Growing up on a farm near a small town, I can't imagine having a better life anywhere! We were a close knit family, having to spend all of our waking hours together, working, playing and praying together. 

As I look back, the advantages far outweigh any disadvantage I might have encountered. Imagine living in nature 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

The work is hard, but fulfilling, the weather can be contrary and unpredictable, the rains come when planting and harvesting, making it difficult to finish the work, and never show up when the crops are in need, it can be quite frustrating!

There is no better feeling than plowing a field, planting the crops and spending the summer caring for it, watching it grow. When the crop is harvested, along with the monetary rewards comes satisfaction in knowing that God and I were partners in producing food for the world to eat.

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Small town life gives one the opportunity to care for livestock,help with their birth, watch them grow, feed and nurse them back to health when one of them gets sick. There is never a shortage of pets, from dogs and cats to horses, cows, and even sheep and lambs.

Living in a small rural environment gives one the sense of community, everyone becomes part of your family, people are concerned about each other far more than when living in a large metropolitan area. Neighbors look out after each other, care for their property when away, and share in the everyday needs and desires of each other.

Crime is practically nonexistent,with the neighbors so near and involved, no stranger can go unnoticed. I remember while growing up , we never locked our doors! When it came time to sell the family farm ,the house key couldn't even be found!

As a child playing in the creek, with tadpoles, fish and turtles, one has little time to think about any lack of entertainment or excitement. The whole neighbor hood looks after each other, kids have a hard time getting into trouble,people know each other for miles, no matter what they try to do, someone they know will see them. Your parents always find out what you did , even before you get home.

I remember feeling sorry for my cousins who lived in the city, I always felt they were missing something by not having the life I had!

I suppose the downside of living in a rural area would be the lack of shopping,and restaurants, however with the internet, one can shop from anywhere and have quality merchandise delivered right to your door by UPS.

The lack of restaurants is far outweighed by sampling some of grandma"s cooking on a Sunday, or attending the local church festivities!

All in all , there is no better place for a child to grow up than in a small rural area.