.: taking it easy :.

There is simply something about traveling to California that speaks to my heart. Having spent four years down here in Southern CA, it feels like a "coming home" of sorts. As we came down the Grapevine yesterday morning into San Fernando Valley, a part of me felt like it returned. I have not been here for over 5 months, but it only feels like a week or two since I was surrounded with this familiar enviroment. Even being at Six Flags yesterday, surrounded by the socially wild and fashionally confused "youngins", I had a sense of peace - for this, in some small way, felt like home. Much has happened in my life since I left this valley in 1999 for my first one (the Skagit), but in a way, I always feel invited to come back here and play a part in some small way. I feel safe and exposed here, for this is a place of memories, memorials, and a deep part of personal history. I made friends here... I earned scars and wounds here... I watched the Lord enrich my heart and carve out a future for me here... and now I leave my brother in 24 hours to do the same. California is a lovely place to visit, but to live here right now? I find my heart has not settled yet.