Merriam Webster lists several definitions for the word "home", one being "one's place of residence." As with any other word in the dictionary, when looking it up, I was provided with the parts of speech attributed to the various definitions, the phonetics of the word (which I remember all too well from Advanced Grammar), and either a "si." or "pl." signaling the word to be singular or plural. Merriam Webster would like to tell you that the word, home is singluar.
Let me give you a brief rundown of the last month of my life. First on my list of destinations on my month of travels (if you can even attribute that word to crossing a single state border) was Dallas. "I'll be home for Christmas. You can count on me" is running through my head. Well I was, and you could, because I was there. Often my family travels to Colorado for Christmas to visit my mom's side of the family, but this year, we were truly home for the Holidays. I made the trek from Tulsa and my sister, her husband and their precious daughter made their way to Texas from Phoenix (I guess I don't have a right to call mine a trek, despite my 2 hour detour attributed to my directional impairment). There, we got to celebrate and enjoy company with my parents and my wonderful grandfather. Although Colorado is one of my favorite places, and I would give about anything to be sitting in the mountains right now, there's something special about spending Christmas in the house you grew up in. It's home.
Post Dallas trip (did I mention it was a white Christmas?), I headed back to Tulsa. If you asked me a year and a half ago, even a year ago, there is no way I would have attributed the word "home" to this city. It was a place I worked and slept, counting the days until the weekends I could travel to visit somewhere else. If we have ever sat down to talk about my move from Oklahoma City, or if you are a follower of my blog, you probably think I sound like a broken record talking about God's faithfulness in my life this year. I can't say it enough. Despite people, things, and places I left behind in Oklahoma City, God made the trip with me. He didn't delay, and most of all, He provided. Perhaps not in the timing I would have chosen, but in the best way possible. I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude when I think about my life here and how much has changed for me over the past year and a half. On New Years Eve, I was sitting at a restaurant with a group of six people who I wouldn't have recognized on a sidewalk a year ago. My life and my heart have been filled in the past year with some of the deepest friendships I have ever been blessed with. Looking around the table, I couldn't help but smile as warmth filled my heart. Tulsa is home.
Finally, this weekend I made a trip to Oklahoma City. I attended college and lived there for four and a half years. My move to Oklahoma City after high school graduation was the first time I had ever lived away from my childhood home. What once was a sea of strangers quickly turned into a loving community I enveloped my life in. During those four and half years, I formed deep friendships I know will last for the rest of my life, began to discover who I was, and for the first time really took hold of my personal relationship with Christ and began to believe He had vision and purpose in my life. It just so happens that this weekend, a dear friend I met on my hall in the freshman dorms got engaged this weekend. Of course there is no way I could let a few tolls on the turnpike stand in the way of being there to celebrate that special day (shout-out to the future Mr. and Mrs. Henry!). Isn't it beautiful the way that God created joy to be shared? I sure think so. In addition to celebrating their wonderful engagement, I was blessed to spend time with people I love with my whole heart. On Sunday morning, I attended the church I went to for the majority of my college career. As I sat in the pews and sang the the worship songs, I looked around the room. So many memories were held even in that sanctuary. In front of me were altars where I had shed tears and shared joys. Next to me was an aisle I have seen several friends walk down as beautiful brides to meet the men who are now their husbands. Surrounding me were familiar faces and a support system I relied on for so long. In that moment, I knew, it was home.
My life has taken me places over the past 6 years I never imagined it would. I have lived in Dallas, Oklahoma City, Breckenridge, CO, Panama City Beach, FL, and now Tulsa. It's exciting to think that I have no idea where God will take my life over the next 6 years or even the next 60. Though the unknown can be frightening, I have come to the conclusion that the growth and the joy that come from God's provisions through life's changes far outweigh any fear that comes along with it. There is one thing I know for sure. Whether I am here in Tulsa or halfway around the world, I don't go alone. God is always with me.
I am beyond blessed to have more than one place to call home. Home is more than just a word in the dictionary. It's a feeling. It's a warm embrace from a familiar face. It's the unfaltering faithfulness of a Savior full of abounding love.
If you ask me, home is plural (pl.).
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