A Visit and a Reminder

When we moved to Tennessee we left behind our family and friends. It was a tough decision and one we didn’t take lightly. On June 25th, 2012 we watched the people we loved dearly grow smaller and smaller in our rear view mirror. Our silver Chevy Suburban pulled out of the driveway and headed south. I wondered what it would be like to start a life from scratch. When we arrived here everything was unfamiliar—including the people.

We’ve lived in Tennessee now for twenty-eight months. In over two years we’ve opened our home for company twenty-two different times. Family and friends have arrived by airplane and cross-country drives. Many brought their whole family, and a few arrived alone. We’ve been breakfast-makers and tour guides and have been known to drop off guests at the Nashville airport, only to return later that evening to pick up more.

This morning we took my aunt and uncle to the airport after spending a week together. I cried when we said our good-byes. Having my aunt here was pretty awesome and it’s the closest I’ll ever get to having my mom come visit==which made this visit even sweeter. Being able to talk about my mom, to hear stories about her and reminisce of good times and even sad times was oxygen to my soul.

Seven days of exploring new places, sharing old stories, wiping tears and enjoying much laughter made me realize–You never stop loving your mom. You never stop missing home.

I love sharing our new home with guests. I love spending quality time with so many who make their way to the south, many for the first time. The joy in these visits? We have time to talk and to enjoy each other. Living closer doesn’t seem to make time more available but gives more excuses not to make time.

This week, a tiny piece of my family and of my hometown –San Lorenzo, California made their way to Franklin, Tennessee to see why we moved here and to remind this California girl that I come from an amazing family and I’m loved.

I’m not sure company gets any better than that.