Sunday, December 24, 2006

Home

"Where's home?" This question raises a dilemma for many third culture kids, myself included. Where IS home? How do I answer? It depends. If the person seems like one with whom I'd like to strike up a conversation, or one that is honestly interested, I often say, "Africa or The Philippines". If the person seems to be simply fulfilling social obligations, I'll say, "Oregon" and let it drop. If they seem interested after that I'll say, "My parents were missionaries, and we spent furloughs in OR." If they are STILL interested, we go on to discuss Africa, Philippines, boarding school.... Since home is where the heart is, many in my family respond to the question with one word, "Alaska".

I was once asked by a dear lady, who had lived the majority of her married life in her childhood home, if I "left a part of myself at each home." Hmm...at that point (20 years ago) I'd lived on 3 continents, 2 states, and towns and homes too numerous to count. I replied that I'd have nothing left if I left a part of myself at each spot...but now I see that I do leave something at each spot.

"This world is not my home". "Home is where the heart is". Hmmm... I've been thinking that if this is true, and I begin to think it is, then it is possible for home to be a spot I've never seen. It's possible that home is in Spokane, WA...Eugene, OR...Crescent City, CA....Anchorage, AK....TX...Mangagoy, PI....Liberia, W Africa and Kuwait. The ultimate home being heaven....

You suspected, of course, that my musings stem from the repeated hearing of the song, "I'll be home for Christmas". It seems to me that no matter where I travel...or where pieces of my heart land with loved ones...if home IS where the heart is...then regardless of physical location...I always am HOME for Christmas...

And so this Christmas, I'll be home in OR, home in TX, home in CA, and home in Kuwait.
It's HERE....or at least the countdown candle is gone....
Christmas Eve (Photos won't load - later)

We had yummy pizza that Jamin made. He made pizza while I used the new Bosch shredder to shred 11 lbs of cheese. We figured out that we use 1 lb of cheese per pizza.

Bre, Josiah, and the littles played monopoly. Krista and I worked on an "Andes Mint Cheesecake". I adapted the recipe and it LOOKS good - we'll see tomorrow.

Jamin and I had to run to the store to get a few things. Bre wanted a cheese ball so I need to get that done. Several wanted Chicken Divan, so that will be our meal tomorrow.

We went to the Candlelight service at chapel. YIPPEE. I got a huge Christmas present. I was able to sit through the entire service. Zander and Stacia both did excellent.

We always open our stockings on Christmas Eve. Poor Zander didn't think the evening would EVER arrive. He was very excited by the Capt Hook set that Jamin had stuck in the top of his stocking.

We often do presents from extended family on Christmas Eve too, but this year they are buried under the tree. LOL Zander did a lot of the shopping for stockings...so that will explain some of the strange things that the various ones are enjoying....::snort::

The littles are all in the little boys room. I got the little tv/vcr combo out for them and am letting them watch a movie. The olders are out in the cold back yard assembling the present they bought them. LOL

Stacia doesn't care about her stocking - she just enjoys the general chaos



Zander is the t-rex nose



Bre thinks these finger puppets will be good company on her return bus trip...
I found these great sleep shirts for the girls....one says "I'm grumpy" and one says "I love mornings"...they have the same cups etc but one has grumpy statements and one morning person statements. Very appropriate for these two...and yet they shared a room for 19 years. LOL

Zander tries on his Christmas pjs "Hey Mom, What do ya think of me?"

The boys goof off with their Christmas toys

Krista tries gummy pizza slices - from Jamin LOL

Stacia disappeared and came out in the silky robe Mike brought me from Korea.

Merry Christmas, Hon! We love you!!!
Yes, it IS Christmas where he is right now. LOL
500 MILES!!!

Arielle wanted to ride the last mile or so with me - so I stopped by the house and picked her up. Jamin and Jared stretched TP across the road for me...and Jamin took photos. Jamin informed me that 500miles of bike riding at my speed, and my weight burned 15,000 calories. Hmmm.