Can you believe it, I miss Alabama

I've been out of town for a little over a week now and will of course be gone for the Thanksgiving holiday. You may know from the previous post that I was down in Orlando for a conference. Simply, it was great but rather exhausting. Those are the kind of events that wear me out. Probably for a few reasons...I'm around people the majority of the time, it forces you to engage with speakers, questions, ideas, etc, throughout, and there is little time to pull away and be alone. The time you do have is often spent "catching up," which is good, but then leaves you with nothing. As a result I got up about an hour or so early each morning to have that alone time, leaving me more tired and drained and less in the tank. But still, all was not loss in Orlando. 

I'm not in Atlanta at my dads for Thanksgiving. The rest of the family gets in today and we plan on doing a whole lot of nothing, eating lots of fun, playing games and watching football. Seems pretty great right. I'm looking forward to catching up with my brother and sister (and sister in law) and pops. We always have a good time here! 

But still, there is an itch to go home. I suppose a feeling I'm not used to feeling, because for the last 6 years, I've been hesitant to call any place "my home." But I'm anxious to go to Alabama and be at my house. I wanna sleep in my bed, be in my kitchen, do laundry in my machine, and walk out my front door. I just miss it. Who would have ever thought God would be so sweet to bring to me to this place that I would really long to be home in the place that I actually live (words taken lightly..) I miss the relationships that I have there and are growing, the local places I've come to enjoy and the path I find myself in the cool morning air to start my day. I miss Alabama and I miss home. 

Months back I remember thinking "I hope I come to at least like this place...I mean, at least enjoy it enough to not be miserable here..." Now I miss it. Can you believe it. God is gracious. Peace and love.