25 Comments
User's avatar
Chanel Riggle's avatar

This was beautiful and tugged on me in an unexpected way. I thought our rental was going to be a house that built us and then we spent the past year in a half living with family. It’s been so cramped and stressful but now the house we’ve waited for should close next week. God always builds us in any situation, often in the waiting. Thanks for writing.

Expand full comment
Kelsey Aldinger's avatar

Thank you, Chanel! It’s so true that we are often built in the waiting and usually in the most unexpected ways. Congrats on your new home and new chapter!

Expand full comment
Jessica Jolley's avatar

Loved this story so, so much! How you even refer to the House until the very end when you then name it Home. Like the others have said, it pulled on my heartstrings and brought me back to my own stories of houses/places turned homes—the trait of great storytelling. Keep writing, Kelsey!

Expand full comment
Kelsey Aldinger's avatar

Thank you so much for your kind words, Jessica! 🫶🏼

Expand full comment
Kim Lilley's avatar

Loved this from start to finish! Makes me want to write a letter to a space about all it's seen and held- so creative.

Expand full comment
Kelsey Aldinger's avatar

Thank you, Kim! You absolutely should write your own letter. I wrote about a million drafts of this and just could not put words to my feelings until I started writing in letter form and then the words poured out. Amazing how changing form can do that!

Expand full comment
L. Hoover, Writer's avatar

A beautiful read, when I moved from California to South Carolina six years ago I wrote a journal entry about my backyard and my favorite coffee sipping spot in that backyard. Sometimes we forget the beauty in our ordinary spaces.

Expand full comment
Kelsey Aldinger's avatar

So true! And it's a shame when we don't realize their beauty until they're gone. I'm working hard to recognize the beauty right in front of me! Also California to South Carolina must have been quite the move!

Expand full comment
Laura Bass's avatar

I love this, Kelsey!

Expand full comment
Kelsey Aldinger's avatar

Thank you, Laura!

Expand full comment
Megan Hogg's avatar

A carpeted bathroom—you really have been through it together!! “You are the house that is building her” 😭

Expand full comment
Kelsey Aldinger's avatar

The carpeted bathroom was maybe the biggest trial of our marriage. 🤪

Expand full comment
Megan Hogg's avatar

Understandably 🤣

Expand full comment
Wendy Mengel's avatar

Oh Kelsey, I love this so much. What a beautiful take on the "become" prompt! I, too, am super sentimental about homes and where I grew up, and where our kids are growing up. I loved reading the journey you've been on in this house!

Expand full comment
Kelsey Aldinger's avatar

Thank you, Wendy! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only person sentimental about houses and their significance!

Expand full comment
Ellen Keesling's avatar

I too moved into a new-to-me home almost two years ago, leaving behind a custom-built, dearly loved and lived-in house where I raised our children. I too receive emails from a realtor, as initially we thought it was a temporary landing place. I too made some of the spaces our own, and have gradually gotten to know neighbors and our community. In a world of instant everything, I appreciate the slowness of change. Roots don't grow overnight. Loved this piece!

Expand full comment
Kelsey Aldinger's avatar

Thank you for the kind words, Ellen. You're so right, roots don't grow overnight and there's a certain magic these days to slow growth. 🤍

Expand full comment
Brandie Johnson's avatar

Kelsey, this is beautiful!

Expand full comment
Kelsey Aldinger's avatar

Thank you so much, Brandie! 💗

Expand full comment
Rachel Simone's avatar

Kelsey, this is beautiful. 🥰 Your house has love in its walls and I always look forward to visiting you there.

Expand full comment
Kelsey Aldinger's avatar

Thank you, friend! That means a lot! ❤️

Expand full comment
Erin Mount's avatar

I loved this, Kelsey. Such vivid descriptions.

Expand full comment
Kelsey Aldinger's avatar

Thank you, Erin!

Expand full comment
Brooke Shorey's avatar

Loved this!

Expand full comment
Jessica Fountain's avatar

Kelsey all the feels here. As someone who has lived in so many houses I just felt so much reading this piece and how in those walls those precious firsts and memories made it your home. Beautiful friend!

Expand full comment