Why I moved to Lebanon, Missouri

Several times a week I am asked, "Why did you move to Missouri?" or "Why did you move to Lebanon, Missouri?"

I usually give the standard answer, "My parents moved here. I wanted my children to be near their grandparents."

Nothing in life is that simple, is it? No not really. Our reasons for moving really are more complex than that.

I grew up in a suburb of Chicago.Back "in the day" we had a quite community, a close knit family. I could walk to the mall with friends. I could go to the store and be greeted by name. I couldn't get away with skipping school - someone who knew my parents would for sure see me and tell. I couldn't say I was going one place and end up somewhere else - my parents always found out!

With growth, comes change. My town became part of the high tech corridor and ballooned. Our fifteen minute ride to the mall soon took 35 minutes by car due to the traffic. I no longer knew the waitress at the corner restaurant. Bagel shops replaced the locally owned bakery. Our hometown newspaper, originally published once a week, went to three times AND had sections! Our downtown suddenly had a parking garage. 

Things change.

While I have wonderful memories of growing up in Naperville, IL the town changed into a place no longer familiar to me and to my family.

It wasn't "bad" - it was different.

Coming down to Lebanon and the surrounding areas in Missouri, my husband and I found much of what we remembered from our youth:

A sense of family, community and belonging. They say a small town is where you know who's marriage is good and who's check isn't --  There is some truth to that.

We wanted that sense of community, that sense of family, that sense of security for our own children.

We didn't really realize what we were looking for until we found it. We found "our freedom" in Lebanon, Missouri.

Maybe, some things don't change.