What makes a house a HOME?

If you have followed my blog for the past 14 months, you will know that I relocated from Colorado to Idaho in August of 2008. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho is where I was raised, married, bought my first home and had my first three children. But my little family moved away in 1981 and we are just now returning to settle in for the long haul.

We spent 17 years in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado. We built a nice life there, raised five children, added a daughter-in-law and two granddaughters, and made many wonderful friendships that will last a lifetime. We came back to Idaho with just our "baby" as he started high school. Life is different now. Quiet. What has been hardest getting used to is having a quiet house, mostly empty. My son, husband and I pass each other coming and going for the most part.

I miss a lot of things, but mostly having my house full of people, hustling and bustling, active and alive!

Last night, we hosted my son's Coeur d'Alene High School Vikings cross country team for their weekly team dinner. It was fun to have my house full for the first time in a long time. At one point I walked past the entry and did a double take. There was an old familiar sight, one I hadn't seen for as long as I can remember. SHOES! Lots and lots of shoes!

That funny, wonderful sight touched my heart. That was the moment that the house I live in finally felt like home!