A home away from home

I never understood the term 'Home is where the heart is' because your heart moves from place to place and person to person. To me the word 'home' means security, love, comfort, joy, grace, acceptance, and a billion more words, so places and people can not be my home as they are constantly changing.

When I decided to move back out to California two years ago I thought  Is my home wherever my family is?, my parents living in Edinburgh, Scotland, Rebecca and Dave (my sister and brother in-law) in Sydney, Australia, and Kari (sister) in Leeds, England. My family is definitely an exception to the rule, we don't let distances get in the way. Although we are spread throughout the world we make time to skype, call and even text to make sure we are supporting and loving each other. In today's world families get ripped a part and that traditional family model is tossed out the window. My family stands strong in those traditional family values
When I went back 'home' last summer to surprise my mum for her 50th birthday I took some time to walk around on Edinburgh's beautiful cobbled streets and asked myself the big question, Am I ready to move back? I realized that this city would always be apart of who I was but it wasn't home anymore.

This is where the church comes into play, Can my home be found in friends? My church is not just a religious organization we are a community, a family who continually surrounds one another through the good, the bad and the ugly.  Anaheim Vineyard has become my family and I am constantly reminded in those times of home-sickness that I just need to open my eyes and  look around to see the blessing that my church community is to me. Being involved in Youth ministry has changed my meaning of home again, as I help co-lead with one of my best friends, a group of 6 amazing young women who are beautiful in every way, and so in love with Jesus. This small group aka jew crew has a unique bond of a sisterhood that will never be broken. These girls have impacted my life so much through laughter and tears.
God went beyond just a church family community but made me apart of one the most amazing families I've ever met the Scherer/Malkhassian/Watkins family, I'm not just an extra body in there home, I am a family member!! Being apart of  big family life events birthdays, graduations, American holidays, weddings and now their first grand-daughter. I am so thankful for what God has placed me into and without all of this I would not be the woman I am today.

Is my home in all of those things?
Over the last year I have been on a rollercoaster, there have been great times but also low times and no matter how hard I wanted to run, something kept me here. It was like someone had tied me to the state of California with invisible titanium chains. Everyday walking in what seemed like darkness but having an overwhelming sense of trust in the direction I was going, I very quickly learned that my home was wherever God is.And because God is in all those things, family, friends and church, I am home!

Sometimes in life you might not be able to see the way but if you look to him everything becomes clear...