The Simple Life

The girls and I recently returned home from a long vacation. We went 'home' to the small rural farming community where I grew up. It was a great place to grow up but when I got old enough to be on my own, I left. I grew tired of being so far away from any kind of shopping (you have to drive 40 miles round trip to even get to Walmart!) and knowing that everyone knew my whole life story. My family is there and that is what holds the most sentimental value for me.

I guess that my trip this summer kind of caught me off guard. The things that I always hated about farm life were suddenly kind of fun and adventurous. It was so much fun to see my kids running around outside all day, without fear of traffic, strangers, etc. They would come in at night with dirt-smudged faces, filthy toenails, and stains all over their clothes. My youngest grew fond of being able to just 'drop a squat' in the grass to relieve herself whenever she felt like it. She ran around barefoot all day long. My mom asked her about her missing shoes, to which she replied "Grammy, I'm a hilly billy". The kids got to swim in the pond, help pick vegetables, and play with their cousins.

The girls particularly enjoyed feeding the chickens. We did a lot of canning and dehydrating during my visit and every time our scrap bucket filled up....we would call for one of the girls who would happily take the scraps to the chickens. Those chickens would get so excited to see the girls coming, knowing that special treats were on the way.

Mom and Dad were very generous with sharing the veggies and fruits from the garden. Like I mentioned before, I did a ton of canning...I brought home nearly 80 jars of fruit, vegetables, and jams. Recently, we opened a can of sweet corn and it was so delish! I couldn't believe how sweet the corn was! Even now I look at all the pretty jars lined up and it brings such a satisfaction of knowing all the hard work that went into it. This food will really be enjoyed this winter.

So, I am back home now. It was a great visit and sometimes I really wish that our family could be 'normal' where we could really establish some roots and ties to the community. I really love being so close to everything but wish that I had more space for my kids to run and a huge garden. I just have to remember that my home is where the Army sends us and just maybe someday we will have a permanent home. Until then, I have to be content to savoring each moment of country life when I visit.