Anna Carpenter
About the Author

Anna is a former U.S. Air Force officer who proudly traded her uniform for mom jeans. She’s a story-hoarding, deep-thinking, people-watcher and if she can make you laugh, she’ll be loyal to you forever. She writes about her little world of motherhood in a big world of living internationally.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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Comments

  1. Anna, Thank you & your husband for your service. Perhaps God has put you where you are now to be Ambassadors for Him and shed His light in that area of our beloved country of America. Blessings!!

    • I agree, Frances. It’s embarrassingly easy to forget how much America needs His light, though we have greater access to it here than anywhere in the world. Blessings back to you!

  2. Such a beautiful heartfelt message about where I call ‘home’ too.
    Thank you for your service and thank you most of all for this very important reminder.
    Crystal P.
    Allen, TX

    • Thank you, Crystal. We learn in this business, that home doesn’t have to be a single thing or place. For me, not being able to really define it makes me long all the more for the eternal home I was created for.

      • Well put! Thank you for the response. I will see in our eternal home someday. Until then, be well my sister in Faith!

  3. Thank you Anna! I need Him and here I am a servant. This is hope, that heaven is our home. A great reminder today that I am a pilgrim, a temporary resident……

  4. Anna.
    Thank you so much for the sacrifices you and your family have made for our country. I can’t even begin to fathom the mix of feelings you must have about the US right now, but like you so vividly pointed out, this world is NOT our home and we are strangers passing through. I agree that these times we live in give us (at least they give) a homesickness for my eternal home. There will always be something not quite at peace within my soul until I reach my eternal destination. You, more than anyone, can speak to this homesickness. Beautiful and such a poignant post.
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Bev, “homesickness for my eternal home” like crazy over here in these past few weeks, for sure! It’s tricky, right, to live in the tension of the “here and not yet” nature of the Kingdom we’re actually citizens of? Thank you for reading and for your comment!

  5. Anna, this is just gorgeous — full of beautiful truth.
    If you haven’t already read it, Jen Pollock Michel has written a lovely book called Keeping Place in which she reflects on the meaning of home, both theologically and practically in terms of the plain hard work of home. I thought of her book as I read your post this morning.

    • Michele, thank you for this book recommendation! I’ve never heard of this author, but it looks like this book was written for me. It’s on my Amazon wish list now! I’ve been meditating that very “hard work” concept, too. I’m looking forward to reading more about it!

  6. Thank you for this, Anna! The safest place to be with your remarkable family is in the middle of the will of God and I know that that means international living!
    My father gave me a great love for America, but an even greater love for God and family. I see I have passed that to you. Love.

  7. Anna, this is beautifully written. I feel your unsettled peace–being a wandering citizen. You inspire both the bravery to explore and the contentedness to stay.

    • Thank you, friend! Interesting you say “contentedness to stay.” There is such a tension there for me with the desire to explore. I’m learning, though! Maybe your (in)courage piece can speak to this more? 🙂

  8. Beautiful! I find this life so confusing and hard now. A friend recently said the same as you have, to me. “This is not your home!”

    • It IS so confusing and hard! It’s also a challenge to know how to then live, knowing we are here for only a breath of life before we go to our true home. Thank you for reading, Maggie!

  9. Thank you to your entire family for serving our country and those of the world! Your message was divinely appointed which spoke to my heart. Keeping our eyes on Jesus, lets us know we are on a journey back to where we first began. It keeps me loving, praying, believing and asking on a daily basis…Father the one you love…Trust You with all my heart, I lean not unto my own understanding, in all You ways,
    acknowledge You, so that you may direct my path today to glorify you. Personalizing scripture helps me to accept His promises to walk in this broken world. My first post. Thank you ladies of faith! Much love to you all!❤️

  10. Love this, Anna! I am sure the stories and memories you have from all over the world could fill a book! This was a fun read today!

  11. Anna,

    Lately I’ve thought a lot about Heaven also. This country has gotten a little like Sodom & Gomorrah. We are not a United States, but a divided states. It saddens me so much to see the younger generation destroying this beautiful country & for what? Most have no idea how this country was founded & what we stood for. There isn’t much pride here either. Thanks for reminding us to keep our focus on God. Thank you and your husband for you gracious service to this country you once loved. I applaud ALL our veterans & their families. They do a thankless job.

    Blessings 🙂

  12. Thank you and your husband for your service. I’ve only been in a few surrounding states but I have always wanted to travel. And then there’s the no place like home, and you are absolutely correct, so many people are longing for heaven, our real home, Jesus was the passport we needed.

  13. Anna, Thank you for your sacrificial service to our country. You have encouraged me with your words and insight! There is no one more who I’d rather have lunch with when I’m the nations capital. 🙂

  14. I enjoy flags and other American patriotic items as well. I just am like that for some reason. Both my husband and I were in US Air Force….that’s how we met. Spent 2 years serving/living in England. I enjoyed it there. Something different coming home. Yes we are only sojourners in this world. Waiting for our real home in heaven. I like your perspective. Thanks for your and your husband’s service our God and country. Land of the free and the home of the brave!

  15. Thank you, Anna. I agree with the other girls… such a wonderful reminder. God’s peace to all of us as we tarry.

  16. As a seasoned expatriate, I can relate to every bit of what you’ve written. It is especially poignant in this season of repatriation. Bless you for sharing and thank you for the encouraging reminder!