-Mom: the place where your MOMMA is
-Webster:
the place (such as a house or
apartment) where a person lives
-Me: a place I
feel welcomed and loved, where I do not normally need a GPS
In the short
span of 9 days, I will have been to all five of my homes. Last weekend I was in
Birmingham, Alabama. Riverchase Church of Christ gave me the opportunity to
intern with Scott Pruitt and their youth group in 2012, and it’s felt like home
since day one. Such a loving congregation and a stellar group of teens who are
hungry to learn and serve their master. Visiting the friends who have become
family is always a spirit booster for me. Seeing how the teens are growing into
young adults is just a special honor to watch. I am so thankful to be welcomed
there.
 |
| Because of these smiling faces and sweet hearts, I am rich. |
I left
Birmingham to return to Fayetteville, Tennessee. During middle school and high
school if you asked me for my favorite place in the world, without hesitation,
I would have replied with Fayetteville. Gran and Grandad’s farm is just
comforting and peaceful. With them, it’s a place full of love, laughter and
great memories. So spending the majority of the last 8 weeks there was a
pleasure. I do know the route to the post office, hardware store, local farmers
market and most importantly Hardee’s!
 |
| So much time spent in that white barn. |
Mom, Dad, Bridge
and I took a road trip to Searcy, Arkansas for 24 hours last week. Well
technically it was a move for Bridge. She started her freshman year at Harding
today! Searcy holds a special place in my heart because I spent 4 ½ years
calling those dorms home. I learned from everyone around me and grew as God showed
me to new thoughts and dreams. Some
of my best friends and favorite people are now watching out for my baby sister.
That is home. Where your family is loved.
 |
| Frozen Delight. We love it. |
A quick 3 days
in Atlanta to say, “Hi and Bye!” to so many friends this weekend was home #4.
From birth to high school graduation, all but two years were spent in Gwinnett
County. While I do need directional reminders occasionally, I definitely know
my way around and my brain turns to autopilot too often. While Atlanta (Grayson
especially) is constantly changing, it is definitely home. It’s where I learned
to walk, ride a bike, drive and do many other things not related to
transportation.
Today,
prayerfully, I will return to Jinotega. My other home. My current home. A place
where I always look out of place and, to be honest, I feel out of place
sometimes. But it’s a totally different culture, what do you expect?! Nevertheless, Jinotega is a place where I continually feel welcomed and loved. I
can get to my friend’s houses and the grocery stores without a map. Success.
And those mountains... Oh. They just feel right.
I’ve
heard it said, “Home is where the heart is.” Well here’s the deal… My heart is
spread all over. I try, incredibly hard, to be present right where I am;
knowing that I long to hear how things are going with the other parts of my
heart all at the same time. Thankfully, God is omnipresent and omnipotent. He
made me. He knows how to comfort me and when to push me. He provides specific people
to hold and care for the loved ones that my heart reaches but my arms can’t. He
alone is capable. So I trust Him to hold all the pieces of my heart until they
reunite in their eternal home, Heaven.
