When you've made nine U-Haul trips in eleven years, 

you get real good at figuring out what matters most. 

You learn that holding onto less helps the soul to breathe, 

and clearing away the clutter 

leaves only the beautiful to remain. 

You know for sure 

that growing a home is never about building a mansion, 

but always about growing the hearts and lives within. 

There may be spikes on the tips of fences, 

and a garbage dump in the yard next door, 

but good words keep being read,

 tea is sipped daily, 

gardens are tended,

 the sun never fails setting,

 and friends still come over to play.