August 26, 2010

• I'm going to try to ease into my beloved Xanga world, once again....we'll see if desire matches reality! I do miss following all of your doings and hearing what is on your hearts.

  We are slowly settling in here. Just this week, my oldest daughter, Katie, left en route to her final destination of Houtson, TX, via a short vacation in California. Last week, we dropped off our youngest son, Jesse, up in Portland, at art school. So, now it's just the 4 of us - what we will be on most days in the future.

  I sense, very much so, that we are still in the transition stage. Sometimes it's tempting to think this is just an elongated vacation - but the reality is that it's now a home that doesn't feel like home yet. I've been thinking about the concept of "home" and what elements create it. Little touches help - things like custom curtains, artwork, decorations here and there, favorite books on shelves, antiques handed down from generation to generation. Those are all the items that we still have packed up. We are waiting until it is more sure that the house we are in will really be ours, before we unpack those boxes.
  So, though we do like the house, it's not homey yet.

  But, let's face it, what really makes home "home" is the people. That's what we most miss at this point. It was an inevitable missing, but knowing that doesn't diminish the reality at all. Here's an example of what truly places you "at home":

  

  We've known and loved these folks since we first moved to PA.
  We had our babies together.

  

  These two are truly His servants and we've shared years of serving one another,
  and others, as well as sharing our hearts.

  

  These two have been such a gift to us - so supportive and encouraging.
  We truly are kindred spirits.

  

  And what can I say, these two are family, who just happen to have different surnames. 

  (And I'm not even considering our far-away children or extended family now!
  We know how key they are to "at home-ness.")

  For now we are all learning to love and support one another across a distance, which we will continue to do while anticipating a time that God will give us together, in person, someday in the future. I could have easily posted many more photos of other precious people, as well, who created our sense of belonging.

  But, for now, we know we are where God wants us to be and we are waiting on Him to forge the new relationships that He has for us. I imagine that until that happens it won't quite feel like "home" here. Securing the house and unpacking the boxes will help, but it'll be people who will ultimately help us make this transition. Right now the relational slate is pretty clear.  We had 20+ years of "homemaking" in PA -
   I'm sure the Lord will do a marvelous, though different, work here too.
  I know it's going to take time, and work.

  In the meantime, my heart is in two places, and it'll just have to stay that way -
  maybe forever.

  >> What creates "home" for you? <<

  • 12:42 pm
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