I Am Home.

North Carolina's State Tree,
The Long Leaf Pine

Yesterday as I returned from a week away at our ReMe Retreat on Ocracoke Island, my heart began to fill as I passed the familiar farms and the beloved Long Leaf Pines of my hometown.

A small town whose city limits exist in the shape of a perfect circle, Vass, North Carolina, has been my home for thirteen years.  In Vass, we have two traffic lights, a Piggly Wiggly, and a precious old time hardware store.  Our population hovers at about a thousand people, and the areas that surround us have grown exponentially in recent years due to expansion on nearby Fort Bragg.

When I pulled into my driveway, I noticed that my husband, Ken, had been busy while I was away.  He'd cut and trimmed
our lawn multiple times, and unexpectedly arranged our yard art and planters.  He knows my heart and my quirky sense of humor in ways that still surprise me.

In the house, I was greeted by our geriatric dogs and cats... Penny, Coco, Gracie, Clark, and Patches.  We ate a light dinner on the couch, and I fell asleep soundly as soon as my head hit the pillow.

This morning I woke with the fondest memories of Ocracoke and the amazing individuals who graced me with their presence last week.  At the same time, I became keenly aware of a sense of comfort that had sunk into my bones.  This is Home.  At this moment, in this place, with the ones I love; I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.