Home is Where the Heart is

For the past 2 nights, I have stayed with my mom and step dad, because I don't particularly like being home without Kyle overnight. It was also really nice to get out of the house with this snow storm.

They have moved out of the house, that I "grew up" in, but it was still nice to feel at home. It made me realize, it's not about the house, or the things, it's about family. Things are different, and it's not exactly the same as when I grew up with everyone home and the noise, etc, but it was still home. To be honest, I feel that way many places, at my dads, at my in-laws, and even at some good friends homes. It's a wonderful feeling too, knowing I can go open the cupboard and look for a snack, or grab a drink, or go upstairs to use the restroom instead of the one mainly for guests. They may seem silly, but those little things make me feel at home, no matter where or who I am with.

This past week I talked to my dad, and he told me that they sold my grandma's house. It really is a good thing, and we are thankful it sold to a family. However, I got a little teary eyed thinking about never going back. When my grandma knew we were coming, she would sit in one of the front bedrooms on the bed and just wait for us. She would always be there to greet us at the door. The same hugs, the smile, the same smells. I actually feel like I'm there now. I would spend a week with her in the summertime, playing rummy, bingo, and getting to keep all the change from her change purse and cash it in for dollar bills. I could ramble (which I already am) for a long time about the memories. I love having those memories sitting around her table talking, or playing a game.

Today I was able to facetime with my other grandma and we were talking about my grandma's house selling, and she was happy to hear about it. We then got to chatting about the house she was in for awhile and all the memories there too. It was fun, and there were a lot of things I remembered, that she didn't. Like the turkey giblets on Thanksgiving, using my aunts scuba tank to cool us down on hot days, and listening to Point of Grace CD's. I hope she enjoyed talking about it as much as I did.

All these memories, and just over the past few days really has me thinking about Zola. I want to always be striving to making memories with Zola as a family. I want her to love coming home after school, after sleep overs, and especially in high school and college. There may be times she doesn't want to leave her friends, and I understand that, but I want her to want to be home with us more often than not.

We all have memories, whether they are good or bad. My hope and prayer is that the good out weigh the bad always in our family, extended family included. Family is important, they are for the most part always there for each other. Part of that though, is creating memories. So, tomorrow we will create some more.