I love my warm queen-sized bed. I love it when my cat licks my fingers after I've eaten popcorn. I love how my mom knows when to save leftovers for work. I love my dad's famous Dad jokes. I love my brother when he gets excited about merino wool. I love my sister when she beckons me to "come on over." I love UNO nights and walking around in my onesie. I love it when there's light in my room from the stars outside shining through my window. I love my big timber house that gets real toasty when the fire is going. I love my family, and I love being home.

I've recently come home for the Christmas break and it's like nothing has changed. Sure, maybe there's a new stoplight in town, but for the most part, it feels as if I never left. It's beautiful. It's nice to know that no matter what happens in my life, or what I go through, good or bad, I can always come back to Alaska and to the familiarity and safety of home and my family.

And I remember the days, not so long ago, that I begged to get out of Alaska. I remember my teachers telling me, "Just you wait, you'll want to come back home," and I remember thinking that it was ridiculous of them to even say that to a girl so determined to get out. Of course, I'm kicking myself now because now that I'm home, I never want to leave again!

I get teary eyed knowing that I have to leave soon, but I also know that I'll be back in the future. It's the beauty of having a family and a home. You leave, but you can always come back.

It's a boomerang effect that Alaska has over me, but I also think it's my magnetic love towards my family. I feel blessed every day to be so incredibly close with them. There's no one I would rather hang out with on a Saturday night, and there's no one I would rather celebrate with bubbly with than my family. They're my best friends, and home will always be my sanctuary.

Home is also where I've been able to recoup and refocus, as it's been hard adjusting to life in the big city. Sure, I have friends and a wonderful job, but I can't help but get lonely. Coming home has not only been a comfortable break, but it has also enabled me to pull myself together and take a look at my life from a different perspective. We've also been re-watching lots of home videos and it's very intriguing to see similarities between my 3-year-old self, and my current self. One in particular is my love of fashion. Seeing myself dressed in Mom's negligee as a 4-year-old in her big girl pumps puts a smile on my face. Through that, I'm assured that being in the big city is definitely enabling me to achieve my dreams and follow my passion.

Of course, I would much prefer to stay here a couple more weeks, but I know that I have a life to live and that my passion requires me to explore in places beyond Alaska.

It certainly doesn't mean I won't be back, though.