THROWBACK POST!
This Easter I missed my sweet family.
I missed badminton. I missed horseshoes and volleyball. I missed redneck rafting down the creek on an air mattress. I missed endless mornings of pool swimming and late nights of movies, campfires and laughter. And I missed playing with the Easter ducklings, a new addition to the celebration.
I missed pork chops, waffles, crawfish, ribs and homemade vanilla ice cream with cobbler.
I missed the table, where we sit for hours after every meal just enjoying time together. My Mom, Dad, Emilee, Kaleb, Selah, Grandpa Gerald, Grandma Carol, Grandma Sharon, Aunt Noel, Uncle Clay, Rachael, baby Hudson, Aunt Suzy, Uncle Ronnie, Ron and Kyla, Grant and Laura and their two little ones, Eden and James, Uncle Don, Aunt Anne and any other friends or relatives who decide to stop by because they’re in the area.
And I missed our annual Easter Egg hunt down the acre lot in my grandparents yard. Eggs filled with candy, coins and the golden $100. It’s an epic battle every year between the eligible contestants of all ages (only rule: you have kiddos, they hunt in your place).
I also missed Mother’s Day, the day when we attempt to tell my mom how much we love her, but ultimately she ends up showing us more love back. She loves our early morning breakfast in bed, our surprise gifts, our lunch outings and all the things we try to shower her with love over, but at the end of the day, she just loves us better. It reminds me so much of the way God loves us- we try to shower Him with worship, praise, offerings and our lives, but at the end of the day the best we offer is burnt toast, spilled juice, an outing to His least favorite restaraunt (just the one most other people can agree on) and lots of handmade, taped together cards.
But these are His favorite. It’s the love behind the gifts, the heartfelt and longing to give Him anything and everything we can muster together. It’s never worthy of His glory and praise, but He delights in us anyways.
Being away from family around the holidays is hard for me. Though I missed one of my favorite times of year, Jesus is alive and so is my family. I have a reason to be thankful, I have a reason to praise my God. Celebrating together with them (from across the world) is the perfect reminder of God’s love, Christ’s victory and the reason for families. He blesses us beyond measure, He pours out His love so endlessly on us. He gives us a home, a family, community and a great big world to explore. He invites us into a life of adventure with Him, and He unleashes the glory of Himself on us every day.
As much as I have greatly missed home, I am beyond blessed to be where I am. For wherever we go, The Lord goes with us. Added to my Easter celebration was an entire Romanian family & my teammates, and this Mother’s Day I was not only thankful for my incredible mother, but the motherly & loving friends I’ve gained all around the world.
Home Sweet Home will always be in my heart, but as long as I’m with Jesus, (& within reach of good internet) I’m always “home” for the holidays in heart.
