When you meet someone for the first time, a common question you ask them is..where are you from? I've been pondering a question for a while now...b/c all of our families are so spread out...what really defines "home"?
I think the answer to that question is different for many people. Some people live in the same house and town their whole life, some move around in different houses but stay in the same town, or if your like me...I've moved my whole life (because my dad was in retail). So I don't really have a "hometown". Justin and I just recently went to visit my parents in Florida (where they live right now) and I wanted to share some things that stood out to me about my childhood "home".
Even though my parents have moved a few times even after Justin and I were married and established our own home together...no matter where they are, there are a few things that always remain the same...
No matter where my parents live, there is always a wall that is dedicated to the baby photos of me, Abby (my sister) and Russ (my brother). She has our 3,6,9 and 12 month pics and then our senior portrait in the middle. Russ gets to have his frame upgraded this year since he is a senior in high school (which I still can't believe he is so old!)
This is the rocking chair I have many memories and pics of all three of us rocking in when we were little. My mom still has it and I can't wait to have pics of our little ones in the same chair.
Anyone who has been in our family home in the last...oh 15 years or so...knows what this Noah's Ark holds. Not that is by any means nutritious or healthy or whatever you want to call it...but it's always been stocked with candy since I was young. It's just a thing my mom has always done. As you can see from the picture...there are a few chips and cracks...but my parents kitchen wouldn't be complete without the Noah's Ark candy dish
This is the kitchen table we have shared many meals, prayers and memories together. Even when my brother was born (11.5 years after me), my parents just pulled up another chair to the table instead of getting a bigger one. I'm glad they did that...made for a cozier fit for all of us.
And there is a chest with tons of frames behind the table...mom has always been good at keeping family photos out of everybody and their display is growing more every day with 3 kids and now 3 grandbabies.
Even though the physical shell of where my parents live may change, my mom always does a good job of recreating familiar surroundings for all of us so when we come home, it still feels like "home". Although these things are all "temporary", there is one thing that always stays the same and that's these precious faces...
This is mom and Russ (my little BIG brother). As you can see...my mom loves her kiddos. She has always been very nurturing and loving to all of us. She has sacrificed more than I will probably ever know to take care of us. She is one determined little lady and even though she is the smallest in the family, she has the biggest heart of anybody I know and is always two steps ahead of all of us when it comes to being prepared. She has a true servants heart and would give whatever she has to someone in need.
Russ has grown up right before my eyes. He always says I was like his second mom and Abs was more like his friend. I still call him my "baby". He has a very tender heart and has grown into such a young man of character. Example...on HIS 18th bday he came home with flowers for my mom and told her thanks for being such a good mom and putting up with him for the last 18 years. Yep...isn't that precious...all together now... "AWE"! (and my dad's response was...where are mine..hahaha)
And here is the grill master himself. I'm not joking...this man can grill anything and make it taste good. I love my mom and talk to her everyday but I'm a big daddy's girl. It's hard for me to put into words a description of my dad. There is some sort of lesson in most everything he says, so you better be listening. He is a very wise man, loves the Lord with all his heart and has always been the rock and voice of reason for our family. With three girls (two daughters and a wife) who are wound really tight, he has to be pretty solid and laid back to handle us all...which my brother is my dad made over.
I've been much more "homesick" lately. I think probably because of our newest addition and postpartum hormones...
I mean look at that face...Briggs changes so fast and is such a joy. I love sharing him with both of our families, but if there is one thing I have learned over the course of my short life...it's to cherish the time you do have with the people you love and try not to dwell on the time we are apart. Yes it stinks we don't live closer and that we only get to see each other a few times a year, but we do our very best to cherish the time we do get to spend together. Thank goodness for modern technology of blogs, smart phones and skype :)
In conclusion...I think "home" is a relative term for our family. There are certain things that when I go to my parents home it will always trigger memories from my childhood, but the people who are there are the ones who make up the definition of my childhood "home". I love my family and just wanted to give yall a glimpse of the special people who make it what it is.
I leave you with this...no matter what items or people make up your idea of "home", determine what they are and cherish them while you can because James 4:14 says.. "yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."
How will you spend your life and who will you spend it with?
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