Home is Where the Heart Is

Number 9: My Home

While it may seem awfully materialistic after my introspective posts the last few days, I am very thankful to have my little home. We have beautiful colors on the walls and every room is painted and decorated to fit our tastes (ok, let's be honest...Mike didn't choose anything but the TV). I have a Guest Room for any friends or family members who find themselves in Tampa with no place to stay.

I have a beautiful kitchen counter graciously installed by a church friend and I have a "Cambodian" bathroom with my little elephants and water color paints on the walls/shelf. Family pictures are in the foyer and hallway.

To be honest, when Mike picked this house before we were even engaged, I was most excited about the large Master Bedroom closet that would someday be mine. But, now, I'm proud of so much in this home. It took months of adjustment, but it really has become a home I'm proud to invite people to. I also have to confess that we didn't do it all alone. Our siblings and parents made some paint strokes, installed crown molding and hardwood floors, stocked cabinets and built a pantry...all under the guise of a "Painting Party". Much to their chagrin, there was no party :)

I'm also so incredibly thankful because I haven't always lived in a nice home. Now, I'm not complaining...I have been raised well and with much compared to others. But, the majority of my childhood I lived in the back of the church and it took a full-fledged miracle to get my family the home they live in today and I thank God for that every day. I am no stranger to small places housing a large family and I know the sense of dread and fear when my parents asked "God - where are we going to live?"

But there they are with a beautiful home that was a blessing straight from heaven and my Husband loved me enough to consider my future and stability BEFORE he married me and gave me this beautiful shell of a house we've made a home. My parents house will always be home, but this house, mine and Mike's...that's HOME!