Whether it is where the heart is, where we hang our hats, or if we simply see it as our castle, a home is more than just a building. It is the center of life and family. It is a place for holiday gatherings. It is a comfortable haven when we are upset or grieving. A home holds in its air memories of childhood and milestone moments, and it houses memorabilia in its attic and basement. A home is more than shelter. It’s, well, it’s home!
The dirt underneath the fingernails, the dusty, wet sweat on a suntanned forehead and the sore shoulder muscles and knees are tell-tale signs of a dedicated gardener. Sure, it would be easier and quicker to run out to the local grocery store or fruit market for fresh dinner ingredients, but they wouldn’t have the same warm, freshly picked from the earth aroma of a gardener’s own harvest. Similarly, buying roses from a florist would mean fewer thorny pricks and a picture perfect presentation, but there’s nothing like watching the gradual bloom and final burst of color from gardened flowers. Gardening is not about the speed or convenience of delivery. It’s about the process, start to finish. From choosing the plants or seeds to the ultimate satisfaction of sitting down to a homegrown meal at a table adorned with handpicked flowers, gardeners are proud people who appreciate the work and effort required to be successful in their craft.
For some, it’s a traditional corporate job with the option of producing from a home computer. For others, it may be in-house daycare. Still others may stuff envelopes, sell cookware or makeup, or answer customer surveys. It’s the world of home business, and it’s a popular way for individuals to earn a profitable living without leaving the comfort of their own homes.
Upon making settlement on a new home and readying the house for moving day, it's hard to imagine there will come a time when the house may not be as perfect as it is at that very moment. The three-bedroom rancher that seemed so big when purchased may be stretched to its limits when the family welcomes its fourth child into the family. Similarly, as families grow, added entertainment space may be needed, prompting the homeowners to finish basements or add recreation rooms to the house.
It is usually the combination of warm colors and comfortable seating arranged in such a way as to promote conversation. It is also a large kitchen table meant for gathering.
While the outside of one's home welcomes guests to enter, it is the inside of the home that encourages guests to relax and stay for a while. Eager homeowners decorate and redecorate in hopes of achieving a look and feel that will prompt their guests and family members to enjoy all the comforts of home.
When we consider the members of our families, our pets are always on the list. They may have four legs or furry noses, colored wings or pointy ears, but they are nevertheless one of us. They have their own beds in our homes, their own designated eating areas and sometimes their own clothes. We are better at making and keeping their doctors’ appointments than we are our own, and we go out of our way to see they have everything they want to make their days enjoyable.
It’s part of every individual's dream: owning a home. It’s a symbol of adulthood and self-sufficiency. It signifies stability in one’s life, and it’s part of starting a family. Owning a home is a goal many seek to achieve, and it is one that requires a lot of hard work and navigation through confusing terminology and frustrating dead end roads. But, when papers are signed and keys are handed over, owning one’s very own home is a dream come true and one most homeowners would agree is worth the time and effort that goes into the endeavor.
Moving into a new home is an exciting time. The stress of buying the home and possibly selling a former home is behind the homeowner, and the excitement of painting and arranging furniture is in the near future. But, relocating to a new home can bring its own brand of stress, especially if the move is far from "home" and children are involved. In such cases, it may take a little long to make a new house, ‘home, sweet, home!’
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