Grandpa and "Punky Bunky"

Again, I ask each of you...

what does the city have to offer that the small town does not?

Our Latest Project

We're pretty excited to get started on the house. We found this plan (see link to left), and have modified it to make the house more open. We have increased the kitchen and great room size by quite a bit. The main floor will be just under 1700 sq feet, and the basement will be the same. We have also taken out the pantry wall to open up the kitchen to the great room. This will give us room for a large island. We are probably going to finish about half the basement for now. That way, we'll have an office, playroom and bathroom down there. The neighborhood we're building in is a new subdivision in Afton, and in a good location for resale. They are building a new elementary school right across the street from our house. And there are walking paths all throughout the neighborhood (that's unique for Afton). It will be much nicer to live there. The neighborhood we're in now is quite "white trash," if you ask me!
Since we are generaling the house ourselves, it will be a big job, and I'm sure I'll be heading most of it up because of Cal's hectic schedule. He should be able to do a lot of the finish work himself on weekends this summer (sorry, the dirt bike might not get ridden as much, Cal). Neil & Lynette have given us some good ideas as well, and that always helps.
Just thought I'd post it, since I have this blog...tell me what you think.

Small town or Big City?

Ok, so lately the family has been discussing the CONS (& pros) to life in Star Valley...what do you think? Here are some of my thoughts...
Last weekend, Cal & I traveled to Logan for Roger's funeral (Cal's step-dad). Roger died of a massive heart attack due to CHF...apparently he had no idea how bad his heart was. Had he gone to the doctor after Suni's recommendation, he would probably still be here now. It got me thinking about the fact that he died at 63 years of age, with no warning. He seemed very healthy and active. He was always out and about, ate healthy, was thin and active.
Sitting there at the funeral, listening to the speakers talk about the life Roger lived, and seeing his children, still young parents, mourn their loss, I realized that life really is very short. His oldest grandchild is only about 12 years old. Most of his grandchildren will never really know or remember him. You never know when you will die, or when your loved ones will die. I started to think about what my life had told those around me, and even wondered what my friends and family would say about me at my funeral. I know I'm still young and that death should not be close by, but who knows? I started evaluating my priorities and what really matters.
So, back to the Star Valley question. I guess what I'm asking is, what does the "city life" offer that Star Valley, or any small town, does not offer? It's obvious...restaurants, movies, shopping, easier accessibility to venues, entertainment, and airports.
Now, my question is, what does the "Star Valley life" have to offer that you can't get in the city?
Fresh air, no traffic, beautiful mountains, rivers, canyons, & wildlife in your backyard. A place to feel safe, where you know everyone, and they know you. A place where the summers are perfect and you can have your endless share of camping, hiking, biking and fishing. Where winters are long, but they offer snowmobiling like nowhere else, sledding, skiing and beautiful Christmas trees for choopping down. There are good hometown people with morals, and you feel like they think the same way you do. There is a high population of church members, and nobody seems to care about having a fancy sportscar or luxurious lifestyle.
A couple of years ago, when we decided to move to SV, I thought it would be a cure all for life's problems...simplify, force yourself to take a step back. It reminds me of a girl I met a few months back who told me she and her husband moved to the valley to recover from drug addiction. But what I've realized since then, is that if you search for happiness on the outside, you will never find it. You can't move somewhere to make yourself happier. If you aren't happy where you live, the geography is just the excuse you've chosen to blame for the problem. The real problem is inside. If you can find peace and joy living in a small home, in a small town, without a lot of material wealth, you will most likely be happier than those living in a huge house with a fancy car with no inner joy, because they have allowed "things" to clutter their hearts. Now, don't think for a minute that I am saying you should not have a fancy house, car etc. I am the last person who will say that I would be satisfied staying in this shoebox for the rest of my life. But there is a difference between saying "happy" and "satisfied." If you find joy in life, and are truly happy without material wealth, I say it's a great time to acquire material wealth. True wealth is being whole emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially and intellectually. There are plenty of rich, unhappy people. The ones I admire, are those in meager circumstances who have joy.
I can truly say that right now, I am happy. I can look at my kids and my husband and say, "I can't imagine having a better family or a better life." I look at certain material possessions and think it would be fun and more comfortable to have them, but I know deep down that joy does not come from things or shopping or movies. Neither does "simplifying" by moving to a small down in Wyoming. If you move somewhere new seeking for happiness, you will always be doing just that.
So, my point is, it wasn't my move to Star Valley that made me happy. It was my decision to be happy and feel gratitude for my blessings that made me start to feel peace. I can honestly say that the blessings multiply when you start counting them.
So, I ask all of you to consider the question, are you truly happy inside? If you were asked to leave all of your material possessions, just like the early Saints, could you do it? With a happy heart?