There's No Place Like Home

Day 7 of The Man being away on a business trip. 

I have a whole new appreciation for our military wives(and husbands) who are living with their spouse overseas for months, years at a time. 

Being alone is, well, lonely. 

Having just moved to this little town, I am feeling the pangs of loneliness a little more than normal.  

How long until a new place feels like home?  As an Army brat, I moved my entire life, but I honestly don't know the answer.  My three year old still asks to go home to our old house.  It breaks my heart a little each time.  How can I make this house feel like home?  How have I failed that he still feels out of sorts in this house?

I had one particular friend, in high school, whose home always felt warm and inviting. I felt safe there.  I actually longed to be there.  Her friendship came at a time of major upheaval in my life, parents divorcing, new school, junior high, pimples, you get the idea.  Her home was absolutely a haven, there were candles, fires crackling, and coordinating decor.  There were steaks and baked potatoes at dinner with country music playing in the background.  There was an intact family with inside jokes and love and it was great.  

These days I feel as though I am just keeping my head above water.  Way too many paper plates and too much cereal and not enough candlelight and music.  But I'm striving.  I long to create that haven for my kids.  My friend's mom is a great ideal to strive for, but I have an even better one:

John 14:2 says...

Let not your heart by troubled; you believe in God, believe also in ME.  In My Father's house are many mansions;  if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Now that will be a haven!

And surely, there will be no laundry!