Running roughly through the back yard like a bunch of dirty banshees, my cousins and I took advantage of the shelter and love that was provided to us. We combed through fairytales and VHS tapes like they were fruit snacks. We danced and played tag, we sang and made mud pies, which helped us become, not just family but, the greatest of friends. It felt like my entire family was completely invincible when I was a young girl. Nothing could go wrong. All of my family was together, so nothing could tear us down. Though life did not remain a fairytale, and all of the cousins had to grow up and move on, the house that took our screams of laughter like a champion will always be home.

My loving grandmother always took care of everyone who came through her door. My grandfather would talk to anyone for several hours, if they let him, and is to this day the definition of "extroverted." A little home in a suburb of Colorado Springs housed three generations and allowed my entire family to become who we are today.

I can remember vividly one summer, I was maybe four or five years old, my grandmother told me to clean up the front bedroom after I had littered it with toys. To my mother's dismay, I obeyed my grandmother immediately. Though I often fought my mother when she asked me me to clean anything, I always cleaned for Grandma. Her house, though I never actually lived in it, felt like home. As part of a family that moved about 10 times, I always felt like Grandma’s house was my real home base.

My friendly and happy grandparents always taught me to be a happy and healthy child. This home was my shelter from any storms. It helped us all find a place of comfort when life truly became hard.

Now that my grandmother has passed, and my grandfather is older, the home’s dynamic is beginning anew. It's becoming a place where the home doesn't just hold family and friends, but holds joy and memories for the remaining generations of family members. Through all of the storms and trouble that have passed us, this home remains as a storm bunker. It's a place we can all go that saves and connects my family. The small space taught us how to love and connect to each other. The home, while to the naked eye is a small house, is a land of magic from my youth, a place of refuge for my teen years, and a home for a family who loves each other.

If home is where the heart is, my home remains in Colorado in my Grandma’s house. Though I am growing up and have moved off to college and a new state, a part of me will always remain in this home with my family.