As my husband, the children, and I have driven Interstate 29 North over the years, we have seen many things change. This old house has weathered many harsh storms and seen many winters. Each year as we have driven by it, we would always wonder if it was still standing. Year by year, we would anticipate seeing it as we drove over the rolling hills and big beautiful skies of South Dakota. We all knew if we were driving too fast, we could easily miss it nestled in sunken hills surrounding it. We never stopped to take pictures of the house after traveling the Interstate for over fifteen years. Then one year, as I was driving the interstate alone, I stopped and took this picture. I took it to remind me of its endurance to stand. And I wanted to keep an image of it with me as part of our chronicle of travel to North Dakota. If it was torn down by the owner of the farm or a storm came and blew it down. What a shame it would have been if, after all those years, I had nothing to remember it by.
I have often wondered if that little house had a family. And if it did, what stories would it tell about the family or families that once lived within it? How many children lived there? Were the owner farmers? What type of farmers were they, if they were? Did they own a dog? Did the house always stand-alone, or were there other houses around it in times past? Change is inedible. No matter how life changes for my family and me, it brought great comfort to us when we saw the little house on Interstate 29 north sitting on the prairie. To us, it meant that what was our charge to do, we were faithful and consistent to do. We have always stopped at exit 177 to fill the car with gasoline and Starbucks store annually.
We have changed, and our children have changed. They are no longer children, and we are no longer young people. We have weathered our storms of life as the little house has. Sometimes in life, the only thing that is left behind to show that you ever lived in this world is the mark that you leave behind for others to see. What will be your mark in life to show that you were here? Will it be in the number of people you touched and made a difference in their lives. Or will it be the amount of material wealth you owned? Take time to invest in your family. Our children are our legacy, and they are worth more than anything that money can or cannot buy. Take time to nurture your family and friendships. We have only one life. Life is short.
Our children are all grown up now, and they have their own lives to live. My husband and I still make the drive annually, and the little house on the prairie is still there as a landmark for the next generation of travelers to Grand Forks, North Dakota.
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