The Smell of Home

Josiah & Elijah (wearing his last new outfit from Grandma)I'm not sure what it is, but there is something about my Mom's laundry detergent that distinctly smells of home. It's not that she uses any special laundry detergent, in fact, I believe she uses Tide, but whatever it is, after clothes go through her washing machine, they smell like home. I never realized this until we moved to Uganda. Then one day, we received a care package from my parents that had a new shirt for me. I pulled it out of the box and was immediately struck by the smell of home. I kept the shirt in my closet, taking a deep whiff now and then. Finally, one day I wore it. I was feeling especially homesick that day and wanted to be reminded of home. I started crying (I was newly pregnant with Josiah - I blame my hormones!), I actually had to take the shirt off after a while. I couldn't escape that wonderful, torturing smell of home.

My Mom was able to visit over Christmas and was here when Elijah was born. She brought with her clothes for both boys, especially a lot of 3-6 month clothes for Elijah because we didn't have very many. She of course washed everything before bringing it. As Elijah has slowly grown out of his 0-3 month outfits, I have been pulling out these new clothes from my Mom. As I dress Elijah in his new outfit, I can't help but smell him. He smells wonderfully of baby and home. I have been rationing these outfits, trying to make them last, but today I finally dressed him in the last one. I smelled him as much as I could, knowing that after this day, I would no longer have that smell of home. I don't cry now, maybe because I was able to see my Mom so recently or maybe because I know we will be going home on our home service in about 5 months, or maybe I am too busy chasing around my two boys to have time to cry! Thank you Mom, for always taking the time to wash the clothes you bring/send to us - it means more to me than you'll ever know!

-Krista