From Space to Home

Well, good readers, this marks the first night we have spent in our new home. I choose the word “home” carefully, as up until now, it was really much more of a place than a home. All of the boxes are unpacked, our art is hung, and all we are really waiting for is the delivery of some new furniture we ordered to make the place “whole.” It does feel absolutely wonderful now, though.

I’ve been thinking a great deal about this idea of “home” and why this new space feels like home only now. There are five things I think give a place where I live the title of home, and I want to share those with you - if you’ll indulge me...

First, and this is of utmost importance - Jen must be with me wherever we go. She has been an absolutely incredible source of support over the moving process of the past few days. I think my heart’s home is with her - and always will be. I am really thankful for both the quiet and busy times we have shared together over the past several weeks in this moving process. The quiet times (like the night we spent on pillows on the floor of the living room, watching Stepbrothers or when we were hanging art together) have been an absolute blessing for us. These times (both busy and quiet) gave us a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and to be together before I start my new job, as well as give us time to turn this space into our new home. So (since I know you read this) thanks, Jen!

I think another (and my second) important element in making a space a home is just the passing of time. As time goes by, you get used to the sounds of a new place a night - dogs, the heater, and how the cat sounds moving around at night. Hand in hand with the time you spend in a place is how you become familiar with it (something you can’t really do without furniture). How many steps it is from the bed to the bathroom in the dark, where the “sweet spot” for the shower is between hot and cold, and so on. This new home is becoming much more familiar to Jen and Cosby and I - frankly, I don’t know if I have ever slept better than I do in our new bedroom. That might have something to do with our 10 and 12 hour days recently, though!

Having your stuff in a place is really important too. I noticed as we started hanging our art that just that act - marking our space in a creative way - helped me to feel that this is our home. Our books being here is very important as well - as is our glassware, our dishes and so on. All these familiar things bring comfort to us in our new home.

Finally, I don’t think I realized how much a part of our family Cosby has become until he was not, and then was here. Seeing him here, having him interact with us, and hearing him meow and play with his newly rediscovered toys (he hid them all under the furniture) makes this place home. The three of us together is so much better than just two, or one.

If you are ever in northwest Arkansas, let us know - we would love to show you our new home!