Home Sweet Home

home:
n.
1. A place where one lives; a residence.
2. The physical structure within which one lives, such as a house or apartment.
3. A dwelling place together with the family or social unit that occupies it; a household.
4.
a. An environment offering security and happiness.
b. A valued place regarded as a refuge or place of origin.
5. The place, such as a country or town, where one was born or has lived for a long period.
6. The native habitat, as of a plant or animal.
7. The place where something is discovered, founded, developed, or promoted; a source.
8. A headquarters; a home base.

These are just a few definitions I found for the word 'home'. I've been exploring my own definition of 'home' for the past couple of weeks while we were on vacation.

I often refer to my birthplace as 'home'. It is, after all, where the majority of my extended family, including my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins reside. There are a ton of childhood memories. It's natural to think of that place as 'home'.

Then I think of the place where I have spent most of my life. Where so many formative things took place...where I met, dated and married my husband, where I found and embraced the love of Jesus, where I found and grew in deep, long-lasting friendships, where I had my babies, where my sister lives with her sweet family, where my husband's dear family lives, the list goes on and on.

Now, I think of the physical structure that houses my most prized treasures at this time (my family)....the place that holds our earthly belongings.....this place...the one we are familiar with...the one we refer to as 'home' on a daily basis ("let's bring our groceries home", "after we get home, you're going to bed!", " I can't wait until you come home from work" - you know what I mean)
It's been confusing. I don't think I've made a final determination of 'where' home is. I think I have discovered that home isn't necessarily any ONE of those places. It's a little bit of all of them. We were glad to get back 'home' for our vacation - to take in the familiarity of the places and people God used to make us who we are right now....and to make new memories that are forming us still. And it was a blessing to get back to this 'home' - a new place that has given us comfort in it's own special way.

Thank you, God, that you are wherever 'home' is. You are constant and unchanging, even when life is not. I'm so grateful that you take us to the places that make us what YOU want us to be. Help us not to 'dig on our heels' when it is time for change. Your goodness is so much better than what we can dream of on our own. Thank you for a wonderful time of vacation. Though so busy much of the time, You provided the refreshment to renew us for the work you need us to do....Amen..

We did have tons of fun on vacation...I'll blog more about it in the days to come and will share some photos of our new memories. I'll also tell you more about our homecoming. For now, I'll just tell you that it included a briefly delayed departure from Chicago that almost made us miss our connecting flight (the last connecting flight of the day to our final destination) despite our fervent attempt to RUN all the way across the airport at tops speeds (imagine 2 adults, 1 active 8 year old and two tag along toddlers with a stroller and 5 overstuffed carry-on bags - yeah, it was not pretty), a bumpy 7+ hour flight with a baby (yes, unfortunately ours) who honestly screamed for 80% of the trip, and a homecoming to a black bear and a mouse (or mice). sigh...... and I sit here now, blogging, pretending like there are no suitcases to unpack or laundry to do or meals to prepare.....okay, I'm going now, I'm really not in denial...more soon (after the chores are done:)