Beauty of Small Towns & Community

I've lived in Minneapolis for 8.5 years. I love this city. After moving to 10 different places in college, I found a neighborhood to stay in. I have lived here for 3.5 years, and independent in my 1 bedroom apartment for the last 2 years. I am pretty vocal about loving my city, I've found fantastic communities to be a part of, jobs I love, and plenty to fill my life. All of that said, I went home to my parents house for Easter and it took approximately 3 minutes for me to revert back to my life there.

In 28 hours I did my laundry, played cards with grandma, visited my "not family," decorated cakes and eggs, ate dinner with my family and spent a quality night with my parents and sisters, went to church with the entire town, and then celebrated Easter with extended family and met my cousin's new baby. And then I came back. Both places feel like home. I think I prefer it that way.

Small town life is a beautiful thing - and while I'm not sure I want to go back full time - I certainly appreciate growing up in and my parents continuing to live in St. Martin. More than I probably admit.

I got to experience another small town last week for a funeral. Not the most exciting reason to meet a community, but the love and support was tangible and beautiful. People showed up from near and far, with salads, desserts, and for some of us... Perkins muffins. Tears shed, hugs a plenty, and many reminders to live a full life and share life with others early and often.

Despite Minneapolis being a much larger city than St. Martin - the community, love, and support I've found here is quite similar. It's the reason I love Minneapolis. I feel this often, but this was especially evident in a very tangible way when my friend Sophia was in a horrific car accident a few weeks ago. The community rallied and the power of prayer and love have made all the difference. A long road ahead, but people literally from all over the world have banded together around her story in support of Sophia and her family (more here: http://www.gofundme.com/p33jfk)

This summer I will be introducing many of my friends to St. Martin for various reasons, and I can't wait for my worlds to collide. After years of thinking they were so different, I'm beginning to realize how incredibly similar they are. Besides the population difference, access to Target, and available modes of transportation...they are filled with people who support my hopes and dreams, and fill my life with stories, laughter, and hugs. I am the luckiest.