My Trip Home
If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile you know that I usually go back to my hometown every 2-3 months to visit my family.
Well, with Eric moving back to Kamloops in the spring, our trip and then my graduation, I hadn’t been home since February! Five months is definitely the longest time I’ve ever spent away from home. So, even though it was for a very sad reason, I was incredibly thankful to go home for the past four days and see my family.
I didn’t get home until late last Thursday night and Friday was my Granny’s funeral.
Before going to the funeral Eric and I went to the hospital to visit his new baby niece. His sister was in labour for FOUR DAYS (seriously!) before giving birth to a little girl on July 1. This is her second daughter, Lena just turned two!
Look at all her hair!! Her name is River Lynn! 
Later that afternoon was the funeral for my Granny. It was a very sad day for everyone but it was nice to see all of my family.
She was buried next to my great-grandpa who passed away in 2001 and I snapped a photo of their headstone when we were out there for the burial. The cemetery they were buried in is about 1.5 hours out of FSJ as they spent most of their lives living out there and farming.
The quote underneath reads: Your endless love is a legacy we will carry in our hearts until we meet again. So beautiful. It’s comforting to know that somewhere, they are together again!
On Saturday night I made a vegetarian meal for my family in an attempt to convince them that eating vegetarian isn’t so bad.
On the menu? Eggplant Parmesan, spaghetti squash, salad and garlic toast.
The Verdict?
Overall, the verdict was good and most people enjoyed it! The kids, however, refused to eat it. In their defense, I probably wouldn’t have ate an eggplant when I was 10 either.
It was also nice to see the new house my mom just moved into. Since my brother moved in with her about a year ago she felted crowded – so she got a bigger house. It’s very nice and a lot less cluttered than her old one!
Yesterday I spent most of the day babysitting my baby cousin who is 18 months old. She’s so cute! I love this picture I snapped quickly on my phone of her and my brothers dog looking out the window.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see Eric much because he is currently working night shifts at a work site about 2.5 hours out of FSJ. He came up for the funeral and the day on Saturday, but had to go back to work on Sunday night. It was nice to catch a glimpse of him, but also hard to say goodbye again so soon. We have plans to see each other again in August and he will be moving back to Kamloops sooner rather than later.
I’m not sure when I’ll be home again. Maybe my birthday in September. Or maybe not until Christmas. I find the older I get, the less I go home. It’s kind of sad.
How often do you visit your hometown and family?
It’s so much fun to go back home & see everyone you know, isn’t it? We just did that last month when we went to Seattle. We don’t go back & visit that much because it’s hard to find the time to take that many days off to do so.
OMG labor for four days?! She’s a braver woman than I am! So sorry for why you had to go home but glad it was good for you while you were there!
Such a nice weekend at home! I don’t go home often anymore at all- which is sad, but the fam and I make it work (we often meet in St. Louis as a middle ground). I go probably three times a year- and they make it up to see me once or twice. I guess it just makes family time that much more special?
Great photos! Even though you were going home for a sad reason, I am glad that you had a good time. I love that photo of E and the new baby. There is something about a guy holding a baby that gets me!
Maybe because it shows their tender side?
In the summer, I see my parents quite a bit since I got to the cabin about 2 weekends a month. Then after Labor Day in September, I am home for Thanksgiving usually, and then every other Christmas (when my siblings are all at their inlaws for Christmas, as they will be this year, my parents have started coming to me in Minneapolis which is kind of nice), and MAYBE once in the spring. I love seeing my parents but I don’t like driving home and I kind of hate my home town. I hate running into people and making polite chit chat about what I am up to, etc.
Can’t wait to hear more about Eric moving back to Kamloops sooner rather than later!
sorry your trip home wasn’t for a good reason, but on the plus side you got to see people you love! even so for a short while!
I guess i’m lucky i live close to home – an hour away… and lately i’ve been going every weekend – mostly cuz of wedding stuff though.
I wish you had to go home for a better reason. But you are right, she is with your g-grandpa again. On the plus side…..the food you made looks amazing!
