vacation

well, my vacation is coming to an end. it's friday night and we get on a plane heading for home tomorrow afternoon. it's a bittersweet feeling.

of course, i want to get home. there's no place like home. i'm tired of living out of a suitcase. i'm tired of going, going, going. especially when most of that going is on the infamous freeways of southern california. i miss my pets, i miss my house, i miss my life.

but there's things i enjoy about being in southern california. i like the smell of the ocean air and the tropical flowers that bloom. i've eaten at some of my favorite restaurants - ones that we don't have in colorado. i enjoy seeing family that i don't get to see very often and catching up on their lives. i am thankful i got to see my nephew graduate from high school. and i love the beach and always forget how much until i'm back on it; walking on a pier or wading in the water, or even just seeing it from afar.

i guess that's what vacations are for. to get away for a period of time. to enjoy the place you go to; see new sights and visit old favorites. maybe some rest and relaxation. definitely memories. but maybe the best thing is finally going home, feeling blessed for what you have, and learning again to not take it for granted.

thank you, Lord, for time away... and for a place called home.