Dear Little House,
Soon, I will lock your door for the last time, and I just
wanted to write you a letter to say goodbye.
I still remember the first time we opened your door. You had your quirks—you
still do—but we fell in love with them. We overlooked your age and saw your
timelessness. We wanted you for our very own. We were so excited when you were officially
ours; you were and always will be our first. God provided so much for us and opened so many doors so that we could
open yours, and He never stopped providing so that we could continue opening it
for almost nine years.
You were always there for us, through thick and thin. When we had bad days at work, we always knew without question that you would be right where you always are, ready to be a haven from the chaotic
world outside. You were there for us through the highs and the lows. Your walls
witnessed the tears and arguments and laughter and
through it all, you stood firm. You sheltered us during storms and kept us warm
when it was freezing outside for weeks on end. Never once did you falter in
your purpose or design, and for that we thank you.
There are so many memories tied up in your every nook and
cranny. Little House, you were the first place we went after leaving the
hospital with our newborn son. He learned to walk and talk inside you. Your
walls have held his pictures, as well as the pictures of many happy times and bittersweet
times with loved ones who are no longer with us. You are the only home he’s
ever known. You were here for our friends to come and be safe from the outside
world and its problems. Your walls listened to many a crisis that wasn’t ours, and you were always
known as a safe place in many lives’ storms. You housed parties and family gatherings. We had many dinners with good friends inside you. Your front steps were the site of two "First Day of School" pictures.
Yes, there were times we complained about you, Little House—that
you were too drafty in the winter, too hot in the summer, that you ate too much
electricity, that you were old and falling apart, even that you were too little—but
never once in eight years did we think of leaving you, only of improving you.
But now we have to say goodbye. We have to leave. No
matter how much we want to, we can’t stay. You will still be ours on paper, but
you will no longer be our home. Be good, Little House, to our friends who will
live in you next and call you their home. Be everything and more to them that you were to us.
Thank you, Little House, for being ours. Thank you for
letting us live inside your walls. Thank you for your strong roof that always
kept us safe and dry, and your strong walls to keep out the wind, rain, and snow.
We will miss you, Little House. Thank you for being a part of our family.
With the utmost sincerity,
The Strongs
Susette Williams is a Best Selling Author. She loves writing various genres, both for children and adults. She usually can't resist the urge to let her ornery sense of humor shine through in one of her characters and has always believed that laughter helps you deal with the obstacles life puts in your way. Susette and her husband have six wonderful children, all with intriguing and different personalities, like the characters she creates in her novels.
Jack Foster has illustrated over 25 children's books. He is a Sunday school teacher, art teacher and the father of five terrific children and eleven wonderful grand kids. He lives just outside of Chicago with his lovely wife, dog and cat. Check out his work at 
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