Where Am I?

    Where am I? This question is so comforting to me, unlike the question “who am I”. Where I am is what made me who I am. My home is so special and, well, basically perfect in my eyes. It is such a blessing to be able to say I have only moved once. I really don’t even count it as a move, considering we kept the same farm and only switched the old house with one we built just two miles farther down the road.

    I get sad whenever I remember that I will have to leave our small farm soon. This was the perfect place to be raised. Chickens running around, dogs barking, calves crying for us to bottle feed them, horses grazing in a nearby pasture – it was perfect. I was always a daddy’s girl. When I was little, you could always find me “helping” him out on the farm. I’m so lucky to be blessed with such a patient father, because I asked an incredible amount of questions growing up. I wanted to know everything about the farm.

    One of my favorite parts about our busy little farm, is the fact that it is only a few miles from the cutest town ever – Aurora, Nebraska. Even with the low population of 4,479 people, Aurora was ranked the number one place to raise a family by the Progressive Farmer Magazine. The brick roads are my absolute favorite. I love the friendly, small town atmosphere. Everyone knows who drives which car.

    The best thing about the organic farm life was the fact that it took the whole family to make it work. As soon as we were able to walk, us kids found a way to help out. Having to work together all the time made the family even closer. We were always on the look-out for each other. All four of us kids were homeschooled until high school, so we were together a lot when we were younger. During harvest, we would always get to take our homework with us while we rode on the combine with dad or grandpa.

    

Once high school came, I decided to attend Nebraska Christian in Central City, Nebraska. I was always known as the “little Miller” because both of my sisters went to the school before I did. After being there for about two years, I decided it wasn’t the place I should be. I spent my whole summer contemplating on whether or not I should transfer before my junior year. It got kind of frustrating for me because I wanted my parents to just tell me what I should do and where I should go to school, but all they said was that it was up to me.  The only thing they told me was that I had to stay at whichever school I chose for the rest of my high school years. That definitely put even more pressure on me, but I knew they were right in saying that. Looking back on it, I am very grateful they did this. It made me become more independent and realize how my life will constantly have tough decisions to make, but my parents won’t always be able to tell me what to do.

    Well, the last day of summer break was here. The next morning I would either be attending the first day of volleyball conditioning at Nebraska Christian or Aurora. At about 10:30 that night, I decided to go to Aurora. So far, I’d say that was the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make. The transfer was so easy. Everyone was so welcoming at the new school! I went to Aurora my kindergarten year, so it was fun seeing people again after so many years.

    The best part about where I am is that I am surrounded by my friends and family. A small-town atmosphere is the best when it comes to friends. We are all so close to each other and it doesn’t take much to entertain us. Even the simple things, such as cruising around in a truck, will keep us happy.

     The fact that where I am now is so great makes the future kind of scary. Most people my age are anxious to graduate and leave the town, but I am perfectly fine with having another year here. I know my location will change very soon, but I am so grateful that I will always have the people and this town to come back to.