home.

{Leaving this little man is going to be tough. Often called: Little Boat, Little Bones, Joe-jie, Lovebug, Anders, Anderson, Andrew, and, of course, Andy.}

Leaving home never gets easier for me. I love being here with my family and my dogs more than anything. Coziness oozes from the walls, and I could hang out with my parents for the rest of my life and be really happy about it. I love college — don't get me wrong — and I can't wait to go back up there, decorate my apartment with my roommates, go to all my new classes, and eat outdoor lunches with Jeffrey. When I leave here, though, I always have an empty feeling . Sure, it dulls as time goes on, and I get used to being at school once again, but it's always there.

Honestly, it makes me feel sad, but at the same time, it brings me a sense of peace. I mean, I'm really, really blessed to have the family that I have, and I know some people aren't so fortunate as I am. So, sometimes the empty feeling hurts, but I count it as a blessing more than anything — a reminder that I have something great anchoring my soul and supporting my dreams. And after that, the hole doesn't feel quite so hole-ish anymore. Plus, I'll be back here before I know it, and that makes me really happy.