Dear My Forever Home,

It has been twelve years now that I have had the chance to make memories with you. These memories are ones that I will look back on happy or sad times. They fill my heart with joy and really have shaped me into who I am today. These memories range from laughter with my relatives to experiencing life alongside my stepfather. This home was the place that I created many memories that I have of my stepfather and I. We would go on rides around our property. We would play archery and we would spend nights sitting around the bonfire. We would tube behind our jet ski and then have to take the lily pads out from under the jet ski. We would boat or canoe around our pond. We would spend many nights trying to get the owls to echo their call back to us. We did things that a lot of other children probably did not have the opportunity to do as a child. This forever home will always show me how grateful I am for the life I got as a child. I was able to make so many memories with my stepfather, mother, and siblings at this beautiful place.

My childhood was spent there every other week. I would run around our property from sunrise to sunset with my siblings. I learned how to fish here, learned how to have fun, learned how to be myself and most importantly I learned how to be a kid. It is the kind of memories that anyone would want their child to have. It was an off the grid house so there was barely any technology used besides wifi. I became a part of the wilderness and I loved being in the woods with my family.

Even though this place will be my forever home there is a time when you need to let go and move on. The time has come that I have to say goodbye to my forever home. It is a sad feeling because my childhood was spent here. I became the person I am today because of this "forever home". This place taught me what it meant to call a place home and it taught me how grateful one should be for the life they live.

This one is for you, Stone Lake. I will always love you and cherish you. But, I will miss you. I am forever thankful for all the photographs, videos, and memories I have of my forever home. You will always have the special place in my heart. To whoever might be reading this I hope you have a forever home that you are grateful to have and make memories in.

Love,

A Grateful Girl