Welcome Home

"Where we love is home.

Home were our feet may leave,

but never our hearts."  - Author Unknown

Welcome Home (by Jim Brickman, Victoria Shaw)
(From his album: Home)

You're a sight for these poor eyes.
You're the deepest breath I've taken
in a long time.
And I saved you a place right next to me,
like always.
Did you know I watched the stars at night
Wondering if you could see them too,
And if everything was all right?
Not a day went by
when you weren't in this heart of mine
All the time, all the time.

Welcome home, welcome home.
I've been praying for this day
since you've been gone.
Welcome back to these arms.
And I've waited for you for so long,
Welcome home.

I've saved all the cards and your letters too.
Oh, they helped be through each day
when I was missing you.
Do you know how good your laugh sounds to me?
It makes everything feel just the way it's supposed to be.
I'm gonna hold this moment
like a picture that I freeze in my memory.
The sweetest memory.

Welcome home, welcome home.
I've been praying for this day
since you've been gone.
Welcome back to these arms.
And I've waited for you for so long.
Welcome home.

Welcome home, welcome home.
I've been praying for this day
since you've been gone.
Welcome back to these arms
that have been waiting for you for so long.
Welcome home, welcome home.

     Today my son and his wife are coming home for Thanksgiving break. They recently moved to Arlington, Virginia for a job and further schooling. We are so looking forward to seeing them, and having them home for a few days. Unfortunately, my daughter and her new husband won't be able to be home with us this year. We both have been struggling with her living so far away and being unable to visit as often as we would like to. She did have an opportunity to come home a few weeks ago for a short visit and we were able to enjoy our brief time together. Through all of this, I began to think about various times in my life when I have struggled with homesickness.

       I can remember when my husband and I had been married about 22 months. He had finished getting his Bachelor's Degree that Spring and was about to start his first "real" job. We had had to relocate to a place that was far away from much of anything that was familiar - home, family or friends. When I awoke on the morning of my first Thanksgiving away from home I remember praying, "God, just help me just get through this day".  As I stood looking out of the window of our new home into all of the unfamiliar surroundings, longing for home, I felt a comforting peace come over me. The only way I can describe it is as if a warm blanket has been placed around my heart. I knew I wasn't alone. I knew that there were those who loved me, who were missing me as much as I was missing them. I knew that my Heavenly Father knew how lonely I was, and how much I needed to feel His love for me in my heart that day. I needed to know that He knew what I was going through, and that He would be there to help me whenever I needed Him.

     Fast forward eighteen years, to Thanksgiving 2005. My father had just died a few days prior to Thanksgiving day, and I had flown home alone to attend to things there. Once again, I was far from home and feeling lonely and missing my family and friends. The funeral had been the day before, and I was spending this Thanksgiving day with my sister and her family. A friend of hers had invited us over to share their Thanksgiving meal. As I awoke that day my mind flashed back to that Thanksgiving day eighteen years earlier, when I had felt those feelings of peace and comfort in my heart as I looked out the kitchen window. Oh, how I needed those same feelings that Thanksgiving day - and they came. They came through the sharing and caring of this dear woman and her family; and, as my sister and I were able to reminisce about memories of Thanksgivings past.

     Now I stand at another Thanksgiving crossroad. I am thrilled to have my son coming home, but I am missing my daughter and she is missing home. Oh how I wish I could give to her what I felt in my heart on those two occasions. The peace and love of a caring family, who is missing her just as much as she is missing them. And, the love and comfort of a loving Heavenly Father who knows her circumstances, her feelings and her need to feel his loving arms around her. As much as we wish we could all be together for this Thanksgiving I know, and I hope she knows, that she is never truly alone and that "home" is only a prayer and a heartbeat away.

A note about the song below:

     I first came in contact with this Barry Manilow song the Christmas after my mother died. I waited to share it with my father due to the tender feelings we both had that first Christmas without mom. Three years later I recorded it and sent it to him to listen too, along with a card for what would have been their 50th wedding anniversary. I found this tape in his home, near his favorite chair, as we were cleaning out my childhood home. I like to think that he listened to it frequently and that it brought him some comfort in the lonely hours at home. I also believe that:

that someday when my time
is drawing near
I'm gonna hear

welcome home
welcome home
where there wil always be
somebody waiting
there for me
when I go home
home sweet home
everyone smilin' just for me
when I go home

Welcome Home (Barry Manilow, Mindy Sterling)
(from the album: Here at the Mayflower)

in my life
I have seen
far away places
wild and serene
but nothing I saw
prepared me for
the mat on the floor
saying "welcome home"

time flies
see the moon rise
as I'm makin' my way
through another long day
but I'll go
to a place I know
in my heart I know
there's just no place like home

welcome home
welcome home
to that place
that's safe and warm
always a shelter
from the storm
I'm going  home
welcome home
roll out the wlecome mat
for me?
I'm goin' home

sometimes
I remember
all the days I never knew
if I would ever make it through
but just when
I'd give up again
I'd remember when the days
were stormy
home was always
waitin 'for me
sayin

welcome home
welcome home
where there will always be
a welcoming light on
just for me
when I go home
welcome home
no place
that I would rather be
than goin' home

in my heart I know
that someday when my time
is drawing near
I'm gonna hear

welcome home
welcome home
where there will always be
somebody waiting
there for me
when I go home
home sweet home
everyone smilin' just for me
when I go home
in my heart I see
somebody waiting
there for me

welcome home
welcome home
it looks like a
starlight symphony
I'm goin' home