Monday, February 16, 2009

A Trip Home?

I just got back a little over an hour ago. My bags are still sitting in the kitchen floor where they were dropped when unpacking the car. A few groceries sit on the cabinet, those that didn't have to be refridgerated, because lazy me was too tired to put them in their place. (I'm sure they will still be sitting there tomorrow, after all every one in my family thinks that is Mom's job.) I managed to eat a bowl of chicken noodle soup (first thing I've eaten all day, with the exception of a biscuit at my mom's house.), since the tummy virus seems to have attacked my household this weekend and is blessing me with a repeat appearance! And I sat down to check my "mail" and thought I would chat for a brief moment...

I was gone this weekend. I went home, I guess you could say. I've said this before, but being a minister's kid, well I moved all over, lived all over the world and have always had trouble answering the question; "Where are you from?" Hmmm...where am I from? Truth? I always said I was from the place where my Nanny lived. She was the stable part of my upbringing. I knew that no matter where my parents lived, her house was always there, her couch was always ready for me and her arms were always open...

Until a little less than two years ago. My Nanny went on to her palace in the sky to be with her Prince Jesus and left the rest of us floundering for a moment. Without her for a brief time, I felt I didn't have that childhood "HOME." Don't get me wrong, home is with my husband and children...that is where my heart is. Yet, everyone wants to know where they come from, a place to rattle off when people ask that "Where are you from?" question. We all need that place in our heart where we feel we came from and belong...

Well, I went on a trip this weekend. As I was driving through the mountains, that I had traveled through so many times, I got kind of excited. My kids were excited about seeing their grandparents and cousins, but although I was looking forward to that visit, I was excited for another reason... I was finally going HOME! My mom and dad had finally retired and had come back home to the place where they were born and raised. The place I had always called in the back of my mind, my home.

Thanks Mom and Dad for letting me come "HOME" this weekend! We enjoyed our visit. I look forward to your house always being there, your couch always being ready and your arms always being open for me and my family in the years to come!

2 comments:

Jo said...

I say a big AMEN to that! I was gone for 30 years...to K.C. Mo in 1967, to Salem, OR in 1969, to Olympia, WA in 1995...then moved back HOME in 1997. No matter how long I was gone or how far away I was, Harrison, AR was and always will be my HOME (in this life). Whenever I took my vacations to come back for a visit, I always told people that I was going HOME!

It was so good to see you all this weekend!

I love you!
Aunt Jo

Jim said...

Sis,
We were so glad you were able to make it with Kay and Jor. Having a new "home" to call "home" is nice but having family to share it is especially so. We did miss Kevin and look forward to him coming, and singing at church for us next time.

Hope your virus is a real weak one that can't hold out. Glad you made it home again safely. We love you all.
Dad