When I was little I would get super homesick. I remember visiting with my grandparents when I was 16 years old. I cried every night because I missed home. I admit, I am a hermit, queen of the homebodies. I think I invented the term.
The biggest test was serving a mission. Oh my goodness, I was homesick. I worked hard and did the best I could, but the ache in my heart was ever present, every day for 18 months.
My husband is a wonderful man. He has lessoned that ache so much in that I could move away from home, live in Arizona, Texas, and Japan and function. He fills my soul and heart almost to full capacity. I don't cry every day. Some times the ache isn't even noticeable. My fabulous, amazing kids help with the ache. We are creating home together. But, (isn't there always a but) I am a woman and for some reason there is still that part of my heart, be it small, that longs for home. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends from long ago, just waiting to be visited, to build relationships, to love unconditionally. Home is feelings, thoughts, smells, memories, everything good that made me who I am.
How I long to combine the home we are building with the home from my childhood. This is my dream and my prayer every day and I know some day it will come true, albeit on the Lord's time, but it will happen, I have faith.
However, sometimes when away from home, the Lord gives you a gift, a person or persons to help fill that small ache in your heart and help you feel so close to home, that the ache almost disappears. I am so grateful for these gifts and am so sad to see them go.
I hate goodbye's, don't you??
