a happy heart: home

rude business men. crying babies. overpriced dramamine. tampons. stale air. melthicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). stiff neck. cramped legs. chapped lips. goosebumps. small talk. body odor. popped ears. these are all characteristics of a day of travel via plane. as of lately, i have become too familiar with airports and airplanes. earlier this month, i was in WI for a funeral. this past weekend i was in WI for a wedding. and next week, i'll go back to WI/MSP for a recruiting trip. that's a lot of air time and a lot of mileage racking up.

upon entering my sister's yellow lemon in minneapolis, i felt overwhelmed. where were the mountains? i hated being in the city (with the exception of all the locations to buy donuts). i wanted to go back to juneau. but when i landed in milwaukee this past weekend and got in dad's silver sebring convertible, i knew that i was home.

my trip to milwaukee for lauren and zach's wedding was incredible. i had forgotten how much i enjoy milwaukee (not just the 'burbs). the hipster coffee shops. the rollerblading paths. lake michigan. my friends and family. the live music on every corner. cobblestone roads of the third ward. quaint boutiques. my dog and cat. the diversity. the sound of cicadas. the warmth of the sun's rays. and just the accessibility of everything. the taste of wisconsin dairy products. coming back to juneau on monday was actually kind of....hard.

i didn't want to go back.

that totally absolutely 100% surprised me. if i freaking love juneau. why would i not want to come back? easy. my heart is (oddly) in both places. readers, if you know me at all, you could only imagine just how much i have been analyzing this and the inner turmoil it was causing on my flights.

but once i landed back in juneau, my heart was full of joy.
i was home.

as annoyed by this as i am, it's probably a good thing (or something). it's reassuring to know that no matter where i do go in the world i will be home: the hipster coffee shop, the mountains of south america, a remote village in africa, the arms of my friends and family throughout the world, or the quaint soggy city of juneau. i will be home. i am rooted in Christ, who is rooted in the world. He is home. He is my cornerstone.

today as leaves crunch beneath my fall boots and i snuggle in a chunky scarf with a cup of warm tea, i know that i am so #blessed to have so many lovely places to call home. EEEEEEEEEEE.

xoxo
-A