Tearing Down the Lattice

I was caught off-guard today.

We told Hope back in November that we would re-do her bedroom for her 10th birthday. In the busy-ness of the season, it’s just now becoming a reality.

This weekend, Brian took the boxes that have been sitting in our living room for the past month (which have been used as “transporters” for the girls in some crazy game they’ve been playing) and he and Hope filled them with stuff from her room. Then she taped them shut with some designer duct tape and moved them out of her room.

As I was eating my lunch, I heard a loud C-C-C-R-R-R-R-A-A-C-C-K-K-K-K! A few seconds later, Brian passed by, carrying lattice. Yep, I had lattice in Hope’s room. It was one of those ideas I had that seemed crazy, but made me so stinkin excited.

When I was pregnant with Hope, I convinced Brian to mount lattice around her closet door. I wove ivy and flowers all through it and—along the top—her name was spelled out w/baby’s breath. As I read my description, the word “cheesy” comes to mind, but it was the perfect touch to finish out her 1st room.

I always thought we would move before it was time to re-do her baby room. When I saw Brian walking down the hallway, dragging the lattice out of the room, I had to hold back the tears.

It’s time to take it down. Ten years is a long time to keep your walls the same—especially when you are a little girl who is growing into a young lady.

But seeing the old ripped down made me sad.

Partly because I remember working so well with Brian creating that environment. Even when we didn’t agree, we pushed through, gave in to each other and created something that had both of our prints on--not to mention--we were proud of the finished product.

It’s also because I realize I have fewer years left with Hope at home than have already passed. Eighteen is creeping up on us.

And, let’s face it, change is just plain hard for me—even good change.

I’m excited to see what the new room will look like. We have some great ideas and I think they will come together in a way that reflects Hope’s personality now.

But, I had to go hide as he started pulling the pickets off her walls. A girl can only take so much in one day.