The Sunshine Report There’s No Place Like Home 'Karen and Jay share thoughts about the importance of making a house a home' Remember Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz? Saying ‘There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.’ I think almost everyone can identify with that deep human sentiment. That yearning in each of us to return to a safe, warm, loving place – a place that we call ‘home.’ Sometimes we think of home as a certain place – perhaps where we grew up. Or perhaps where we are today. Or maybe, i’s not so much a particular place – but ‘going home’ may mean being together with our family, our loved ones. But whatever it means to you, the idea of ‘going home’ is so very special. It’s one of life’s true treasures. Have you ever gotten home after a long day and thought to yourself, there is truly, no place like home? The word home itself can evoke so much for each of us. Sometimes we may think it’s just a place with walls and a roof over our head, but the truth is, our homes, and how we make them, are environments that have much deeper meaning and value. What we define, or how we make a home, is often the biggest reflection of who we are and what we’ve both experienced and what we value. Home in our lexicon here in the States tends to be a physical place, shelter, and sanctuary, that gives us refuge from everything that happens outside of it. Interestingly enough though, throughout the world, home has different meanings or even translations across different cultures, once again reflecting its diverse interpretation. To really explore how we define the word home can do wonders for cultivating and developing our own understanding of the word and even who we are as individuals. For example, Karen’s dad used to say how ‘at home’ he felt when he was sailing up in Maine. Not a dwelling, but still a place that he felt most comfortable in. Home is a memory, a feeling, part of our imagination that helps us tell the story of ourselves and gives us context for our place in the world. In another sense, the United States is our home here, and with that comes a whole different contextualization for the understanding of home. When we travel abroad and share that we are American, it impacts our interactions, for better or for worse, but ‘home’ in this case once again grounds us with a sense of identity and self unlike few other things in life. Perhaps when we were younger, we didn’t like making the bed in the morning or doing the dishes, but now you can’t live without it. Or maybe you grew up in one place you once thought you’d never leave, but did, and now call another place your home. The point being, where we make home, call home, or feel home is ultimately a place where we not only show our most vulnerable and comfortable selves, but where we make memories that tell each of our unique stories. And whether we want to believe it or not, a home is a home not just because it’s where we might sleep, or where we might feel most comfortable, but it’s where we are able to catch the best glimpse of who we really are. And because of this, yes, it’s true – there’s no place like home! Read The Report NH Home Show - It Just Keeps Getting Better Every Year! Read More Homes of Legendary Granite Stater’s   Read More Positive Profile of the Week - Harold and Gerry LaValley - Builders of Homes, Community Leaders This week we are delighted to highlight a spectacular couple and great friends of mine – Harold and Gerry LaValley of Newport. Successful in business, unparalleled leaders in our community and genuinely wonderful people. Harold and Gerry founded LaValley Building Supply in 1962 with a single store in Newport, New Hampshire. Reliable service and honest dealing were the underpinnings of their success as they grew the company to include eight locations throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. Together they have built one of the most respected and trusted building supply companies in the entire region. The company, now a third-generation family business, is known today as LaValley-Middleton Building Supply with 12 retail locations. Over the years, LaValley Building Supply has been a reliable partner for individuals and contractors looking to build or renovate their homes. In addition to the wide range of high-quality products in their retail stores they offer truss and wall panel fabrication, a top-of-the-line paint and decorating center along with one of the largest most modern Easter White Pine sawmills in New England. Add to all this a very knowledgeable staff and you have a recipe for a great organization! Despite their significant growth and success, LaValley Building Supply has remained committed to their roots and to their local community. The company sponsors numerous events and organizations throughout the year, and the LaValley family has been actively involved in local charities and civic organizations for decades. This giving back to the community has greatly helped Newport as it looks to reimagine itself for an exciting future. In fact, there have been no more generous supporters of the community and no greater friends of the Sunshine Initiative than Harold and Gerry.  Despite all their success, there’s a good chance you’ll still find them at the business www.LaValleys.com where you can learn how to transform your home…or just stop in – they’ll be glad to listen and talk with you about how your vision is their passion! We thank you, Harold and Gerry, for all you do! Quote of the Week "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." - Robert Frost     Jay Lucas | www.JayLucas.us  Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Jay Lucas | 7 Portwalk Pl, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]