A Simple Home

By Patty Koehler, Kansas City, Kansas

WEB EXCLUSIVE

Most newlyweds can relax after their wedding. For Tom and I, though, the past nine months had been a flurry of stress. We’d been living in a small duplex while rehabbing a house on five and a half acres Tom owned in Kansas City, and we’d scarcely had time to enjoy wedded bliss. Now, finally, we were moving in, but I was still having trouble winding down after all the activity.

One Sunday, I browsed through the half-price book store, looking for the perfect book to read. Passing the clearance rack, an old book jumped out at me. “Simplify Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy The Things That Really Matter.” So funny. It was just what Tom and I wanted now that the house was done. Spend more time with family and friends. Fill our new home with love instead of more possessions.

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Would the book help? Maybe not, but it was cheap. I bought the book and brought it home to show Tom.

“Simple living, hmm,” Tom said. “Sounds like we could use that. Hope it’s helpful.”

I opened up the front cover. Inside, I was surprised to see that someone had written a message, dated fourteen years ago:

“May we grow together even more, and may we simplify our lives, so our love will deepen and strengthen even more. All my love in our new home.”

“Hey, Tom,” I said. “It is just for us.” I pointed out the inscription. “A couple just moving into their new home… and look who signed it.”

We both read the signature, someone else’s handwriting, but just the right name: Tom.

“The perfect housewarming gift,” Tom said.