Background Graf

      I had always wanted the things for my children, that my parents made sure I had growing up. I'm not talking about toys, clothes and other materialistic items. I wanted them to grow up in a warm, loving home and to have lifelong memories of the place that they would call home. My parents bought their house when I was ten years old in 1982. And every year my family and I would celebrate holidays or occasions and sometimes just have a family get together just for the sake of seeing everybody. So, when I started looking for a home, I wanted special characteristics that would shout out at me and say, "I'm the one". The first house I looked at was an old farmhouse, though very well maintained. It was not a big house, as everyone would envision a farmhouse to be, but big enough for us. It had everything that I was looking for in a house, strong structure, nice location, evenly sized rooms and it had brand new windows! The house was white with a black singled roof. It had no shutters or any extra colored trim, so it was plain, but looked clean and stern. The same said about the attached breazeway and two story barn. Though the crackle of the brook in the backyard created a sense of calm, both outside and inside the house. When I walked into the kitchen and saw the original handmade wooden cupboards, that was when I realized this house had the potential. It was built in the 1890's and those cupboards were made of real wood, not the cheap pressed ones that they offer now. But it was the first house I looked at and I couldn't imagine this task to be simple. So, I decided to look at other houses and give the kids a selection to choose from.Though every time I would look at another house, I would always compare it to the first house. So after looking at the sixth house, I realized it was no use looking anymore. I knew from the beginning I wanted that first house I looked at. I discussed it with my children, as it was going to our home. They were so excited! Not only to have a home of their own, but it was only 2 houses down the road from my parent's home. It was like having a two for one deal for me. I remember my realtor saying, "I knew you were going to choose that house!" That was it, we finally had a home. It was simple! Or was that just a new homeowner's dream?