Coming Home

I am blessed with a beautiful place I call home. It is a happy place where I am surrounded by things that I value like my mom’s dishes, my dad’s milking cans, and my grandmother’s tablecloth.  When I open the front door, I immediately get a sense of joy. The side table in the entry hall has a lace doily like the one my mom had on her table.  Right above it, is a wall collage of family photos capturing special moments from past years. Within minutes, I am flushed with great memories of so many different occasions and events. Some big ones, like weddings and birthdays, and some everyday ones, like fishing and boating trips. They make me smile each and every time I look at them. 

“Hi, girls, I’m home.” I say as I unlock the front door and see two black, wet noses nudging it open.  My yellow labs welcome me with great enthusiasm whether I have been away all day or just getting the mail. Their joy is contagious. It automatically makes me smile regardless of what happened out in the real world. I know I am home when the girls meet and greet me with wagging tails and kisses.

Inside my home,  I have certain items that I cherish.  There are  paintings from dear friends that hang on various walls.  I love the scenes in all of them, but more importantly I adore the gift of friendship that they represent. There are also beautiful photographs from my husband and sons that show off their talents and their love. They are irreplaceable in my home and my heart.

So coming home means much more to me than entering a building. It is the feeling that comes over me when I return to my warm surroundings.  I hope you experience the same type of joy upon coming home.