What's Up Wednesday?

I take a break from my usual craft updates to offer my own commentary on something that has been on my mind this week. 

Since my two children have grown and started making their way into the "adult" world, my family has spent a great deal of time talking about the pros and cons of living in a small town. 

When our firstborn, Keenan, selected a college, he wanted a small college, but he wanted it to be located in a big city. He ended up in Louisville at Bellarmine University. Over the past four years he has continually told us about the benefits of big city living: always something to do, proximity to shopping centers, and lots of convenient roads to get from place to place. 

Kari has always drifted more toward small town living and when it came time for her to go to college she selected Union College in Barbourville. She is right at home there, even finding a "home away from home" church to attend on Sundays (whenever student duties do not interfere). 

As for me, I tend to be more like Kari. I have always thought of myself as a small town girl. 

Events of this week have helped to re-emphasize to me all of the many reasons why I enjoy living in a "little town in the middle of nowhere". In a big city you would not find a whole community coming together to help a family who had just lost everything in a house fire. There might be a community food bank or something like that, but the number of people who knew the family and understood their loss would be few. In a town like ours, nearly everyone has been touched by this event in some way. I have heard about so many people who are trying to gather clothing for them, offer kind words and prayers, and reach into their own pockets to help provide money.

Over the years I have seen Booneville and Beattyville come together to help pay for funerals for individuals whose families could not afford them, provide meals and financial support for cancer patients, and even help do house repairs and maintenance for those who were physically unable to do them on their own. As a teacher in a small town I have personally seen teachers, aides, and school personnel help to provide the needs of individual students- whether it be a pair of tennis shoes, a warm coat, a prom dress for a girl who could not afford one, or food for the weekend. 

Yes.... Booneville may be a small town- but one of the BEST things about it is its BIG HEART! 

I am glad that I was born in a small town and that I live in a small town........... Yes, there are issues and problems, as with any town, but I would not trade it for the world!