You can't, and can go home again.

We took the kids on their first "camping" trip this weekend. Where did we camp, you might ask? In "our house," of course. The house we don't live in. The house that hasn't sold yet. Our empty house in Fort Worth. We needed to do some dusting and change some light bulbs, so we made a trip of it this weekend. The best part of it all was visiting with our old neighbors, having dinner with my super-cool friend Maridon and her family (Aubrey and her girls were buds and Maridon was my saving grace in a new city) and taking the kids to the amazing Ft. Worth Zoo. 

It was a nice little escape, although I'm not sure I would call it relaxing. Spending the night in a big empty house you once called home, a house that hasn't sold (did I mention that yet?), can cause of range of emotions to surface. Anxiety and stress. Will it ever sell??? Sadness. It's a great house. I could have done a lot with that house (and so could someone else, hint hint).  I can't live there, and we can't buy a comparable house, in a comparable neighborhood in Austin, for anywhere near the same price. Happiness. I smiled pointing out the exact spot where Aubrey took her first step. She went from zero to full-on walking. She waited a long time to take that first step, but once she did, she proceeded to walk around the entire first floor of the house without falling. Gratefulness. I am so grateful for what we have now, here in Austin. I would not trade living in this rental house for "our house" if it meant giving up the life and friends we have here in Austin. It is true what they say... a house does not make a home. It was nice to come "home" tonight. To our small, crammed, old, dusty house. This is our home. (But you know what, I'm pretty sure I could make a different house here in Austin feel like an even better home :)).