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.
