I celebrated a milestone as a Minnesotan last weekend – four years in this great state. What better way to celebrate than with my wonderful husband, my oldest friend (also an Iowan-turned-Minnesotan) and her family at a great state tourist attraction – the Minnesota Zoo.

The zoo is less than a mile from our house, but I had never been there. There never seemed to be any reason for us, as two adults, to spend the money to go, but the idea of seeing the zoo through eyes of children that makes it worthwhile.

Four years ago, I didn’t want to make this place – Minnesota in general – my home. I didn’t know what I was getting in to when I moved here. I hated it at first. I actually made a spreadsheet that counted down the number of weeks it would be until I could leave. I didn’t know where to.

God showed me what I had been missing when I was living in fear and trapped in sin.  Once I let it go, He brought me to know real love. His love, the love of true brothers and sisters in Christ, and eventually, the love of a wonderful man. All here in Minnesota.

It’s home.