Home?

Well I'm back in Opelousas, Louisiana. It's so strange. I spent 8 months in New York City and nearly the entire time, all I wanted to do was come back to Louisiana. Now that I'm here, it's weird. I don't feel like this is "home" anymore. I'd finally (without quite realizing it) gotten used to being in NY. And actually really started liking it there! Now, I have a new adjustment to get re-used to. I still don't feel like this is really it. I feel like in a couple days or a couple of weeks, I'll head back up to that apartment on 8th Street and take the train into Manhattan and head to Graffiti or the American Girl Place.
A wise person that I know said, "I like to believe that 'home' is wherever the Lord has placed us at that time. If that is the case, then I am leaving one home and heading to another...and that's exactly what it feels like. I've loved my time here so much and have made lasting friendships..."
It took me a long, long time to start calling that apartment "home". In fact, I refused to refer to it that way. I would say that I was only there for an extended "visit". I didn't live there and it wasn't my home. I don't know why I was so stubborn about that.
The skyscrapers, the subways, the crosswalks, the busy people, the cold weather, Times Square, Broadway, Graffiti, American Girl, the Crocco family, April and Gabriel, Patty, Donnita, Sharlene, Lesley, Moe, Lauren, Brittany, Amy, Warren, Danielle, Frank, Nony, and Emma...all of those people, places, and things were my life. And all of it is left in New York. I hate change! And unlike when I left for New York (which was more of the "see you later" kind of goodbye), I won't be heading back up there very soon. I don't know when I'll see any of these wonderful people again. I just don't know what to do with myself now.
But, another wise friend that I look up to said this: "I have learned that our paths wind around in seemingly crazy ways, but be assured, none of it is crazy or haphazard as His will unfolds for us. In time your questions will be answered, even as new questions pop up. Patience is there. You prolly heard it from others but it bears repeating: God IS faithful. Keep on trustin', girl." I know it's true. I know that God brought me to New York for 8 months for a reason. Some incredible stuff happened while I was there. I grew so much and I met amazing people. The next season will have wonderful things too, and if I can just make it through the adjusting and the changing, I know everything will be great. God will carry me through it just like He did before. He's the only one that I can absolutely count on being constant. Everything else can change in a split second, but He'll always be with me and I can always count on Him.
I loved my life in New York (after I got used to it) and I miss everybody from that "home" terribly. But I'm ready! Ready for that next step and next season that God will take me through to make me more like Him. It'll be great! Here we go!