I need to go home. I need to be close to people, churches, businesses. I guess I need to know that it is all still there.

I had an interesting conversation with two of the girls in the office. It was kind of like a game of twenty questions.

How many grocery stores are located within five miles of your house? Counting convenience stores or not? How far to the nearest dry cleaner? How far to the nearest restaurant? How far to the nearest mall? Mall mall or strip mall? How far to the nearest church? How far to the nearest library? City or University, main or branch? And the list went on and on.

They cannot fathom how accessible everything is. I cannot fathom how I have done without it! I will admit it, I am spoiled. I am pampered. I may even be a city slicker! Oh well, sticks and stone may break my bones but names will never hurt me (so there!). We talk of chain stores. They think we have everything we would ever need (I just have to steer them away from MC and talking about Barnes and Noble), I tell them we have an HOV lane for the fifteen minute rush hour! Ha.

It took Krl and I quite a few trips to town to learn the art of grocery shopping and the hour commute. We got home on several occasions with the tube of breakfast sausage swelled up, from with-in. Ruined. Most people out here carry a cooler in their vehicle full time just for the grocery commute. Bagging frozen food or chilled food together is essential.

I grew up living a mile outside the city limits. It was a perfect distance (at that time) for a parent. Close enough if you really want to do something and just far enough away if you didn't really want to. I am thankful we didn't have the soccer and basketball youth leagues! Band, baseball and football taxed the system pretty well, these were electives. Church and school were required!

FATHER I am thankful that it takes all kinds. I am thankful that we all fit in different places. I am thankful for the blessings YOU rain down on each and everyone of us. Thank YOU. I continue to lift up Hag, Lillie, Rene', Carol, Michelle, Aimee, Rusty and Kim's unborn child, Jennifer, and all those recovering from injuries in the Highland accident. I ask YOUR healing, YOUR comfort for them all. I continue to pray for those dealing with loss, fill the void with YOUR love and grace. I pray for R2D2 and all of us stumbling and searching, surround us with YOU. I pray for our spiritual family, I pray for our leaders. You are GOD.