Three

Well, yet again there's been another long lag in my blogging life. Due to pure busyness, indeed!

Among the busy events of these last several weeks was a trip to Des Moines, Iowa to see my husband's family and some friends we knew when we ourselves lived there. My husband and I lived there for the first couple years of our marriage and it was a great home! We have many wonderful memories there and uplifted roots that are still healing.

I've been very privileged to now have three places I feel are as such- where I grew up in Pennsylvania, then my home in Iowa, and now good ol' Chattanooga, Tennessee:) On one hand, this is all quite flabbergasting as, of course, moving isn't the easiest or the funnest thing in the world; and also is really quite tearing for the heart, as relationships are suddenly long-distance and most friends are now seen on Facebook. On the other hand, each time I miss, visit, and remember each place is another smile and fulfilled feeling.

So on one side of me, I'm saddened by the location changes in my life and the chapters that have closed; but on the other side I'm so grateful to have three great places I can be at home in when I know too many people have not one.

In a way, I often feel like these three places are really three "me's"... three different lives I've lived. Three different big stages I've gone through. And through each "stage" came new lessons, challenges, and transformations. I often wonder if others feel this way... especially when I think of the people who have moved many MANY more times than I have!

While I'm so happy for this third home and stage, I definitely ache over the past ones. The chapters I can't re-open, the memories I can't re-create, the friendships that I'll always miss.

Who knows how many more chapters will be written and ended. And I know with each chapter a part of me will find it harder and harder to let the roots grow and be at home wherever I am. I know I will fear making the friends that I might very possibly have to say goodbye to one day.

But I will be grateful for each and every one; and in the meantime I will crave more and more the permanency of the place and the lasting relationships in my final home of Heaven. God didn't intend for us to say goodbye and break down roots- and in the end, I won't have to anymore.