Finally Home

Recently, I've been thinking about all the places I've called home over the past 70+ years. It's hard to believe I've been around that long - but it's true. In all of those years, I have never lived longer than ten years in any one home - until now!

When I mentioned this to a friend recently she answered "Finally Home". Yes, finally home. When we found this house, in this neighborhood, in this town, nearly eleven years ago, we did feel like we were coming home.

Even though it meant moving away from those we loved. Even though it meant starting a new life in a place we had no friends or acquaintances and even though it would require tremendous effort to pack up our belongings and move them out of our current home 200 miles west, it still felt like we were finally home.

During the past ten and a half years, there have been times when the emptiness we experience as we miss our loved ones is almost more than we can bear and causes us to question the wisdom of moving here. But then, we realize that the times we enjoy being with our family are precious - going to bed together and getting up in the morning together and spending days on end just enjoying one another. Here at our home as well as in their homes it has brought us together in a closer way.

Here, we've discovered a whole new world together. Smith Mountain Lake is a source of countless fun times. We hike, we boat and we picnic at the state park. Sometimes we stay in a cabin or in a beautiful lake house with all the amenities of home. We take classes and learn how to canoe or make candles or most recently, walking sticks. We have found favorite restaurants and shops and places to love as we explore what has become our new home.

I like to think we provide an escape for these busy families when life gets too hard. A place to come and relax and unwind and enjoy the comforts of being "home". Even after all these years, I still remember the feeling of walking through the door to my parents' apartment and feeling the comfort of knowing I am with them where they live. I pray this is the way our kids and grandkids feel when they walk through our front door. This is a place where there is love and comfort and acceptance. Even when the world is treating them harshly and their days are filled with anxiety, there is love and a warm welcome here at home.

God has surely provided a place for us to live and thrive during these later years. Although I'm well aware of the fact that we won't be here forever, we will enjoy the times we have left to nurture and encourage the children that God has given to us. We've been parents for more than 50 years and it's more evident than ever that our responsibility is not over yet. For that we thank God. It is truly the greatest joy of our lives.

"Before me, even as behind, God is, and all is well".  John Greenleaf Whittier

Until next time......