Sunday, March 8, 2015

Home is Where the Heart Is


The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned. ~ Maya Angelou 

I think we all long for a place where we feel safe, loved, and valued. A place where we can relax and create memories. 

For the past 10 years, I’ve lived in my home in our little neck of the L.A. suburbs.   I sometimes wish I lived closer to the beach, somewhere where there was a little more nature, or even somewhere where I could look out my windows and see more excitement.  However, if you look closely, no matter where you live, you can typically find some beauty in your own backyard.

When we first moved into our home, I noticed a beautiful cobalt bluejay would frequent our yard.  Then, I noticed a female bluejay would often accompany him.  Her feathers were grayer and sleeker than his.  Sometime after came a smaller male offspring.

For the past 10 years, we’ve watched the bluejay family grow.  Typically, bluejays are monogamous and also co-operative breeders.  During mating season, bluebirds become quite territorial and will defend their nesting area.  Even when I don’t see them for awhile, they always seem to return to our backyard because it has become home to them.  

Tweet: We all long for a place where we feel safe, loved, and valued. bit.ly/18tILz2 via @MelissaMatters1

But it’s also become home to me.  And, even if it’s not my home forever, this place is where the most precious memories have been created. 

This is the place where I brought two babies home.  

The place where endless laughter has danced across the yard

Where tears have fallen and sibling rivalry has ensued.  

This is the backyard where my children have skinned their knees, climbed trees, and conquered our mountain (really it’s just a bank). 

It’s where we’ve sat on the grass watching the sun flicker through the leaves of the surrounding trees.

And, over the years, we’ve brought memories to our home.

From watching the hummingbirds fight over sugar water to creating chalk murals to sliding down that crazy slide my husband put on the bank, we’ve made that backyard ours.  

It’s where we had our first backyard family campout for fun, but also because our air conditioner was broken in the dead heat of the summer.   It’s where we watched the stars, shrouded by the city lights.

It’s where I sat in my hammock chair and rocked my little babes to sleep.  It’s also the patio where I took my firstborn out to see the moon in the middle of the night because it was the only thing that would calm her down.  

Your house and family are probably not perfect.  And, you might not be living in your dream home.   It may even be a broken home that you are trying to rebuild.

When the days are long or we’ve been gone on a trip, home is where I long to be.  I hope it’s where you long to be too. 

…..because home is where the heart is.

What makes you want to be at home or what unique characteristic makes your home where the heart is?

If you liked this post, please take a second to click on the banner below.  One click = one vote and that's it.  Thanks for your support!

Vote for me @ Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

No comments :

Post a Comment