2. Swimming. I was at my aunt and uncle's pool today sunbathing and swimming. As I watched my cousins play and splash, I just felt so...at home. Listening to the birds chirping, the lawnmower running in the distance- Feeling the sun shining and a strong breeze- Seeing perfect colors of blues and greens and smiles...absolutely superb. That is what I have grown up with, that is what I think of when I hear summer break, that is what I want my kids to experience, and that is what I want to come home to every summer for the rest of my life.
3. Marshall First Christian Church. I consider my home church part of my heritage. FCC isn't a perfect church, but it's healthy and growing and full of people that just want to be more like Jesus. I love coming back. I always feel welcomed and supported and priviledged to come from such great stock. The people have made such an impact on my life. I love that I can come back to people who have seen God working in my life, people who have prayed for me for so many years, who stuck by me during my rebellious high school years, and people that remind me of what family truly is.
4. My family. I only get to be in Marshall with my family 2 weeks out of the year. That sucks. So when I'm here, I just want to be with them every moment of every day. It's not that I don't want to be with friends or go somewhere else, I just don't want to leave my family. My nieces are the best girls ever. I have so much fun with them. They are beautiful and sweet and smart and funny. I feel so blessed to be their aunt. I look forward to seeing them grow up and being a part of their lives. I look forward to my kids playing with them and probably being bossed around by them!
5. Sitting on grandma's front porch. My grandma lives right in the center of town. She has a great old porch swing that I have been swinging on since I was able to walk. I love sitting on her porch, chatting with family, waving at anyone and everyone that walks or drives by, and just relaxing.
6. Life's slow pace. Life is slower in small towns. It's not less busy, it's just...calmer, maybe. I don't know the word, it's different. I think small towns allow people to be slower. There's less people, less travel for what you need, more acquaintenances and opportunities for "pop-ins". Pop-ins are very popular in small towns, I love it, and I am incredibly bad at it. I am use to the call ahead. I call ahead to make sure friends are home, that it's ok to stop by, that I have a reason to come over. But in small towns, those rules don't apply. You are allowed and encouraged to pop in just because. And it's expected. People get offended if you don't pop in. I'm working on my pop in.
Just a few more days and my relaxing vacation will be over. I'm praying for a sunny day tomorrow so I can get some more pool time. If not, that's ok, I know of a nice porch swing to pass the time.
so true about pop ins and small towns...you can work on your pop in at my place anytime! glad you are having fun...
thanks kobie, i'll take you up on that!!