Community

I love my hometown.

Absolutely love it.  It's a small town centered around a lake, and it is perfect.  It has a charming downtown park just outside the library steps.  Walk a half a block from the park and you are at the Pub.  Cold beer, great beer fries, and even my tree-hugger salad.  There is another big park and playground where all the Little League teams spend their time.  Kids running around, laughing, parents talking, helping other children, runners running, and baseball fans cheering.  Of course, I'm biased, but I love the community school, with teachers that care and challenge each child to succeed.  What else could you ask for?  Maybe I can only see the town through rose-colored glasses, but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else at this point in my life.

Aside from the cuteness of the little town, my whole family loves the sense of community here.  From dance to preschool, tee-ball, Kindergarten, to a visit to the library....we know people here now.  We have established relationships all around us.  We belong.

When we were first married, we lived in Chicago for a while.  We loved it.  We still make frequent visits and my children are growing up knowing the city and all it has to offer.  Anyway, I remember when we lived there that I was perfectly content leaving the house knowing that I would likely not be seeing anyone I knew.  We could spend all day shopping downtown and we quite possibly would not talk to anyone other than each other.  That was totally fine - we were young, in love, and ready to conquer the big city on our own.

With kids, our hometown desires changed.  I love it that I can walk into the grocery store and run into a friend.  When we walk into the library...the children's librarian greets Myles and Jillian by name.  She asks them how school is going and knows who they are.  I exchange emails with Myles's teacher often.  She cares about my child and I love that she realizes how special he is...just like we do.  In the two years that we have been here, we have made so many great friends.  Friends with children that are growing up alongside our own.   You know, we teach our kids everyday, but so does the community around them.  Tonight, I'm in love with the outside influences on my kids here in this town.  It's awesome.  It's home.  It's where I want my children to grow up.

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In other news...

I'm thrilled to announce that Lisa M. has won the Memories on Movies video!  It is a gift that will last a lifetime and I'm so happy for you!

If you weren't the lucky winner, but still want to preserve the awesome memories of a special event or your kiddos cute photos, be sure to visit Memories on Movies!  You won't be disappointed!

Oh - and T.G.I.Th.  Can't wait to get this weekend started!