Home.
I’m finally home.
After a trip to Blissdom and then a visit with my parents, Zack and I finally arrived back home on Friday night. We had a wonderful trip, but as always, we were ready to be home. We missed our little family – Daddy, our dogs, my glue gun- and the love and comfort they provide us. On our flight back to Texas, I asked Zack what he missed the most about home. “Daddy,” he simply replied.
But, it wasn’t just missing our family’s love and comfort that made us miss home. I mean, we spent about a week with my parents – we were surrounded by nothing but love, comfort, and warmth. Home is more than just that though, isn’t it?
A commonly stitched country sampler reads, “Home is where the heart is.” There’s no doubt about that – our home is where our family gets to just be ourselves. We get to laugh and play, wear mismatched pajamas, and leave dishes in the sink because we didn’t feel like loading the dishwasher. Home is where we get to just be the “us” that we want to be, not the “them” that everyone else thinks we should be.
But, there’s another thing about home that I always miss. I spend a lot of time making our home beautiful, comfortable, and lived-in. I fill it with items that we love so that there will always be something special to make us smile, even when Zack misses his nap, Tom has to work late, and I have ruined yet another Campbell’s Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole for dinner (Seriously. Is there something wrong with that recipe or is it just me? I’m figuring just me.). The items that fill our home are just “items,” but they bring us a lot of comfort in return. I know that I could live without my apothecary jars and white down comforter if I had to, but guess what? I don’t want to.
Don’t get me wrong- family is first and foremost the most important thing in my life. There simply wouldn’t be a home without them. But, even when we travel together as a complete family unit, there’s still nothing like returning home. That makes me realize that home is really more than a cute saying on a country sampler. I think home is a combination of all of the things we love – family, pets, window treatments, and thrift store finds. You could lose all of your possessions tomorrow, but you would still work towards replacing them to truly feel like you were home again, wouldn’t you? I know I would. Maybe the saying “Home is where you hang your hat,” is more apt…but only if you have a really adorable hat rack in the entryway.
What do you think? Is your home more than just family to you?
I used to get caught up in the actual structure of my home – the walls, floors, ceilings. Blogging has totally changed my focus to the components that fill my home. The chair from Goodwill, the area rug from Craig's List – those are the things that make it MY home. Everyone has walls, floors and ceilings, but you can bet nobody has that same chair with that exact same pillow on it.
Jess (the first commenter) said something that made me think. I don't really particularly LOVE our house (in fact, it kind of bothers me), but the little things we've done to spruce it up and the special family mementos we have make it more homey. 🙂
P.S. Glad you're home safe. 🙂
I agree; it's where your soul breathes and relaxes…otherwise you're just sort of in limbo. Great post!
Suzanne
It is funny that even if you don't really like where you currently live (aka me!) how comforting it is to come "home". Something about my couch, bed, and coffee cups is just so much better than the best hotel or the most gracious relative's room. Great post!
Lindsay, I don't have any little ones at home anymore, but no matter how my children age, home still is the same for me as it was when they were small. I totally am in agreement with you. I always loved going home(to family) but the best part of going away was coming back to "us" and "our home, and our routine and the things that made our home, our home. I loved having the ability to create a haven that our family felt loved in. I still do after all these years. It's great to know there are women out there that feel as you do about home.
Hugs,
Cindy
Great post Lindsey…home is definitely more than just family…and…I am so glad that I am not the only one that just doesn't feel like loading the dishwasher sometimes!!
Home is a refuge for me–somewhere safe from everywhere else. I want to create that feeling with my family–as soon as they walk in, they can breathe easy.
So many of your fun tutorials help this endeavor, Lindsay!
Oh yes, home is definitely more then just family (allthough without familly it wouldn't be home either). Being At Home is a feeling, a sense of safety and familiarity. I saw that most clearly in my mother when Alzheimers's had his grip on her tightly. She always wanted to 'go home' and there wasn't a place on earth that I could take her too that made her feel home. She didn't feel safe in the world anymore, she didn't feel she belonged anymore because everything and everybody was unfamiliar. Yeah, home and feeling at home is so much more.
Home is where family is for me. Even when we rent a vacation house for a week, with all the family there, it feels like my home.
But I know what you mean too. I love making my nest the place I want to be. Surrounded by my stuff, placed in just the right spot, photos of the fam, pups, friends… my own bed, all things cozy = home.
