Kansas life vs. North Carolina life

Although I miss home, I am really enjoying getting use to being in a new state and a new town.


A few things that I have learned and some things I like about Kansas and our little town of Herington ...

• It is such a quiet town. Almost everything is closed on Sundays. You know, kinda how it use to be way back when!
• The crime rate in Herington is 3 times less than Greensboro (I have seen ONE person pulled over by a police in Herington since I have moved here).
• Everyone knows everyone. After you stop getting that "look at the new people in town" look you will fit right in.
• You can walk everywhere in the town ... going on walks to the park and such are wonderful considering I love being outside.
• The dirt roads ... although they don't get along with my silver car.
• Steve and I have made some wonderful friends and memories with those friends that will last us a lifetime.
• Army wives stick together ... when your family is 1200 miles from you, you have no other choice but to become close to friends that you make.
• I love that the schools are all in one building. The high school, middle and elementary share one building.
• The speed limit in our town is 30 mph .. or 20 depending on what part on town you are in.
• The snow barn .. it's simply amazing!
• The gas is cheaper ... at least for now. I am paying the same price for the expensive gas as my parents are paying for unleaded gas back home.
• As you pass by people in the town they always seem to wave at you. Just friendly people right?
• Since Herington is not that big, you have to find things to do on your own. Like cookouts with friends. Moments like those are like no other.
• The bowling alley ... It has 3 or 4 lanes.
• There is this place called "the spot" Its a small little hole in the wall restaurant in Herington that people go to kill time and have a simple meal. 
• The office ... It pretty much reminds me of the moose lodge. I miss that place.
• The fire trucks ... there are so old but when I see them it makes me think about old movies. You know the kind with fire trucks with really loud squalling sirens.

Yes, I could go on and on about Herington but I wont waste anymore of your time. There are some things that I want to point out that I miss about NC. There is some stuff  that KS is just missing out on.

• Texas Roadhouse & Chic-fil-a (There might be one in KS but not near us)
• Sweet Tea. Yes I make my own and a very select few places will have it. Its just not the same as back home.
• My work. All of my co-workers and all my sweet babies.
• My pup, Stubbles.
• If this list was in any certain order, Bowman Gray racing would be near the very top
• The same thing goes for the drive-in movies
• Stamey's BBQ.
• Bojangles and especially their seasoned fries
• The moose lodge. There are some in KS but not close to us.
• Ray's turkey, bacon, and Swiss. It makes my mouth water even thinking about it.
• My church ... but GOD is in KS too(:
• Liver pudding and Cheerwine. Both of these are two of my favorite things, neither of which people in KS have ever heard of.
• Non-windy weather. The wind is insane here!
• Myrtle Beach. Not being able to make random weekend beach trips with my best friend this summer is going to really make summer seem so long.
• Tarheel stuff ... I need more Carolina blue stuff in my life in KS.

Now don't get me wrong I miss my family and my friends tremendously from back home. There is other things that I miss from back home but I think you get the idea ... KS and NC are two totally different places. After being here for a few weeks now I am starting to get use to KS life, especially since my husband is by my side while I experience it all(:

Until next time,

Shenay.

Reflections on our wedding, honeymoon, and our life in Kansas so far!

Let's start with our wedding. It was perfect and Steve and I both agree that it was by far the best day of our lives. We were so blessed to have so many people come to watch us say our vows and then to go to our reception to celebrate with us. Thanks to everyone who spent our special day with us.

Our honeymoon was lots of fun!! We drove about 5 hours to Gatlinburg and then stayed there for 3 nights. It was beautiful there. We did so much while we was there. Almost everything was half price for us since we are military. That made everything even more fun! One of our favorite things that we did while we were in Gatlinburg was the Titanic museum. Its actually in Pigeon Forge though. The Titanic was huge and there was so much to see and learn. We recommend this to anyone. There are two locations for this. One of them of course being in TN and the other in MO. These don't even start to compare to the traveling Titanic museums that you may see in your city. When we left Gatlinburg we drove for about 8 hours and got to St. Louis. We stayed at a beautiful hotel/casino (thanks to Steve's mother for giving us this as our birthday gifts) Our hotel was in walking distance of the arch which was amazing to see. The night that we spent in St. Louis, Steve took me on a horse and carriage ride. How sweet right?! The next morning we got up and started to head home. About 6 and 1/2 hours later we were finally at home!

So about Kansas and marriage ...

Well Steve and I are getting use to being married. We love it. Seeing each other everyday is amazing!! Steve went back to work on Monday and as for me I am making some wonderful friends.

We got here and got settled into our house. We have been spending lots of time with friends. We have been trying out the different things to do that are in Herington and Kansas in general. For my birthday Steve and I drove to this town that is exactly a hour from where we live. There is all kinds of things to do there and it is the closest thing here that reminds me of home. The next week we went to base and got all of my paper work done so I am an official army wife. I got my ID card so I can do stuff on post without Steve being with me. My friend Tara, cut my hair. It is so sort now but I love it!!! Last weekend we went to my first FRG meeting/cookout. It was alot of fun. Saturday was crazy because we had all of those bad storms and tornado's around us. The sirens were going off and we had to keep going to the basement all night. It was an experience for sure. I went to the zoo yesterday with one of my friends. It was fun but of course very exhausting. That's really all that's been going on in Kansas. One thing that I have learned so far is that when you are in the military you learn to become close with the people around you because they are all that you have. Having no family around is hard but making friends is really helping.

I would like to just name a few things from back home that we don't have here in Kansas that I miss dearly!!

• Bojangles & their seasoned fries
• Sweet tea (Yes, I make sweet tea but that's not really the same)
• Liver Pudding(:
• Cheerwine
• The moose lodge and Ray's turkey bacon Swiss
• Texas Roadhouse
• My work (Yes, I miss my job)
• The beach

And obviously I miss my friends and family.

I might not ever understand why Kansas doesn't have the wonderful things that the South does but for now it will have to do!

I am about to get ready and head to town. Steve and I are going to have a picnic during his lunch break today.
Always remember the men and women who fight for your freedom

Mrs. Dillard(: