought with a quarter or some pop bottles turned in for the deposit back and more money for candy, Yeah!!! Spending saturdays at my grandparents with uncles, aunts, and cousins. The ward we were in was Alma Second, in the Mesa Stake, swimming at carson jr. high in the summer, movies at the theater on saturday afternoon when our chores were done, all those walt disney movies through the 60's, WOW, what memories. Ever so often through the years I like to drive by the house that I grew up in, it still is about the best cared for home on the block and i have shown the house to my children, I reflect on happy memories I'm not one to remember the bad, the Lord has blessed me in that respective I remember only good times, and how richly blessed I was to be raised by such good parents, and a loving brother and sister to share those memories with me. I love the song that Miranda Lambert sings... "The House that Built Me"I know they say you can’t go home again
I just had to come back one last time
Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam
But these handprints on the front steps are mine

Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could walk around I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years
From Better Homes and Gardens magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama’s dream

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could walk around in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

You leave home and you move on and you do the best you can
I got lost in this old world and forgot who I am

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I walk around I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me.