It's funny…I was listening to the song "Feels Like Home To Me" when I pulled this post up. :0) My home would be just an empty house without my family in it. But, it IS about that place where our family feels safe, secure, loved. It's a place where we can let our hair down, or not wash it that day if I don't want to and no one will judge me. Really, it's a refuge from the everyday storms of life, a place to decompress with the people, pets and comforts we love the most. Great post!
All so true. My home with my family is my favorite place to be.
Glad you're back, safe and sound!
I agree if we lost everything we would work to replace it. When we moved into our house it didn't feel like home till we moved in ourstuff and fixed so that it was comfortable to us. Oh and I do have a really addorable hat rack in the entryway(hate me!).
So true! I used to spend my weeks running around, having playdates, visiting family and friends. Over the past year I've calmed down quite a bit and actually enjoy staying home. There is really nothing like home. Thanks for the reminder!
LizLoving This Mom Stuff
Welcome home 🙂
"The items that fill our home are just "items," but they bring us a lot of comfort in return." I completely agree with this sentiment 🙂
Speaking as one who has done more than her fair share of moving around the world, I would say that home is definitely where your family can be found (including the assorted furbabies). However, I know I'm home when my bags are unpacked and I can relax…stuff is where stuff should be (NOT in a moving crate, suitcase or box!).
I couldn't agree more! It's not the material items, it's the overall feeling of "home". The smells, the sights, the feel of the carpet – everything is familiar and comfortable. When I'm at home I feel whole.
And the Campbell's Cheesy Chicken and Rice…you're not the only one — and I love to cook! I'm betting it's the recipe! I find this works for me:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into pieces)
2 1/2 cups cooked rice (white) (I cook my rice in Chicken Boullion)
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can Cheese Soup
1/4 cup milk
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Italian or Focaccia bread (cubed) (approximately 2 cups)
Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, and Pepper to taste
2 cups frozen broccoli (optional)
3 tbsp. Butter (melted)
1.) Set oven to 375 degrees
2.) Season chicken cubes with garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper and cook on stove top in olive oil (I like to use garlic olive oil). Make sure that it's to the point where it's no longer pink but not much more — it'll cook more in the oven and it tastes better when it's juicier!
3.) In a glass baking dish combine the chicken, rice, cream of chicken soup, cheese soup, milk, broccoli (optional), and 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese. Mix together.
4.) Crumble bread on top of casserole. Coat with butter. Top bread with remaining shredded cheese (1 1/2 cups)
Bake for about 20 minutes (your bread should be crunchy) and ta-da!
See if that works better for you, I think it has a better flavor and The Boy seems to enjoy it 🙂
Take Care!!
Meg
My husband calls our couch "his retirement" cause I spent so much on it. My response to this is that I can add pillows for next to nothing. I love my home, I spend a lot of time here and find that pretty and fun things can go a long way in creating peace in the home. My kids even appreciate when I move things around, they tell me if they like it.
After a short time away, I always love to come home to my desk, the place that I write and work on my ideas-home is comfort and creativity.
Thanks
Have you ever seen that commercial where the people get home from vacation and talk to their beds with their faces all smooshed into them?
I hate my bed. Despise my mattress. Complain non-stop about them.
But when we come home from a long trip, I feel like talking to it.
"I'm sorry….I'll never leave you again."
Welcome home, Lindsay!
I love being home, in my own little place. It's more than my family. It's a comfortable spot that I can be me and that reflects me.
Sweet post that made me smile 🙂
Hi Lindsay, I love this post! It really touched my heart. I absolutely agree with you! I love going to visit family, but there is nothing like my home! It is my comfort zone, my rock to do as I wish. When I get home I can strip down the busy working girl, throw on some sweats, and finally be me! I can make a mess, enjoy a glass of wine, play with my dog, and enjoy time with my husband without the stress of the outside world.
I love reading your blog!
jennareichert@yahoo.com
So glad I've found your blog, via Emily from remodelingthislife. I think it's the familiarity of our homes that we love. Where we can be ourselves in the surroundings we've created. We are very lucky. Thanks for making me think about it and realise how lucky and thankful I am 🙂
Home is where you have your horse.
What more can I say, you have just defined home the way you felt what home is and that's how I would define it too. A touching post that moved my heart to go home right now and hug each and every one in my family.
So true. There's no place like home. Vacations are fun but it is oh so good to be back home.
Ruth