Day 5 - 2015 - HOME

My first thought when I read today's prompt was:  "Home is where the heart is".  I don't know where this quote came from - well, this image came from Pinterest and was shared by etsy.com.  But who actually said it, I don't know.  Many quotes and statements have been said about home.


In my life, I have experienced being away from home many times and for many different reasons.  Some of these times hold memories that have stayed with me.

A first clear memory of home is the years spent in Germany with my parents and two brothers.  When I was in the 7th grade, we were preparing to leave to return to the US.  We left our home the day after Christmas where we would stay with my grandparents until after the holidays.

We celebrated Christmas with our grandparents, a few days later, and stayed until sometime in January.

Then, my parents and brothers left to go to our next military post destination to find us a house...and I stayed behind with my grandparents to finish out the 7th grade!

When we met a few months later for Easter, I wanted to stay home so bad; and am sure I cried most of the way back to my grandparents' home.

I loved my grandparents and enjoyed spending time with them, especially during summer.  But, for my family to leave me there...I was so homesick.  {I never could figure out why I was the one left behind!}

Years later, as an adult, I joined my husband in Germany - yes, back again as an adult!  I loved the country; I was with my husband; that is where our son was born...and "home was where my heart was"!



A friend, who was also living in Germany during that time, hated it!  She missed her mother and father and the "USA"; she was not taking advantage of the time she had to travel and enjoy the beautiful country while she was there.  She was miserable!





Home!

We all have that special place that we call "Home"!  It may be several different places depending on the time of year; or the specific times in our lives.

Maybe you have a vacation home; or a special place you go during the summer (or winter) months!  That is your home for the period of time you are there!



Maybe you spend a few months with one of your children or other family members, or even a friend!


In fact, a few years ago I needed to stay with my daughter and her family for "a season".  Due to health issues, I ended up staying for nine months with one of my daughters and her family.  After spending a couple of weeks in the hospital, it was not wise for me to go back to my house - it was full of mold and mildew, and was falling apart!  That does not bode well for someone with lung issues!

In that case, my "home" was with my daughter and her family...my house was not the home for me any longer!

My husband and I now have made our home in a two-bedroom apartment that has even welcomed a new member, our cat Midnight that we adopted a couple of years ago!

Yes, home is where the heart is and my heart has been in many homes throughout my life!  Right now, it is here.  Perhaps there will be other homes for me - for us - in this life...

But, eventually I will leave this home to join my family and friends who have gone before me.  I will take my place with my Heavenly Father in my Heavenly Home!

This is Day 5 of "31 Days of Free Writes", linking up with Kate Motaung and the Five Minute Friday group.  Check out all of my "Free Write" posts in this series here.  For more information on the "Write31Days" challenge, click here.