Nebraska - The Good Life

Nebraska's original state slogan was "Nebraska...the good life." As you drive through the state you can still see big green signs that state this claim. I thought that I'd title this post with that since there have been so many friends and family wondering how we're doing. We've been in Red Cloud for two months now and ...well... I can say that I think things are good. There is so much that is familiar to us (like the Cornhusker football pride), and yet as with any move, there is plenty to adjust to (like the fact that people "drop by" versus using the phone).

We, for the most part, have been able to maintain a sense of humor through the tougher times of adjustment. Let me list just a few of the things that have brought us a chuckle. I'll call this section "You know you live in a small town when..."

*you call the wrong number and they supply you with the correct one

*the only traffic jams are caused by the farmers driving down the streets with their combines

*you have to name six surrounding towns in order to explain where you're from

*some of the biggest news is who grew the biggest veggies

*you make front page of the local paper...in two towns...and you make the news again

the week after that...and the week after that (first it was for our arrival, then pastor appreciation month, then the kids' pumpkins being judged at the Senior Center)

*you know what 4-H is

*people actually talk about those that live on "snob hill" (guess our church and parsonage are)

*there's NO stop light

*it is normal to see a man driving through town on a lawn mower, golf cart, or four wheeler

*the closest mall or fast food place is 40 minutes away (this really isn't so bad)

*people don't lock their houses or cars (we do)

*you run in the cemetery for your exercise and if you run on the country roads, people actually stop to ask you if everything's alright

**and for the finale...you make reservations at the local restaurant to spend one last meal with your family before they leave town and the cute little ladies from your church inform you, upon your arrival, that "the managers are getting our table ready." Yes, they really did join us! Gotta love it! Who can complain with that kind of love???

So yes, it's been good. We're getting to know the people of the church and our communities better each week, and it's beginning to really feel like "home."