Every Place I’ve Ever Called Home

Personal

I had a moment at the gas station the other day.

I was low on gas, after running errands on a hot day with the kids in the car. I’m not gonna lie, I was tired, hungry, and HOT, and I couldn’t wait to get home to the A/C.

As soon as I started punching in my zip code to the gas pump, a thought hit me.

WOW I’ve had a lot of zip codes. But we’ve had this one the longest (3 years in one spot, can you believe it?)

My husband did 7 years of active duty military service in the Army, and we travelled around a LOT (not to mention all the places we lived before then!) I was so used to changing my address that I felt like I was constantly updating it!

🏡 A little tour through my zip code past (basically my life story):

  • 32714: My hometown of Altamonte Springs, FL
  • 60201: I went to college in Evanston, IL (Northwestern!)
  • 10023: I lived in a family member’s Upper West Side apartment in NYC for the beginning of my career in editorial design (at Cosmo and Women’s Health magazines!)
  • 10031: I moved up to an apartment in Hamilton Heights in Manhattan. Such a fun time!
  • 32828: I lived in Avalon Park, FL right after I got married to my husband of 10 years! Then again later in Orlando, FL during our home build!
  • 36330: We moved to Enterprise, AL for my husband’s army flight school at Ft. Rucker.
  • 76549: Then we moved to Texas for three years, where our son Ryder was born!
  • 31503: Our current home city of Waycross, GA, where we built our current home and our daughter was born!

At the gas station that day, I felt an immense sense of gratitude wash over me at the fact that it had been a while since I changed my zip code. What a blessing to be able to stay in one place for an extended amount of time!

It’s had its challenges for sure: one thing I didn’t anticipate feeling after the switch over to civilian life was the antsy sense of “what’s next?” we felt during our first few years in our new home. We even put our house on the market and almost moved to Utah! 🫠

But the Lord had other plans – and Waycross, GA it is (and we’re SO happy about it). We love our land, we love our animals, we love our friends, and we love our church (shout out to @remnantwaycross!)

It just goes to show that the littlest moments (even when you’re hot, tired, and ready to move on!) can really remind you of how you’ve been blessed. Love me a mini moment of gratitude!

I’d love to hear more about y’alls zip code history: where have you lived? Send me a DM over on Instagram at @hellojunecreative! 💌

“My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” – Isaiah 32:18