The Country Life

Warroad, Minnesota

So, I went home for the past two weeks, and it was amazing. I really enjoyed spending time with my family and loved being away from the city. Although Provo isn't a super huge city, it is a big change from small-town Warroad, Minnesota. I really missed seeing the lake, and being out in the "sticks." 

It's funny looking back and realizing how much I have really come to love Warroad and living out in the country. Growing up, I can't really remember spending a lot of time in town. Until I got into school, my friends were my family. I would play with my siblings and cousins out in our yard, or we'd go on bike rides together (usually meeting half-way between our houses), or I can remember going over to my Aunt Kathy's and playing in the rock pile in their field. It's funny because I think about some of the things I did as a kid living in the country, and I am kind of amazed that our parents let us do some of the things we did. I was driving the 3-wheeler when I was like 8. Those things are dangerous! Haha!! There were plenty of times that thing ended up in the ditch, or knocking off one of my friends (oops). And the rock pile? Ok, we were playing on like these huge rocks, and I remember going down underneath the ones that were sort of stacked on top of each other and we could just squeeze our little bodies in between the two and we had a little fort. I don't think we realized that those rocks could have fallen. We were crazy :)

Or what about running around in the Grandpa Lester's field and the woods barefooted? I have definitely had my share of woodticks from thinking it was a bright idea to just run around in the woods or climbing up on a fallen tree in the middle of the woods and using it as a teetor-totter. I did not ever, unlike my sisters, get poison ivy, even though I'm pretty sure I have rolled around in it plenty of times. Haha!

But here's the thing, I wouldn't change the way or where I grew up for anything in the world. I loved living in the country. Sure, there wasn't any malls or movie theaters or anything super exciting close by, but just being outside and having a little bonfire or laying out in the middle of my yard with my best friend looking up at the stars until 3 am, just chatting about life and goals and everything is one of my favorite things about the country. We didn't need to have fun by going to the biggest city (2 1/2 hours away) and go to the mall or whatever; we were perfectly fine in our hoodies, running around playing "Ghost Around the House" or "Kick the Can" or "Seek and Hide (Sardines)." Just being outdoors and being away from the rest of the world was all we needed. 

And then there's the lake. I could spend hours on the lake, even if it meant I was going to be as red as a lobster the next day, because I hate sunscreen. I have just always loved the lake and fishing.

I'm sure I wasn't super good as a little girl at fishing, but I do pretty well now :)

I miss the lake and the country when I'm in the city. Even though I know that I'm supposed to be here now, I really do miss my family and the country life I have in good ol' Warroad, Minnesota. It was great being home and being back in the country. I would go on runs while I was home, and it was really great. Just running down the gravel road, not being bothered by a single car or busy streets. It was great. I sure do love the country. Warroad's pretty great that way. I remember singing this song in elementary school and it went something like, "Home of Windows, Walleyes, and Hockey Sticks, and Home Sweet Home to Me." Warroad is and will always be my home even though I'm quite the distance away. I am and will always be a country girl. I do enjoy the city, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the country life :)