Home.

This summer was great...  I can't believe it's coming to an end I feel as if I need a summer to recover from summer.  I guess the true saying goes "I need a vacation from the vacation."

China was wonderful.
California was wonderful.
Being home is wonderful.
"There's no place like home."

"Your home should become a light that illuminates the entire street and community."
 ~Rebbe Schneerson~

Home is a symbol really of a place to belong, to rest, to feel loved.  There are certain homes you enter where you can just intrinsically feel "at home."

When I was with the Hedden family this summer in China I could feel "at home" in their house.  They welcomed me into their family, we could drink coffee on the porch together and laugh and sit on the couches and have heart conversations.  I love them.

Natalie and Andrew Hedden

I could feel at home coming to California and staying with my friends the Bolts.  Staying up late and laughing, preparing to go on a boat trip (that ended in storm watching) sitting with Beth and Beccabo talking about everything and anything in our hearts and dreaming of the future, climbing trees with Abby and going for walks with Mary on the beach and after dinner hikes. 

My California Sisters, Becca, Bethany and Lyndsey

 I could feel at home coming home to my family's home in MI.  Sleeping in my own bed, smelling familiar smells, laughing with mom and dad, sitting around a campfire sharing thoughts and tears with the world's best dad, getting big "bear hugs" from my brother Ben, setting up tents in the backyard and watching movies with my mom.  Sitting on the front porch having heart chats with my beautiful mom...  laying in the sunshine.  Seeing some of my "adopted" siblings who share our home from GVSU and how mom and dad love them.  Hugging my bestest Sister!

Home sweet home in Michigan!  :)

 I could feel at home visiting some of my friends houses...  having long chats with Mrs. Groot about life while she is healing from foot surgery.  Laughing about funny things that happen and petting their sweetest dog, Boog.  Sitting around the kitchen table at the Regan's house and laughing and sharing about our summers with the little girls sitting on my lap, and giggling of course.  Arranging flowers with my Nana at her house...  Visiting my dear friend Sarah and her two little girls and helping little Olivia ride her bike with no training wheels - cheering her on when she went "4 houses" all by herself...

Beautiful Mrs. Groot (and Mr. Groot!)

Cute Olivia!

Me and Boog romping at the Groots

Going to Gracie's home in China - meeting her mom and sharing a meal where we couldn't communicate much through our words but our hearts were still able to communicate.  To hug and laugh and make hand motions to explain certain things.  

Gracie and her Mom

Home truly is a beautiful thing...  and there are so many pictures that I have been DEEPLY blessed with.  They can all look different but the feeling is the same.  Being welcomed in, a place of rest and belonging, freedom to laugh and cry and share hearts. Being loved.

It does make me sad, thinking about the beautiful children who came to camp this summer in China - who don't have that place of home.  How they cried leaving camp - how we created maybe a "home" for them that they will never have.   Knowing that the Father loves them as His own and cares for them far more than I ever could.  Oh how He loves them... I miss them.

I hope we can all bring a bit of "home" with us no matter where we are and who we are with.  You never know when someone might just need "a little home."