Home

I am a homebody. I love my house (well, the parts that are finished) and I really love the people in it (we aren’t finished, either, but that’s a different thing). Given the chance to stay home and have people visit or go out to meet people, I will nearly always choose home.

Lately, though, I’ve had a lot of home. Probably 90% of the last month, I’ve been in my recliner. The recliner is a godsend–a gift from my dear aunt/big sister/friend–and I don’t know how I’d have managed without it. Still, that’s too much time in a chair.

Yesterday, my sister-in-law picked me up and we dropped my niece at school, then headed to Walmart to walk around. I needed to walk, stretch my legs, and have something to look at besides my living room. And honestly, when you live in Small Town, USA, Walmart is about as exciting as it gets. I’ve been feeling a little bit Christmas-y, so we started in the Gimme, Gimme, Gimme! section.

Americans have so much junk. Everything one can possibly imagine, arranged in a box and wrapped. Every year, I’m amazed at what we can buy and even more amazed at how easily we are convinced that we need to buy it. Still, looking at this year’s “new” gift ideas was entertaining.

Wandering led to some purposeful purchasing of things I actually needed to get, and before long, my exhaustion and our hunger brought us to seats in Subway for lunch. By the time I reached the register, this three hour jaunt felt like world travel and I longed to be back home.

Being out showed me a few things. First, I need to get out more often–for shorter periods. Second, other places appeal when I am bored at home, but home is really where I want to be, and where my treasures are. I love this gift from God. Our house is not fancy, it’s not finished, and it’s never clean–but it’s HOME. I belong here and I am grateful.

So today, I’m happily back in my spot, resting and comfortable. It’s good to be home.