Home

I've been home for 3 days now. There is something about coming home that is so sweet and comforting. I've lived in this same house since I was 2 years old. All my memories are here. When I am home, I can leave the cares of my life behind. For just a few days I can rest in the fact that I am safe and sound with my family. I can pretend I am 5 again, running around in the backyard trying to catch fireflys at night (I can only pretend b/c unfortunately I won't be doing any running for awhile). I can sit out on our back porch on my favorite loveseat and just be. Of course our golden retriever, Neo, will always be there trying to get me to pet him. He never fails to succeed. I am perfectly content as he rests his head on my lap and I stare out into the forest listening to the locusts and enjoying the warm breeze. I make my way over to the hammock and lay there for awhile. Of course, Neo follows.

Back inside, I lay on the couch and enjoy a book while my mom waters the flowers outside and my dad naps. I look at my senior pictures that are displayed on our cabinets and remember my high school years. I remember the people I went to school with and wonder how they are all doing. I can't believe it was 5 years ago that I graduated with such hopes for my future. My life is exactly what I thought it would be, but that is probably a good thing. God had different plans than I did. His plans are always better anyway...

There is something about a perfect Texas summer evening at home that can't be captured in words. The sights, sounds, and smells are all so comforting for me. I am so lucky to have grown up here. I have so many wonderful memories in this house and backyard. I remember the HUGE 4th of July parties we would have here. We used to have a pool back then. We would swim and barbeque and all the kids would run around like crazy and throw water balloons at each other. I remember playing outside in the sprinkler and trying to convince my mom to let me take my barbies in the pool. I remember our gameroom. That was my favorite room to be in when it rained because it had a tin roof. That room has since been torn down and remodled. It used to have a wall-unit air conditioner and my sister and I would always run to it after we took a bath and dry our hair over it. We thought that was so much fun. I miss those days. It is nice to be able to come home and remember though.

Yesterday after church my family and my grandparents ate lunch at Hunan Gardens, on of my favorite Chinese restaurants. We used to go there all the time after church. It had been probably almost 3 years since I had eaten there. Then we came home and I laid out in our backyard. I forgot what pure Texas heat feels like. I was sweating after 5 minutes, but it felt good. That evening we all went to the Lissie ice cream social. Lissie is where my family's rice farm is located. I have many fond memories there as well. My grandma's church was hosting the social. Imagine 10 or 15 different flavors of homemade ice-cream! I sat down with my grandma's peach ice-cream and watched as young and old enjoyed ice-cream together. There was a little puppy running around that was getting passed around. There were babies crawling around with their moms keeping a close eye out. It was a lovely evening.

Today I had lunch at my other grandma's house. She is a wonderful cook. I sat at the kitchen table and looked out the window watching the towels on the clothesline flap in the wind. There were fresh haybales in the field that gave the air a touch of sweetness. I reflected on how blessed I was to be there and what a wonderful childhood I have had. I love living in Denver and am enjoying my life there, but there will never be any place like home. I don't know that I will ever live in East Bernard again, but I will always look forward to visits.