My dear girl Kayli came up for a few days again and my home and heart were warmed by her presence. I am so encouraged to see God's hand at work in her life and love seeing Liese. Emma and Jack both loved having another friend to play with and she ended up with new nicknames. Emma called her Eisa and Jack's version of her name was Anna-Weise. They have definitely been adopted into our family.

I think the thing that warms my heart when people visit is the sense of home, family, and community it brings to my life. I love being able to share my life with them and honor them by opening my home and welcoming them with open arms. I guess watching my mom create a home where anyone was welcomed has rubbed off on me more than I realize. Mom always had this magic way of making people feel like family and pouring out love and food in abundance. My Dad was usually the entertainment and would inevitably persuade our visitors to enjoy some Red Green, Ma and Pa Kettle, or Jeff Foxworthy with him.

I hope my home will always be a place where people can come in, take their shoes off, plop down on the couch, and settle in as if they were home.