What Makes a Home?

As our family settles into our new place, I have given a lot of thought to what makes a home. Is there a difference between a house (or any other place you live) and a home? Does it have to do with size or style of the dwelling? Is it a lease or mortgage? Is it an expertly decorated, picture perfect room? Or is it something else?

To me, a house is simply a place you live. A home is something more emitional. It is the feeling of comfort, pleasure, safetly and warmth you get when you walk in. It is the people who share that place with me. It is the smell of my husbands aftershave in the morning, and cookies baking in the oven on a cold winter day. It is the sound of little feet pounding down the hallway and laughter ringing through the air. Home is the place that I most want to be.