48 - HEART AND SOUL

HEART AND SOUL

10 ¼ x 14 ¼ inches

(My childhood home, farm near Uehling, Nebraska)

This is my childhood home. Together, Mom and Dad lovingly salvaged this tattered and well-worn house. When they first moved in, it had no indoor plumbing, the front porch was covered in tar paper, and the roof leaked—it was truly worse for wear. My parents put their heart and soul into making this a comfortable home for their growing family.

Sunday mornings in this house are just a few of my many treasured memories. Mom ritualistically put a roast in the oven before we left for church. The comforting aroma of the roast greeted us as we walked in the front door after church. We all gathered in the sunlit great room while Dad read the Sunday funnies to us with theatrical animation.

In a comfortable, but modest setting, our family was a real family.