Kansas Day got me thinking....

Here I am waiting on some farmers to call me back so I can finish up their claims, and I just realized I haven't done a blog for almost a month.  I need to be better about blogging more frequently...

Kansans celebrate Kansas Day on January 29th of every year.  As a kid in school, students know all about this day, but as a transplant to the state I have had to do some google searches to figure out exactly what this day means.  Kansas Day commemorates the admission of the state to the Union on January 29, 1861.  Teachers make sunflower cakes for their classes, kids learn all about our rich history, and it is a time for all of us to be thankful for our great state.  I really think it is a neat tradition.  I found a statement from our Senator Jerry Moran regarding Kansas Day. "“On January 29, 1861, Kansas was founded on the ideals of freedom and individual responsibility. The spirit of those early pioneers who settled our state and tamed the West still lives on today as Kansans work to improve our communities, our state and our nation."  Pretty cool stuff! Full link to comments can be read here: http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/Senator-Moran-Issues-Statement-On-Kansas-Day-242611261.html

I have officially been a resident for 5 years now.  I really do love it here even though I have days when I miss my friends and family from home.  Looking back, it has been a good 5 years.  I have to admit though the first year was definitely the hardest.  I moved "out west" to be with a farmboy I met on the internet.  Sounds promising doesn't it?  We had dated long distance for 2 years but we still had a lot to learn about dating within driving distance of each other.  I had no friends or close family, a new family to get to know, a new job an hour and a half away from Dan that I hated, a new apartment, and a completely unknown environment.  We were also trying to plan a wedding which can be very stressful.  I have to admit that there were a few times I doubted my decision to move here but I stuck to my gut feeling that everything would work out ok in the end.  After all, how could you not have fun with this guy and fall in love with our rolling hills.

After some growing pains, things are all good now and I can hardly believe it's been 5 years.  Kansas has been welcoming for the most part: I have met some friends, have grown close to Dan's family, and I like my job, but it is still hard being so far away from my best friends from college and my family.  I think it will always be that way unfortunately.  Thank goodness for Facebook, cell phones, and modern transportation to get me back to Illinois.  I think my Subaru Outback is in for it...somehow I have racked up 26,000 miles on already in just 10 months.  Happy Kansas Day!