Top 5 Things I Love About Nebraska

My top five things I love about Nebraska would have to include the following:

1. Czech Festivals

Yes...for those of you who know me, this is no surprise. I don't know anywhere else that has as many Czech heritage festivals and events as Nebraska. Not only do we have the Czech Capital of the US and the Miss Czech-Slovak US pageant right here in Wilber, Nebraska but we have festivals all over Nebraska. On top of the official festivals there is polka music (some of it lead by my husband) every weekend in some small town. "Czech" out the upcoming Nebraska Czech Festivals HERE or find Brad Husak Band on Facebook for updates where he will be playing. 

2. Dirt Roads
I grew up in Lincoln but when I'm stressed out and need some alone time I love driving to the edge of town (which seems to be getting further and further from my house) blast music and drive on the dirt roads that seem to lead to nowhere. (Especially calming if you catch it when the sun is going down!) When I get far enough away from the world I pull over and look at the stars and admire how many thousand there really are that we can't see in town. 

3. Friendly People and Family

Maybe this is cliche but I love being able to walk down the street or through the mall and see smiling faces. I have friends who have come to Nebraska from the Czech Republic or New York and they are so taken aback by this because it is very abnormal for them to see. I often wonder when they go back if they do this by mistake and people think they are a nutcase. :) I'm proud to say I'm from Nebraska because we're known for our nice people from our sportsmanship to our helpfulness...it really is "The Good Life." I also don't know too many other states where families live very close to each other. Maybe I'm a bad example but when I say I have a close family I mean it. :) We love each other and support each other and....live 1/2 block away. :) Yes I'm 1/2 block from my parents, 1 1/2 block from my younger brother, and 2 blocks from my grandma and grandpa. Maybe we aren't normal so this doesn't fit in this post. LOL I know that lots of Nebraska families stick around home to help each other out. Part of the good life seems to be family and friends!

4. Having All Four Seasons
While I'm not too happy with how long winter has decided to stick around this year, I am glad to have variety in our weather. Only in Nebraska can you have a tornado warning and a winter storm watch in the same hour but at least we have variety. Tis the spice of life right? It's fun to have a blast throwing snowballs at my husband and lounging in the pool in the same yard each year. (I'm not so much a fan of winter but I know I would miss it if I didn't see it every year.)

5. Local Sports
I know...I know...we don't have any pro teams. It's sad isn't it? NOPE! We don't need no stinkin' pro teams! ;-) I'm so proud to be a fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Lincoln Stars, and Lincoln Saltdogs. I'm glad that they aren't the biggest deal since sliced bread in any other state than ours and our players are amazing yet humble. I couldn't be more proud to be a fan of each and every one of these teams through the good seasons AND the bad (and we all know we've had a handful...or more....of those!!) I just hope that the young men we see on our field are the young men that go on to change the world as we know they will in the future. We'll be behind them through it all.