Luckily, my parents and brother live about 10-15 minutes from me. My sister just moved seven hours away to North Carolina, and the rest of my family lives in Florida, between seven and ten hours away, depending on who I’d be going to see. I rarely get to see my Florida family, but I did go see them in January 2009, then again in January 2010. I’m hoping to see them again this August if I can afford to go down there before classes start.
I’m glad you were able to see your family (though I’m sorry it was for a sad reason). Hopefully you’ll see them again soon!
Sounds like you had a good weekend at home even if it was for sad reasons and it was a short visit.
I only get to visit home about 1-2 times per year. I wish I could go home more often, but it’s a long way and expensive as I have to fly and take time off work
Glad you had a good trip home even if it was for sad reasons that you had to go…
I only get to go home once every few years and it is always the best time ever!
FOUR DAYS OF LABOUR?!? I would have died! I was in labour for about 5 hours and that was bad enough!!! What a beautiful baby, though
I used to get home once or twice a year but I haven’t been back since May of 2009. My parents and sister and her family are coming out next week though! I don’t think Nathan and I will make it back east until next July, maybe. It’s just too expensive! Fortunately I have a sister in Calgary and I get to see her once every month or so!
I’m sorry you had to go home for a sad reason but it looks like a fun trip anyways- I love that you cooked your family a vegetarian meal. I’m surprised the kids wouldn’t at least try it!
So…about my hometown…I accidentally ended up somehow living in it. Yeah, I think I’ve mentioned this on my blog before but I basically told my real estate agent I will live anywhere but ____ because I grew up there and frankly I don’t love it that much and then after a few months of looking at houses we didn’t like, we found ours and it was in my hometown and I was like oh forget it lol. Luckily, no one really sticks around in my town so I run into no one I know anywhere ever- unless I venture over to the town I teach in and then I know everyone. It’s still a little weird at times- I was just saying that I was running errands in the center of town the other day and I still felt like I was visiting from college. I think you are less connected to a suburban town when you don’t have kids in the schools? Anyway, I do enjoy living 3 miles from my parents- makes life much easier. The longest I’ve been away from home was the 5 months I was in Australia- that was one of those, prove I can do it experiences. I know I can now, but I’d rather not
I’m excited for Eric to move back with you!!!
I live in my hometown, but I visit with my family approximately once every 2 weeks.
Haha – At first, I read four days as “four hours” and was like, “Really? That’s nothing!” But FOUR DAYS? Ridiculous! Congrats to Eric’s sister! A Canada Day baby!
I’m lucky enough to have most of my immediate family living in Kamloops. My grandparents still live in my hometown and I go out there two or three times a year to visit.
I live with mine, so I see ‘em everyday! When I lived in NY I tried to go home once a month or once every two months. Sometimes it happened, sometimes it was more like three.
I’m glad you had a nice time visiting your family in spite of the circumstances. Your dinner looks delicious!
I moved to Maryland from California 5 years ago and have been back once. There are really only two friends back there I care to visit, along with my dad and stepmom whom I’m not overly close to. My friends have come to visit twice (once for my wedding) so I suppose it is my turn, I just can’t justify the cost of $500 plane tickets… *sigh*
Hey Amber, I am so sorry to hear about your Granny passing. I believe that they are together doing what ever they want! <3
Going home, well you are so right. The older you get the more involved in your own life you become. This November it will be 3 years since I have been home to my Mom and Dad’s house. I have seen them a few times over the past 3 years, but not nearly as much as I want to.
I know that you will never ‘have time’ for anything. You must MAKE time. Plan it, make it a goal and go for it.
My Mom has always said that Life happens while making plans!
xo to you and have a great time in FSJ
Tam.
Oh and I love the look of love in Eric’s eyes looking at his niece!!
Glad you had a great weekend at home! Visiting with family is always so nice!!!
Happy Tuesday!
