It was midnight when I woke up my husband, saying “I’ve got it! Heart of the Homeland, that’s going to be the name!” I doubt his enthusiasm matched mine during that late hour, but apparently, that’s the time when I finally have enough space to let my imagination run instead of running after little feet. That was back in 2019, and now, with two kids, three homes, and five years later, the heart behind the name has never been clearer.

The Beginning

Heart of the Homeland started out as a food blog, and boy was it a learning process. I love to cook, bake, and make dishes dirty but starting a website was a very new skill for me. Sheer excitement drove about two full months of learning from scratch how to secure a domain, hosting platform, and eventually how to build a website from the ground up. It was work and boy was it fun. The next two years I would post new recipes, and eventually broaden it to include other hobbies and articles. Each new post started to feel bitter-sweet. The content was outgrowing what the blog originally started out as, and it started to feel cluttered and disorganized. I tend to be an “all or nothing” type of personality and I chose the dramatic option to completely let it go. Not only was our family dealing with major pain and grief, but we were also in the middle of a move. I bowed out for two years, hoping to gain perspective on God’s next steps for me.

The social media for Heart of the Homeland continued, which brought some fun opportunities and allowed me to keep doing what I loved: sharing stories, recipes, and new things I was learning. Slowly, the idea to bring back the blog took root, and several sweet friends all reached out asking about old recipes I used to have on the old blog. They may never know it, but each one confirmed that I could start to dream with this blog again. This go-round would be different, though- it has a sense of purpose and direction that it never had before, and that alone makes all the difference.

The Meaning Behind the Name

‘These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ‘ Hebrews 11:13-14.

Heart of the Homeland isn’t really my blog, my idea, or even my name, and that alone gives it all the purpose I could ever hope to find. This is a place of creativity that all points back to my heavenly Father. I recognize just how short and sweet this life is, and it’s only a temporary place before we go to our true homeland. So, this is where you’ll find stories about those I love, recipes with meaning, encouragement to step out into your own unique path, and above all a reflection of a heart that is seeking its Father’s homeland.

I am truly so excited to have some of the sweetest friends showcased here, along with their own unique stories, gifts, talents and knowledge that I hope encourages you to find confidence in where the Lord has placed you and to love well the people you’re around. There’s no better way to do that sometimes than with good food and good stories.

Thanks for tagging along on the journey, I love that you’re here.