Home, Sweet Home

Tonight Mark went to play cards with a few of his cousins and it got me thinking about how thankful I am that we live so close to family.  When we first got married, we lived a few hours away.  It was good to be on our own at the beginning of our marriage.  It enabled us to establish ourselves as a couple, a family.  We also made some really good friends along the way.  But there came a point when we wanted to be back closer to family.  We knew we wanted to start having children and we wanted them to grow up knowing their grandparents and cousins, and second cousins, and great aunts and uncles.  So, 2 years ago we set out looking for jobs and made it back to Wabash.  And we've never looked back. 

Life here is truly wonderful.  I look around me and see the simple country landscapes; I hear...well...not much...and I breathe deep that fresh, country air.  Things around here go at a slower pace, a pace we happen to appreciate.  We joke that we do miss the restaurants from Greenwood--but we're saving money! Scenery and scents aside, the best part of living here is being so close to Mark's family.  Don't get me wrong; it would be awesome if my family could be just as close; but, everyone is spread out.  Thankfully, my siblings and parents make a great effort to visit--especially now that Collin is on the scene.

But within a 10 mile radius, we have Mark's parents, grandparents, several aunts and uncles, and cousins.  Nearly every Thursday we have a family dinner night with his parents, sister and brother-in-law.  When we need help, someone is always close by to lend a hand.  If I want to run some errands, Mark's mom can come right over and hang with Collin.  Sometimes, she comes over in the morning and holds Collin while I get some housework done.  Mark is able to help his dad get things ready for farming.  That right there was reason enough to move back--Mark so loves farming.  If he could make it his profession he would.  But knowing that he can help his dad all the time now, instead of just on weekends, makes me so happy because I see how much Mark loves it. 

I love being back here.  Having moved around a lot growing up, we lived by the motto "home is where your heart is."  Well, my heart has been in Wabash for more than 10 years now.  I have officially lived here longer than anywhere else in my 25 years of life.  I'm so relaxed and happy living here; I can be myself.  That wasn't always possible before.  I'm comfortable in my own skin here.  I bake pies and make jam.  I go blueberry and strawberry picking with family.  It's simple, peaceful, wonderful and I love it.

Mark and I are so blessed and fortunate to have the life we do.  I thank God every night when we go to bed for the life he has helped us create.  I truly want for nothing.