A quiet house, a quiet mind

I am definitely a "home" person, but because I'm often isolated from adult contact I find myself craving frequent outings. This isn't always doable with two young children under two years old - one of them being fresh out of the womb.

I want to enjoy my home more, so I've been reading blogs and books that focus on the home. I must say, I am really enjoying them.

I mentioned once in a post a small, glass ornament I used to hang in my office. I thought I'd remembered it said something like "No place like home". However, after digging it out of my "work" box, I see that is said:

Home is where we begin.

How true that statement is. Our homes are the stage on which are lives are played out. We may leave for a short period of time, but we always return. We have sayings like "Home Sweet Home" and "No place like home" or feelings like "Homesick".

But how often are our homes in complete chaos? Our homes are so crazy that as soon as we enter them we want to leave. We go out to eat, we head to a movie, we go shopping, or we head to a bed and breakfast.

Bed and breakfast???!!! Someone provides you a clean, well decorated bedroom, and a hot meal in the morning in exchange for big bucks. Why can't I have that at home? Granted, I have to make my own meal, but honestly, is it that difficult? No.

Maybe if my home was more peaceful, clean, and cared for I would enjoy it more and want to leave it less. Aren't we all looking for a place to call home? A place where we can curl up on the couch and read a good book. A place where we can create delicious smells in our kitchens and feed our families with well thought out meals (not my mac-n-cheese standby). A place where you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with a friend. A place to plant a garden. A place to plant some roots.

Roots are something I long for. See, I have none. My Mom seemed to have a NEED to move. Maybe to her, a new home would fix all the things not working in the current home. Considering we moved just about every 2-3 years, I'd say that the philosophy was a bust.

You MAKE your home where you are. "Home is where your heart is" right? Put your heart in your home, put your love, your care, your joy in your home and make some roots.

Bigger is not always better. Newer is not always better. These are things I keep reminding myself. I can destroy and make un-homey a new house as easily as an old one. Some of my favorite places are ancient compared to our tract house way of living.

When Mark and I bought our house, we saw it's potential to become a home. We've yet to invest in that potential. For many years, we just slept and ate here - too busy with work to notice. Now it's time to make a home here. I just hope I'm up for that task.