Home is where your heart is...................

I have lived in the same half mile my whole life...... I have farmed my whole life. We have lived on our farm now for 25 years............we have many memories here ......raised our kids here.....had many family and friends gather here.........worked many hours here. We love it here. It is home. As farm kids we always planned to move to the "Home " place where my grandparents lived and now my parents live. I love that place.........it has many wonderful memories for me as a child and as an adult. It has always been a place with an open door........a place where family gathered. I have a sense of pride to be a part of the generations of the hardworking, trustworthy people of faith that brought me up there and I have had the priviledge to continue to be a part of that.
     Recently my parents bought a house in town. I wanted to capture in photos some things from the farm that would remind them of the farm..........this turned out to be one of my favorites. This water fountain is right behind the house by the back door.........it has had a metal cup hanging on it as long as I can remember. This to me is a special place........it was and still is , a "gathering " spot. I can see my grandpa standing there getting a drink after coming in from the field. We would all gather there...........discuss plans for the day.......talk about politics.....religion.....family.......morals .......values and just things about  everyday life. Our kids  (and now grandkids) would always have to get a drink from there before we left. Water is always better and colder from a tin cup!
      The point of this entry is that I am moving "home". My parents are moving to town.......Dan  and I (and we think David) are moving to the "home" place. Chad and Jenna sold their house in town just today and our moving to Our place. AND we are planning a wedding!  I think we all have mixed emotions about this move.......Dad has lived out here all his life. together they have lived here over 50 years. Dan and I have farmed here for 30 years. Chad and Jenna leave their "first" house . Daniel and Brianne and their family come here often. They too are a part of this place as a gathering to celebrate events .....help on the farm and be part of our home  and family. To the grandkids this is "Grandpa and "grandma's" house.
To Kate this is still home......her safe place to come too. She doesn't like change and wants to hang on too the traditions and familiar surroundings of her childhood. David's first reaction was to stay here.........this is home......I am not moving. A little time and a lot of talking about future plans has changed his outlook some and as of right now he  is coming with us! Change is hard for eveyone.
      SO...........we all need to move by Thanksgiving.............that gives us 20 days!  BUT what an answer to prayers for this all to fall into place. As I started packing boxes to day I struggled a bit.....made me think about what is important and what I value..........our house is just a house..........our "things" are just "things"....... What I value most is the family that gathers here.......    A lot of changes here........but Home is where the Heart is..........