I usually go home twice a year, for Christmas and then once in the Summer. But, I’m not going home this Summer, because I’ll be going in the Fall for a friend’s wedding. I just saw all of my family a couple months ago, but I really want to see my hometown too. It’s strange that I don’t realize how much I miss the place along with the people.
1. I’m very glad you got to see Eric and your new niece! She’s adorable and I love her name !
2. The headstone picture was so sad
3. I can’t wait to hear more details about Eric moving to Kamloops for good soon!!!
4. I get to see my parents all the time, but not the rest of my family as we are spread out everywhere. Maybe once a year I get to see a different family member that I hadn’t seen in awhile. It’s definitely not ideal, but it’s so great when i do get to see them. I’m working on more trips that include family in the next year or so!
I love the quote on the gravestone. Your grandparents must have been beautiful people. I am going to look up an eggplant parmesan recipe now; sounds really good! And I’m back living at home now, so I see my family everyday
Most likely I’ll be moving out within a few months, but I have a feeling it will be, at most, 40 minutes away. We’ll see though, you never know.
You’re mom’s house is so cute! I love the color!
My Pappy passed away earlier this year and I still cry about it. It’s kind of random how I was just thinking about him earlier this afternoon and then got teary at work! When I read your post, I completely understood :/
I have a picture of my cousin and our dog that looks exactly like the one you took
They are both redheads so that ups the cute factor!
I live with my Mom so I see that version of home everyday but we always refer to ‘home’ as Pennsylvania where my parents grew up. I haven’t been back since the funeral and it really bums me out. I used to spend the majority of my summers there and I miss it more then I ever thought I would.
I don’t go home very often at all, despite my hometown being only 2 hours away. I really don’t know why that is…just busy, I guess?
Glad you got to catch a glimpse of Eric while you were there!
I love my family so much i have let to leave! ha ha ha… no i still live at home but hopefully i’ll move out soon and have my own place where my family can come visit me!
Four days of labor?! That’s just insane. What an amazing lady! I love the name, as well.
I’m happy you were able to go home for a bit, even if it wasn’t under the best of circumstances. And I’M SO EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT ERIC MOVING BACK TO KAMLOOPS!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to hear more about THAT!
Sounds like a great visit! I used to go home once a month or every other month and now, I haven’t been home in six months because of some drama. Hopefully I can go back again soon so I can see home!
I try to convince friends and my boyfriend that eating vegetarian is good all the time. Most times it goes well, a few times it was a bit of a flop. But seeing as my bf likes to remind me that “vegetables are not food, they are what food eats” (ew!) I think I am making progress when he eats a burger without the added bacon LOL.
I’m glad you got to see family despite the sorrowful circumstances.
Your meal looks like a success, although I side with the kids…I’m allergic to eggplant and all my vegetarian friends insist on sneaking it into dishes, leaving me with a swollen lip all day! Haha!
Sorry to hear about your grandma, but glad you got to spend some time with your family. I love that you cooked some great vegetarian dishes for them … it’s all about trying things before protesting them. =)
I’m sure it must have been a little bittersweet going home. But I’m glad you were able to look on the bright side of it all.
I love Eric’s niece’s name. River Lynn. So cute!
And I really want to try spaghetti squash. I love all pasta dishes, and I like squash in general. I’m sure I’d like it, if I ever had the motivation to make some!
Looks like you had a good trip! It’s always good to be home! I know I’ve mentioned this to you before: it DOES get harder to be far away the longer you do it! I was at home last weekend too…for the first time since Christmas/New Years. (I had a layover in Houston for a couple hours in Feb and got to see my mom in the airport but that really doesn’t count as being home I don’t think!) After seeing my family and some friends I hadn’t seen in years, I don’t want to wait so long to go back again! In fact, peer pressure has nearly convinced me to go on a river floating trip with friends at the beginning of August. And I haven’t seen my brother since Feb and I may not see him and his wife until Christmas. I don’t like that! I miss my peeps!
My mom is talking about moving into a different house. She’s in the one I grew up in and I think it would be weird to not come “home” to it.