There’s No Place Like Home

A month of travel.

Dave and I tried to see how much we could pack into the months of March and early April; yes, we did. We packed it full. For six straight weeks, we traveled out of town weekly. Our suitcases stayed in the bedroom, to repack for the next event. Of the eleven total nights we were gone, we slept in eight different beds. I’m telling you, there’s no place like home.

We travelled 2500 miles on five different trips. We visited friends and relatives, historical sites, and attended conferences, assemblies, and a wedding.  During our travels, we mingled with over 3000 people, ate in upscale and downscale restaurants, and frequented McDonalds for coffee-to-go. There is just no place like home.

Dave and I mingled with groups as small as four and eight and as large as 2800. For a few days, we reconnected with a special group of friends – a tradition 25 years’ old- and took in a train museum, Prayer Garden, and the Tabernacle. We connected with folks from many states and Canada. We attended REACH, Restore, our district’s Spring Assembly, celebrated my January birthday (in March) with our daughters at a exquisite cafe, watched a soccer game of our grandsons, and participated in a wedding.  Yet truly, there is just no place like home. 

At Home

From home, we entertained three grandsons for part of a week. (A few weeks prior, we did the same for another set, but that was in February).  In March, between the two of us, we managed to squeeze in four doctor’s appointments and participate in a blood drive at church. The cows got out – twice – and necessitated repair of broken boards after we returned them to the pasture. In between travels on the end of each week, I rediscovered that there’s nothing like my own coffee, sipped at home.

No place like home

Every Saturday night when we arrived back home, we smiled. The event and the week was great, but there is no place like home. This is where we rest best. This is where we are most comfortable, for this is home.  

And always, we thanked God for safe travels and friendships made. We thanked God for relationships revisited. We were grateful for the opportunity to get out of our puddle and view the larger picture of Kingdom work. In those times, we were enhanced and renewed. We came back home to go out again into our world of relationships and responsibilities. No matter where we go, who we meet, and what we learn, of one thing we are certain. We minister best from home.  Truly, there really is no place like home.