Home is Where the Heart is...

They say, "Home is where the heart is." But what happens when you have a Husband heart & Baby heart in IA; a Mum, Dad and brother heart in MN; and more hearts in CO?? Not to mention extended family hearts and close friend hearts (add CA, MI, IL, MO, FL, & Spain to the list!).

You learn new things. You appreciate new things. (And you work hard to keep up relationships!)

It was such a mix moving away from MN to marry. Of course it was worth it; but still, uprooting a whole life in one metro area is never going to be easy. And as a Minnesotan, I didn't think Iowa had that much to offer... I can't speak for all Minnesotans, but for the most part, we think Iowa is a-l-l corn. Like row after row after row. I never pictured lakes, hills, or more cities than 2 or 3.

I'm pleasantly surprised.

It's just a state away, but life is different when you change churches, change jobs, change who you hang out with.

My dad asked me, "So what have you found that is different in Iowa?" I realized the whole "sports scene" is different. In Minnesota you cheer for Minnesota teams: Twins, The Wild, The Gophers, etc. In Iowa you cheer for either the Hawkeyes or Iowa State football teams (of course they have other sports they watch, but then they just cheer for whoever they have some kind of ties with). Something as simple as sports is just a little different here.

Twins Game with my Dad

It all makes me really appreciate missionaries that. much. more. While my *amazing* Minnesotan accent might be a touch different than Iowans, missionaries have a whole other language to learn. While I had to find a new grocery store, they have to figure out new foods and products. While I say goodbye to my parents about once-twice a month (It has become less often now that they come to stay in Iowa to see Andrew.), they say goodbye for a year or more each time. So thankful they pick up their cross and follow Jesus to new locations.

Hearts in different places is never easy. It's never what you want (unless it's a great place to visit ;). I'm so thankful those hearts are kind and loving and work to keep a relationship with me.

If home is where the heart is...
I have a lot of homes.


P.S. I still like MN's State Fair butter princess better than IA's State Fair butter cow.  So many differences to get used to.  ;)