A beautiful feeling this...

I can never emphasise enough, how much I cherish the time I get to spend at home. It is where I (like most of you) relax, unwind and rejuvenate myself. It never ceases to amaze me how much comfort I draw from the hours I get to spend in our house. And these days, our home feels more wonderful and special than ever before, as we have my husband's parents visiting us for the first time in Korea :-)

I am sure you would agree that nothing can be more exciting than family visiting you, especially when you live in different time zones, many miles away like we do. As a result, I have been humming and singing aloud the past couple of weeks while crossing dates off the calendar, counting down to their day of arrival, identifying 'places-to-go-to' and updating my 'to-do-list', arranging and rearranging my knick-knacks around the house to get the perfect look, and of course, changing it to something completely unplanned at the eleventh hour, hoping to marry utility and beauty, to create an ambience that is warm, welcoming and comfortable for them to enjoy :-)

When you look forward to something so much, you invariably imagine and try to anticipate how the actual moment would be. But all that I had visualised in the context of their visit, has been completely surpassed by the actual joy of having them around us in our home !!! :-) It is the most reassuring sight to see my father-in-law reading on his laptop on the couch that is normally home only to a couple of colourful cushions, or to see my mother-in-law infuse grace and poise into our living room as she sips on her green tea and flips through a magazine.

This happiness however, is not just ours to experience, for it extends to all inanimate objects in our nook :-) I assure you that the table lamps and lanterns are emanating greater warmth nowadays through their glow, and believe me when I tell you the flowers have perked up in their vases, and are skilfully manoeuvring their fragrance to spread towards the direction of our parents' room :-)

Even the dishwasher goes 'rub-a-dub-dub' with a more lyrical and energetic swish, happy to serve those we love the most in this world. I would not be exaggerating if I said that every corner has come to life, awash with the love and warmth shared by parents and their kin :-)

There is more to look forward to over our 'morning cuppa', the conversation and chit-chat, there is a vibrant energy in our living room, even if we are just lounging around watching TV... :-) The elevenses are relaxed and enjoyable, over some coffee, green tea and a slice of cake (or two) :-)

Am always happy to cook for my family and planning a meal takes on a very special meaning for me these days. Must share with you that I was extremely courageous the other day as I tried my hand at making 'dahi-vadas' at home ! :-) To my delight they were much appreciated and enjoyed by everyone, another characteristic of parental generosity! :-)My Ma-in-law is a champion chef, and am trying to learn some of her trademark recipes while she is here :-)

As we make the most of these precious days, I believe there is more to this happiness than just their physical presence around us here at home, it is their love that envelopes our little nest, it is the sense of security knowing they are here with us, it is the reassuring air that parents have about them, that cocoons our home these days. No greater joy than this one, their being here has made our home more 'home' than it was, it really is a beautiful feeling, this ! :-)