“The ache for home lives in all of us.”
– Maya Angelou
When I was a young child, I moved around quite often. With a single mother working three jobs to provide a better quality of life, we would often relocate to accommodate new jobs, new school districts, new chapters. From Monticello to Jackson to Tennessee to Natchez to Vicksburg, like the Johnny Cash song, I have been everywhere.
But the support and hard work of my mother ensured that I felt safe and happy at every one of those new locations. With that, I cannot express the joy I felt when my husband Jason and I bought our first home as a family in Yazoo County in 2007. Our first home was the place where we have raised and created memories with our three children. It was the place where we celebrated holidays, birthdays and other occasions. It was the place we ate our hot meals, played basketball in the back yard, slept happy every night and even shed a few tears in some of life’s moments.
It was an older home with a few bumps and bruises. But it was ours. And at 17 years, it was the longest I had ever stayed at one home in my life.
So, I cannot begin to describe my despair when we watched it burn to the ground on Jan. 17. I hit the front yard on my knees in tears to watch it crumble before me. But through my faith, family, friends and community…we placed our hope in God and His path. We just knew that He would take care of us. And has we moved into our new home last week, I know He did and will continue to provide.
When we first moved into our new home, I still felt like I was a visitor. I almost tiptoed around; afraid I might disturb someone. And although it felt good to sleep in a bed that first night, I awoke surprised to look around at my new surroundings. The first meal I cooked was an adjustment on a new stove. Folding clothes, I was confused as to what cabinet I would put them in. And it felt strange to not recognize the vehicles in my new neighborhood.
But, a week later, I am experiencing what it feels like to have a home again. I no longer feel like a visitor. I feel safe, at peace and ready to start this new chapter.
Within a few days, I found myself sprawled on the living room couch, watching The Honeymooners on the television. With three meals under my belt, my family has already picked their assigned seating at the dining table. On about the fifth load of laundry, I know where every stitch of clothing goes. When I finish dishes, I don’t open several cabinets before realizing where something goes. We have several photographs we had taken of our family on shelves. We welcomed a few friends over to visit. My mother stopped by with snacks. The kids’ baseball gear is already sprawled out in the garage. Our oldest son has already had three friends spend the night. I am already complaining about my daughter’s skincare creams on the bathroom counter. And our youngest son has already put his artwork on the fridge.
And as I left for work this morning, I couldn’t help but catch myself looking in the rear-view mirror with a smile. That is my new home.
Making my way onto the highway, the sun seemed to erupt from behind a cloud. And I smiled, knowing that I would have a home and a family to return to after work. I thanked God aloud during that ride and welcomed the sunbeam upon my face.
I know it is the memories and the people you love who make a home. And I am excited to create new ones in our new chapter.
But it took a strong husband, three awesome kids, an incredible God, a loving community and a step of faith to get there. Faith and love got us behind those new walls. And faith and love will maintain that foundation.
