I have recently experienced yet ANOTHER life-changing circumstance... about 7 months ago our family MOVED-- from KY to MS. That's around 600 miles (or so) AWAY from EVERYONE and EVERYTHING we had EVER known. WHAT A CHANGE!! We left our "little home" {*my* little white cottage with a *red* door-- that *I* painted myself ;) } and packed most of what we owned on a U-Haul and headed down the long road-- with *high hopes*, I might add :) HOWEVER... things were NOT as we'd *hoped* :( And it didn't take us long to realize we did NOT belong there... :( And, long story short, after only a couple of months we MOVED BACK to Ky. WOW!! What a trip! We were back to our "homeland", but we were NOT "back home" to our little white cottage with the red door :( That is GONE :(
So... we've been RENTING for the past 5 months. Our landlord is a very special man and friend that was willing to help us out in any way he could to help us get back to Ky.. and we have remained very grateful :) It is so much better than a crowded apartment surrounded by strangers and concrete... there are SO MANY things I am truly grateful for! BUT... it isn't "my home" :( *My* little cottage :( It is only a temporary dwelling until we can get back on our feet and re-establish ourselves... and create a new HOME somewhere, someday (hopefully SOON!!). When we moved back, we KNEW it was a temporary "holding place" JUST to get back to Ky... we are about 30-45 minutes away from where we USED to live, and THAT is the area we are looking to move back to.
BECAUSE this place was "only temporary" JUST to get us back here, and we KNEW we would be MOVING AGAIN to "where we really want to be"... I didn't unpack ANYTHING that wasn't needed immediately just to function. Our clothes, our dishes and cookware, and our bedding and towels are about IT! For THREE MONTHS we lived "all packed up" with boxes stacked a mile high EVERWHERE in EVERY corner in EVERY room and closet!! Whew!! WHAT a way to "live"-- NOT!!!! It was MISERABLE :( And after about 3 months of that, I realized we were going to be in this "temporary place" a lot longer than I had realized (or wanted to be). I *long* for a "home" (our *own* home) AGAIN :( But I'm going to have to WAIT for that... :( And I couldn't LIVE "all boxed up" until that happens~ "someday".... so I started UNPACKING... little by little... trying to make THIS place "homey"-- as much as I could. I can't paint or change anything or do all that much, but I CAN set out my own stuff and knick-knacks~ and I have :) It's not the same, but it's SO MUCH BETTER than it was all boxed up!
With that in mind... I go back to the title of this post~ "Home Is Where The Heart Is..." and I want to give you a little tour of my "home"... but it's NOT the home you are probably expecting-- because THIS BUILDING STRUCTURE we live in (STILL) does NOT "feel" like home :( :( BUT... my "heart" does! ;) If home is where your heart is, then it's no wonder that all the special things displayed in the house make you feel more like home :) And that's what happened to me... after placing my own special things in this place-- I felt *much better*, AND SO DID MY FAMILY :) I have a corner hutch/cabinet that my mother gave me several years ago that I use to "display" my keepsakes/ mementos/ and "special" things. Just looking at it makes my heart smile :) And most of the time makes *me* smile :) So, here's a tour of my "heart"~ *my* HOME (no matter WHERE I am! :) ) I hope you enjoy it!
My "Home" ~ My Heart <3Birdhouse & Bear from my momClose up ( I *love* nests & eggs)Birdhouse my son made for me <3Belonged to my grandmother... I have seen this and loved this my whole life <3Dried "flowers" from my dad's passingThe first inside shelf A photo of my husband & I a few years agoMy mother and a miniature teapot from a surprise birthday party we had for herA tea set (gift) from my mother My father and mother in-law This little tea set belonged to my mother-in-law REAL Robins eggs (I drained) My mom found them in her yard as she was mowingThere are some rocks and a feather in the far corner-- gifts from my children <3 Willow Angel holding a bird- gift from my motherInside the tea cup Glass Bell ornaments from my childhood4 felt ornaments (for my children)- gifts from my auntPorceline dolls (my daughter's), mini tea set from Smoky Mnts., Poem written to me by my husbandEloise Wilkin book- gift from my mom... I had a cloth book of this when I was very youngA miniature book of my daughter's (I've always called her "My Little Doll" <3 )Bottom three open shelvesTeapot my mother had sent to me filled with flowers, when my father passed away (in November of that year)Tea cups & saucers my husband got me for our anniversary the next month (January) My very very *favorite* tea set... without the sugar bowl :(Bottom two open shelvesSome favorite booksA music box- gift from my mom What my mom wrote inside my book <3Photos of my children... so long ago2 tea towels on left door (used to be my mom's)Bottom tea towel- close up Top tea towel- close up | The very top...Real nests; ceramic eggsReal nest and real egg!More pretties!2 hand painted teacups from a tea party my sister had (one for me & one for my daughter)The first two inside shelves "Joy" plaque from a dear friend, mini tea cup from a sweet friend, bird from my motherMy family, my mother, and my sister's familyMy dad and a ceramic dog (he LOVED dogs, this was my gift to him one time)My mom had these bears for as long as I can rememberThis ceramic eagle belonged to my father-in-law, he LOVED eaglesSweet little nest (store-bought) a gift from my mom... the eggs are REALThe second inside shelf A ceramic "March" egg- birthday gift from my husband; a ceramic "Maggie Valley" thimble -our place ;)A "March" china tea cup- birthday gift from my aunt"Dating" photo of me & my husband, pressed flower picture- gift from my husband (As for me & my house, we will serve the LORD{YHWH})Beautiful teapot- gift from my motherReal nest, ceramic bird eggs Little porceline cottage, has its own story... but very special to me What my mom wrote to me inside my book <3 A glass trinket box filled with my mother-in-law's jewelry <3 First open shelfCreamer my mother got for me for the holiday (December of that same year) Real cracked Robin's eggs I've collected (and keep in my tea cup)... when my birthday came in March, the tea collection had been discontinued and I was unable to get the sugar bowl! :(Little bird in nest- gift from my motherTop Open shelfA favorite Amish bookA miniature book- gift from my momBottom open shelf My two ceramic sheep- I love sheep :)Top tea towel- close up 2 tea towels on right door (used to be my mom's)Bottom towel- close up |
Here's the clock, used to be my mom's Teddy & Puppy ornament that was one of my boy's3 ornaments that were my boys' (all 3 were from *my* childhood) | 3 ornaments that were my boys' (the penguin & rabbit were from *my* childhood)Little baby birds in a nest (mine) Little tin plane ornament that was one of my boy's |
I realize that took a little while... but you just can't rush through things of the heart :) I hope I didn't bore you... it's just a little journaling, on my part. There's so much I wish I had "logged down" and saved from my little cottage days... that I can't get back now :( I'm going to try to do better with that from now on... and this is my start :) And *who knows*... I may actually get to live out *my dream*.... {see "My Dream" page on the dropdown tab beneath "About Me"} :D If so... I'll DEFINITELY be logging that!!! :)