Gratituesday: Home

This post was originally posted on May 5, 2009

Three years ago, our family moved from Florida to Virginia. It was a move none of us wanted to make: after eleven years in Florida, we felt settled, we were happy, we were HOME! We had a lovely house with a spacious backyard; wonderful neighbors; a family-friendly church; and above all, a supportive network of friends: friends who could be counted on for a day of play, a moment of support, a good laugh, or a heartfelt hug. The Lord, however, had other plans for us, and so we sold our house; loaded all of our belongings onto a truck; said far too many tearful goodbyes; and set out for Northern Virginia, thinking the move was to be our biggest adventure. Again, the Lord had other plans for us.

In the past three years, we have moved twice; purchased a house; saved our pennies through two periods of unemployment; begun homeschooling; undergone four rounds of chemotherapy; struggled with our youngest son’s eating difficulties and increasing behavioral concerns; juggled medical bills; and through it all, prayed tearfully for friends, for support, for a sense of community, and for a feeling of belonging.

And, the Lord, in His time, answered:

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest. Jeremiah 29: 11-13

And now, suddenly, I feel a surprising sense of peace with where He has led us to be. While there are still times I dream about being somewhere else, there is no longer a specific place I am longing to be. While I still miss our friends in Florida tremendously, I am starting to make new friends here (friends we are meeting in the strangest places, but that’s another post for another day). While I still struggle at times with the uncertainty of daily life, I am finding comfort in knowing I am where He has led me to be: I am HOME, and for that, I am grateful!