Hogar. Home.

As defined by...

-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.