A couple years ago when I decided to buy the house that I grew up in I made a few changes here and there. One of the things that I wanted was a sun room. I have to say it was probably the best decision I made with all the remodeling.
I'm sitting in that sun room this morning drinking my coffee and thinking about how much I love this addition to my house. I never realized just what this little room means to me. I can sit here and watch the kids play basketball on the court to my left or watch my granddaughter play outside. Or I can look across my driveway and see my brother sitting on the porch relaxing before he goes to work or look up the hill at my mom working in her flower garden. I can't count the nights that I have had my "alone time" sitting her on my computer or just drinking a glass of tea and listening to the katydids. I have had heart to heart talks with my mom in this room, lectures with my kids and late night talks with friends or a bunch of teenagers telling me about their day before they retire in the house for sleepovers. During the summertime almost every meal we eat of a night is eaten in the sun room. It's a room that is my refuge for solitude while I watch the rest of the world around me go on and a room of fellowship when the chairs and the floor are full of people and the laughter seeps through the screens to chime in with the music of the crickets. I have sat here in this room through thunderstorms and watched the rain and sat here in the peace and quiet and watched the lightening bugs illuminate my yard at night.
I sit here and watch the hustle and bustle of the busy back road that is traveled by neighbors, friends, family, sight seers and even an occasional scene out of Cops when someone evading the law thinks they can escape by the means of a country road. Then there are mornings like today when there isn't much to see going on but I can sit here and listen to the wind blow through the trees and savor the blessings of God's handiwork all around me. There's just something about this room that puts life into a different perspective.
I wish that my dad were still here. He would have loved this room as much as my mom does. I know that he and I would've have had many talks in this room. I can see him now getting all to comfortable with a cup of coffee and a cigarette as he settles in to talk a while.
There's just something about this room that offers a sense of tranquility and peace; even when there's air soft wars going on outside and 7 or 8 teenagers romp through here in pursuit of a Dr. Pepper or a Mountain Dew.
To some people I'm sure it's just an addition to my house, an investment that raises the value, or a room to pass through into my house. To me it's worth every penny that I put into it. It's a haven that has housed many hours of laughter and more memories than I can count. The corners seem to pile up some times with odds and ends; it's nothing elaborate or decorated with expensive furniture. It's just a simple room with a wonderful purpose - peace, laughter and solitude.
The world is just a better place in this little corner of my house. Yes, I think everyone needs a sun room.
