"There is no place like home."

Growing up, my favorite movie was The Wizard of Oz. I would watch it over and over again, on repeat, singing and dancing, and following the “yellow brick road” with Dorothy and Toto. I loved that movie! I can relate to the adventures of Dorothy; a young lady, who left home, and went on an adventure. She made friends, made her way through strange beautiful places she had never been before, and found herself desperately longing to be home with the people she loves in her familiar place on the family farm that is “somewhere over the rainbow.” We both have a love for our dogs; although I didn’t get to bring Koda along for my adventure and we both can appreciate a great, spectacular red shiny heels! I often find myself in the company Dorothy did; the Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow. Actually, Brock reminds me of the Cowardly Lion. Big and tough, very sensitive, and caring but he isn’t cowardly at all. Brock is like the Lion, always ready to protect and fight off the monkeys! Oh, and when the Lion gets all dolled up with his curls in that red bow, that definitely reminds me of Brock!

This past weekend, sharing Father’s Day with my family (minus my sister, Christina, who we missed so much), made me appreciate the feeling of being home. There truly is no place like home. It is such a special time being a newlywed; enjoying the feeling of home that our families provide for us, but also being able to make a home for ourselves. I look forward to finding our first house, making it warm and cozy, and starting our very own “Smith” traditions there. So when I am feeling sad and far away, in an unfamiliar place, or consumed in a classroom project for my 2nd graders, or missing Brock when he is off coaching during football season… I can put on those great, spectacular red shiny slippers, and click my heels 3 times and say: “There is no place like home.”

Home is Where the Heart is...

My last blog entry was my thank you to our new friends in Italy and our end to a life changing event; “the big adventure”. Last night speaking to my Uncle Bobby, he shared his thoughts on the blog and I said “it’s done….I sent our love to those who became our new friends.” He said, “No that’s not the end, you need to end your love story. That’s how I read your adventures.” So to my Uncle Bobby, I dedicate this blog to you. I will share what I learned during this amazing time in our lives.

When I named our blog, “Home is Where the Heart is” it had a different meaning than it does now.I guess, to those of you reading this blog that are slightly older / wiser than I am, you will shake your head and smile.

I was thinking, “Ok, Brock and I will do this and put the beginning of our life on hold.” How silly, our life started when we meet in Virginia and it all has been and will continue to be an adventure.

Home is where ever we are, together, at any given time. Our life is full, with so much love from family and friends. Whether we are in Virginia, Italy, or Florida, we are Home.

Uncle Bobby, for our love story and our life adventure, I end this blog with a


to be continued……….



Verona

Venice for our 1 Year Anniversary

Venice

Switzerland

Sushi in Italy

Siena

San Gimignano, Tuscany

Rome

Positano

Pompeii

Pizza in Italy

Pisa

Park Simpione

Castello Sforzesco

Inside the Castle

Lugano, Switzerland

Lake Como

La Spezia

Gondola in Venice

Milano Football

Florence

Monterosso

Cinque Terre

Blue Grotto

Capri

Bergamo

A Fond Goodbye to Italy

To our dear Italian friends who made our experience in Italy feel like home, thank you so much for so many things

Thank you for:
Helping us learn how to communicate in Italian… more or less.

Showing us the Milan nightlife and introducing us to all your friends, and families.

Taking us to an all you can eat sushi restaurant, even if we ordered too much and the owner MADE US EAT IT ALL until we all were sick and smelled of fish.

The fabulous food and exposing us to so many amazing Italian dishes.

Introducing us to the culture of Italian dining and how to eat very slow, oh so very slow 5 hour dinners with so many courses, we enjoyed every minute of it especially all of your wonderful company during those oh so long dinners.

The advice on travelling and how to survive in Milan and escape the pigeons at the Duomo.

Most of all, thank you for your friendship, your love, encouragement, and your open arms to Brock and me.

As we are home, we are excited to be back, but we miss our new Italian friends. Thank you for giving us one of the best experiences of our lives and making Milan, Italy, feel like a home for the time we lived there. We are so blessed to have met all of you. We will always remember the fun times we had with you and look forward to seeing you again!

Since we’ve been home: We have eaten Taco Bell, Subway, and had American cookies and ice cream. Brock even searched and “sniffed” out a Kebab place here in Florida. We have laid out at the pool and enjoyed a day out in the sun on the jet skis. We have loved on our puppy Koda who we have missed so much and in true Smith fashion, we have began planning when we are going to see you all again.