I used to think “home” was where ever my family was. First “home” was where ever Mom and Dad were. Then it was where my husband was, followed by any place our children were with us.

Then my health deteriorated and I became housebound. My life stopped, but may family’s lives did not. My husband still had to go to work and the kids still had to go to school. There were still ball games, concerts, doctor appointments, and I missed most of them.

I started planning special things to do when I was home alone in the evening after being home alone all day.

1. I made a quilt out of my oldest son’s tee shirts.
2. I made a quilt for the baby shower of my granddaughter.
3. I made a shadow box filled with awards from my husband’s high school days.
4. I made a shadow box of awards from my youngest son’s high school days.
5. I restored 2 foot high cement penguins.
6. I painted the embellishments on picture frames.
7. I restored Aunt Nellie’s frog collection.
8. I made curtains.
9. I rearranged furniture.
10. I rearranged the artwork on the walls.

As I worked on each project, I remembered when the kids were younger. I remembered when the room was a nursery as I sewed curtains for my new office. When my second adult child moved out, I made a quiet place for me separate from the office I share with my husband.

I have learned to enjoy those times when I am home alone.

I didn’t even realize I could paint. There are 3 penguins and at least 10 frogs that prove I can.