I'll admit it. I live in Suburbia. There really isn't any other way to describe it. We live OTP (outside the Perimeter) in Atlanta, and 90% of my county is suburban. There are still some farms, but you have to drive a looong way to get to them. But, I wouldn't live anywhere else right now.
I know, the suburbs get a bad rap. And, trust me, there are definitely things I hate about where I live. (Do you want me to even get started about the traffic??) But the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. First, the county where I live has been recognized once again for its park system. Today, I spent 3 hours down at our local park working at the concession stand. It is truly a community place. This is our third year playing baseball, and we are beginning to know more and more people just from seeing them at the park. Plus, Matthew and Nathan are enjoying the fantastic opportunity to play baseball at a top-notch facility. (Hey, the place developed Jeff Francouer of the Braves, so it can't be too bad.) After I got done working at the concession stand, then I was able to walk the fully paved path around the park for a mile and a half with a huge number of people enjoying the weather. Really, in our county, if you don't get out and get active, you really have no one to blame but yourself. There are parks scattered all over the county, and they're adding more every day. And my park backs up to a fabulous library branch as well. The other day I took Andrew there. We went to the library so I could load up on books, then we walked for a half hour around the park while one of the boys had baseball practice.
I also love living so close to the city. In 20 minutes (on a good day), I can be in downtown Atlanta to take my kids to one of the largest aquariums in the country. Or, we can go to the zoo to see the two! baby pandas. Plus, the proximity to the medical facilities can't be underestimated. It's been almost a year since Andrew's surgery, and every day, I'm so thankful we were here when he was born. If we had still been in Indiana, we would have had to travel 3 hours to go to Riley for all of his doctor's visits as well as his appointments. Here, I jump in the car and drive 25 minutes to go to one of the top Children's hospitals in the country. Not only am I 20 minutes away from either campus of Children's Healthcare, they have an urgent care center designed specifically for children near me. Plus, they have this very cool idea where you can call ahead to get your arrival time so you don't have to wait for hours with an unhappy child. Best Idea Ever.
Finally, don't get me started on my church. I could go on for a very long time about how much I love it. But the most important reason that I'm so happy we're there is their dedication to children. They are intentional about shepherding children. I help on both Sundays and Wednesdays, and I know how important it is to my church that my kids are immersed in the Bible. Their goal is to make sure that the kids understand the "meta-narrative" of the Bible. (Don't be impressed. I didn't come up with the word by myself.) Every week, they learn how the story of the Bible fits together, plus they learn how to apply it to their life. I'm already starting to see Matthew begin to fit the pieces together in his head. Knowing that every Sunday they are all going to a place where people are intentional about their spiritual growth is so reassuring to me as a mom. There are so many influences out there that are trying to steal them away. I need all the help I can get. Plus, the worshhip and preaching in "Big Church" can't be beat either. Hey, my pastor's name is Buddy, and he preaches in jeans. How can that be bad?
(Just in case you get lost, they put in a major landmark. The Super Wal-Mart.)
