Visiting Home

I’m typing this post as I sit aboard Amtrak train number 7 clickity clacking down the tracks headed West in Montana. As I look out the window at striped yellow fields of harvested land, split wood fence posts, grain elevators, farmers’ fields, and grazing cows, I’ve been reflecting on “home”.

My husband and I are smack dab in the middle of a delightfully leisurely road trip.  We started out over a week ago, and are thrilled that we don’t have to hurry right back this time.  In fact, we just spent a delightful week in the hometown where I spent all my growing up years.

The view out the train window is very different from the West Coast view I’ve watched from my kitchen for years. And yet, all these years later, it still feels like home.

I think, though, that “home” is much more than the view out the window, isn’t it?  The past 7 days we’ve spent in heart of family.  We’ve laughed and eaten (way too much!). Shopped and coffee-ed. Had burgers and fries and ice cream for dessert.  We’ve snuggled little babies til they fell asleep, fellowshipped with the church, and celebrated a sweet little boy’s birthday.

And we got to sing with my family for my sweet Mamma, and kissed her soft downy hair.

Home is a place where memories are made and remembered.    It’s the place where you are known so well…and feel loved and cared for.

Saying good-bye is always bittersweet.

And, yet, my heart is full of blessing and gratitude.

As we stopped at the local gas station on the way to catch the train this morning, we happened upon my dear, sweet uncle.  Before we both hurried off on our different roads, he called out his final good-by,

“You are loved!”

Ah, home.

How sweet it is.

***

My apologies that blog posts are few and far between these days.  But, you can be sure I have a million ideas of posts I want to write when I have time, and I’ve been collecting fun ideas and doing some projects along the way…

Stay tuned!:)

(All photo credits belong to my husband and his iPhone!)