Last month I asked my twin sister, Bailey if she would like to write a guest blog. This is what she wrote!
Home.
I’ve never believed that home was confined by four walls and an area code. We create safe spaces in the hearts of those we love, where pieces of our soul reside. Somehow Green Bay is different.
I’ve never felt particularly connected to a place, rather I am drawn to spaces with memories attached. Copper Rock holds weight in my heart because every week last summer Rachel and I woke up at 7 am and spent time with Jesus over a cup of coffee. Nicolet was home to our Saturday morning breakfast. East Mason Street reminds me of spontaneous drives to listen to our favorite songs and Baskin-Robbins runs on our bad days. There are 22 years full of memories in this city. Everywhere I go, Rachel is somehow there. 22 years of my life spent with the same human present for nearly every experience. Every big milestone reached with her by my side. Every accomplishment celebrated with her. We grew up and grew closer in this place. My life tied to her in every way possible.
Last May we graduated college knowing we might not be called to the same place despite our strong desire to remain together. Our relationship inseparable and our identities intertwined, we let Jesus take us thousands of miles apart for the first time. A whole year without my best friend. I wasn’t scared because I knew that Jesus had huge growth in store for me in New Hampshire and Rachel was going to share His love around the world. What could be better than growing in Jesus? I was so expectant and excited to see what life was like on my own, but now I’m back in Green Bay, a place that holds more memories of my beautiful sister than my heart can hold. Missing her wasn’t unbearable until I spent that first night alone in our room. Until I hung out at Luna and shared laughs with our closest friends. Until I watched the sunset at Bayshore without her sitting next to me. Until I realized that I not only had to learn to live without her in New Hampshire, but I had to learn how to exist in our hometown, without my home.
