Giving credit where credit is due.

I apologize for not acknowledging where the title for my last blog came from. You would think, as a college student, I would be very aware of plagiarism. In all honesty I wasn't taking credit for Mr. Guest's work, I just thought it would be well enough known to render it public domain. He is one of my favorite down-to-earth folksy poets and I share with you his famous "It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home."

by Edgar Guest

It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home,
A heap o' sun an' shadder, an' ye sometimes have t' roam
Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef' behind,
An' hunger fer 'em somehow, with 'em allus on yer mind.
It don't make any differunce how rich ye get t' be,
How much yer chairs an' tables cost, how great yer luxury;
I ain't home t' ye, though it be the palace of a king,
Until somehow yer soul is sort o' wrapped round everything.

Home ain't a place that gold can buy or get up in a minute;
Afore it's home there's got t' be a heap o' livin' in it;
Within the walls there's got t' be some babies born, and then
Right there ye've got t' bring 'em up t' women good, an' men;
And gradjerly, as time goes on, ye find ye wouldn't part
With anything they ever used -- they've grown into yer heart:
The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the little shoes they wore
Ye hoard; an' if ye could ye'd keep the thumb marks on the door.

Ye've got t' weep t' make it home, ye've got t' sit an' sigh
An' watch beside a loved one's bed, an' know that Death is nigh;
An' in the stillness o' the night t' see Death's angel come,
An' close the eyes o' her that smiled,
an' leave her sweet voice dumb.
Fer these are scenes that grip the heart,
an' when yer tears are dried,
Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an' sanctified;
An' tuggin' at ye always are the pleasant memories
O' her that was an' is no more -- ye can't escape from these.

Ye've got t' sing an' dance fer years, ye've got t' romp an' play,
An' learn t' love the things ye have by usin' 'em each day;
Even the roses 'round the porch must blossom year by year
Afore they 'come a part o' ye, suggestin' someone dear
Who used t' love 'em long ago, an' trained 'em jes' t' run
The way they do, so's they would get the early mornin' sun;
Ye've got t' love each brick an' stone from cellar up t' dome:
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home.

It Takes a Heap of Livin' to Make a House a Home

Angie sent me a link for a photo gallery on their house. As I browsed through the pictures the memories of 14 years flooded back to me. We did a 'heap o' livin' in that house and most of the feelings I had today were ones of joy: a kitchen filled with happy, noisy family; a family room overflowing with friends; bedrooms (usually impassable) containing the people who are my dearest treasures on earth; a front door that opened often to reveal the loving faces of ward members; etc. etc. etc. I know that we shed a bucket of tears there also and that's as it should be. I think tears and smiles are the stuff of which hearts are made. Sandy and West Jordan were where my heart was born, broken, and re-born over and over again, and I can't thank you all enough for the experience.