Where Do I Live?

In a house…

on a street…

right here in the Star City of the South as it is affectionately known.

Why, yes… of course I'm talking about Roanoke, VA.

Heard of it before?

Most people haven't. It's tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, along the Blue Ridge Parkway… and the Appalachian Trail? You've heard of all of these haven't you?

Ever order from Home Shopping Network? Elizabeth Arden? Orvis? The Company Store? Domestications? There's a likelihood that you're either placing your order here in Roanoke OR that you package comes from here.

I have to admit…this was not on my list of places to live. EVER. growing up. I'm a city girl. I thrive on the hustle and bustle, the sights and sounds… and the FOOD of big cities. Like Philadelphia. Because I love love love Philadelphia. In fact, I'm planning on taking the kids this summer, sometime, to go back now that they are older to see the city.

I've moved to and from here four times in my life — twice because of my parents and twice on my own. But the last time I moved here, four years ago this June, I finally realized that Roanoke is where I belong. For now.

And I love it here.

Lori at Just Pure Lovely is hosting a "Where Do You Live" Carnival and since I have nothing better to do right now, I thought I would play along…

Here's where Roanoke is…

Here's a few pictures from Around Town.

See all the mountains?  We actually live in the Valley…

Here it is at night…

And those pictures were taken from up here… our Star that sits on top of Roanoke Mountain and is lit up every night…

Getting a little closer to my home…

Not at that light, but at the next one you'd turn…

And here is my street…. (and the kids walking to get the bus…)

Yes, I do love where I live.  And while I've had the option to move, I firmly believe that God wants me right here for a reason… although I'm DYING to figure out the reason… And this is home.

And at one point in time, I thought that when the kids were grown and gone that I would pack up and head back to the city, those feelings are diminishing day by day…because this?

This is where my heart is.

It just took me a long time to figure that out.

Until next time…