When does a House become a HOME?

Is it when you move in? Or when you unpack all the boxes of stuff you thought you couldn’t live without? Arrange the furniture? When you have your first disagreement? First visitors? First dinner party - or any party for that matter?
Or is it just a state of mind?

Since we got to Canada, I have been overwhelmed, freaked out even, by the number of people (friends, acquaintances, shop assistants etc) who have said ‘Welcome Home’ when they hear I am originally from this part of the world. Simple words, you might think, eh? “What do they mean Home? Ireland is Home!” I think to myself and occasionally say it out loud! Then I realise this is Home because this is where we choose to be. The people we know & love may be scattered between Europe and North America, and try as we might I suspect we will not manage to unite all in one geographical area (in this lifetime anyway!), but you never know. . . . ;)

Our House is not yet our Home, but it will be soon, from the minute we get the keys to it next Thursday morning, never mind all the unpacking, the furniture arranging, the parties. A cup of tea and we’ll be Home! No, it’s not an ad for Barry’s Tea (those in Ireland will understand), just the ramblings of a sentimental, romantic-at-heart, Irish-Canadian, who has come Home with her red-haired, Irish–as-can-be, Husband who already can’t imagine living anywhere else. We are so excited about our new house, we have visited almost every day and watched it grow from a timber frame to an amazing house, our house, our castle, our new Home! We are deeply grateful to all who have shared this part of the journey – those who wished us well, shed a tear or three as we departed, welcomed us at this end and of course those who read the Blog and encouraged me to keep it going - to all of you a great Big Thank You and one last question! When are you all coming to visit our fabulous New Home?!!