Home. When you
hear this word, I know that many of you think of the house you grew up in or
your hometown. Maybe your mom’s
home cooking or the smell of your dad grilling hamburgers in the summer comes
to mind. It’s possible that you
think of running through the sprinkler, jumping on the trampoline, or building
a fort with your brothers and sisters when you were a kid. Fourth of July fireworks, Thanksgiving
dinners, or Christmas mornings are also things that might come to mind when you
think of “home”.
I have now been away from home for 10 months and 9
days. 8 days from now I will be
returning to the good ole U.S. of A….and because of that, the thought of “home”
has been on my mind a LOT lately!
Like many of my World Race teammates and others who have been away from
home for any length of time, we have to come to a realization that time does NOT
stand still while we are away.
It’s hard not to imagine things exactly the way they were when we left.
As I’ve been processing this, I have realized that very few
things will be the same with my family and me when I return as when I
left. I now have a sister-in-law
and niece that I did not have when I left in January, which I am SO excited to
go home and hang out with! I will
be returning just in time for Thanksgiving, which will be completely different
this year than it has been for my entire life. (This is because of my grandparents passing away within the
past year.) My parents have also bought a new house since I’ve been away. Therefore, even my thoughts of what I
will do while I’m “home” all take place in our old house, in my mind.
Since I have realized that all of these things and many more
will be different when I go home, it has made me realize that the people are
really what make “home”. It is not
about the house (which I’m sure some would argue), but about the people that
live in that house. It’s not
necessarily about all of the traditions themselves, but the people that make
those traditions have meaning.
It’s about my Mom, my Dad, Lauren, Josh, Lacy, Casey, and Rylie. It’s about family.
Even saying the word “family” has an expanded meaning for me
now. Of course I have my FAMILY,
which I LOVE! However, I also have my DBU/college family which taught me so
much, helped me realize my calling to missions, and whom are some of my best
friends! I have my church family,
who I would not be on the World Race without. Their encouragement and push to allow me to lead and be
involved in the church has played a major role in who I am. NOW, I am so blessed to have my World
Race family! In these last 11
months they have walked me through issues with my faith, held me and cried with
me as I mourned the loss of my Papa, and loved me despite my downfalls. All of these “family” groups have seen
me at my best and my worst, and love me anyway. Isn’t that awesome?? I am so blessed.
Because of the fact that “home” is “family,” now my home has
expanded. This year, my World Race
family has been my home. It’s
going to be very difficult to hug them and say goodbye at the airport. (I am starting to tear up at the
thought of it.) However, I am SO excited to return to my FAMILY, and my church
family. I CANNOT WAIT!
Please, be in prayer for all of us (World Racers and
family/loved ones) as we make this transition.
