Feels like Home

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a wedding reception of the little sister of some good friends of mine from growing up. The reception was at the church building that I attended every Sunday for the first 18 years of my life. Some of the people that I was able to see were close friends while I was a teenager and had not seen in several years. Obviously most of my childhood friends were not there, but their parents were. It was so nice to visit with them.

The 2 older sisters of the bride are younger than me. While growing up others would often think that they were my little sisters because we all look alike. I am the youngest child so I loved the idea of having little sisters. We often would tell strangers that we were sisters.

As I was driving back to my sister-in-laws house I became a little emotional. I was thinking that it was the first time in a while that I felt like I went "home". There is something special about the home that you grow up in. Consider yourself lucky if you lived in the same home for the majority of your childhood and your parents still live in that home once they are empty-nester's.

When I was 20 years old and away at college my parents got divorced and sold my childhood home. Now when I come "home" it's to visit their home, not my home and I am just a visitor/intruder. So I do not have the "being at home" feeling when I return to NC. It's a difficult feeling for me to explain. I think no matter how old you are it's nice to have the comfort and relaxation that home gives. It's the feeling after a really long vacation to be able to curl up on your own couch or sleep in your own bed.

Chuck and I have lived in 6 apartment/houses in our 4 years of marriage. I hope this rate does not continue. I'm ready to have a house to live in and stay in for a really long time.