Ever since I can remember, one of my favorite views has been of the St. Louis Arch. This view has always represented home for me. I was born south of St. Louis in Festus, Missouri. As I grew older, I moved around a lot, to cities in Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri and Texas. Despite all my moves, I have always considered myself a St. Louis girl. I’ve stayed true to the Cardinals, toasted ravioli, Ted Drewes and Imo’s (despite my husband’s disdain for provel cheese). When I pass the Arch, I look up and feel like I’m home.
Throughout the years, my view has changed. During college, my favorite view was overlooking Lake Michigan from my dorm room. Those years were filled with the most wonderful friends and teachers and meeting my husband. I wouldn’t trade those years for anything in the world and the thousands of dollars I went into debt to have them. They were worth every penny.
My husband and I got married in February of 2010. He will always be one of my favorite views. An amazing rock for me, he proposed to this St. Louis girl under the Arch one January night. We had pictures taken on our wedding day in front of my all-time favorite view. Busch Stadium and my Arch in the background. Okay, I know the Arch isn’t mine and it’s technically the “Gateway to the West,” but as a St. Louis girl and for the purpose of this post, it’s mine.
In July of 2012, we moved away from my Arch and to McAllen, TX. McAllen is about 10 miles from the Mexican border. The view in Texas was not always easy being a midwestern girl and missing my roots, but there were many views in Texas that I will love for a long time. Our friends from Texas loving and holding our daughter as we were far from our families is a view I will always cherish. The Whataburger sign will also hold a special place in my heart, too. Whataburger is the most delicious fast food. If you haven’t been, plan a trip to Texas now. Seriously.
On March 8, 2014, my view became significantly more beautiful as we welcomed our beautiful and fierce daughter Zoe into the world. She could run the world. The view my life was building was everything I had wanted. I had a wonderful husband and now a precious daughter.
Becoming a parent means that you end up with some views you would never want to have. Zoe was just 11 weeks old when she was hospitalized with a terrible urinary tract infection. She ultimately left the hospital after a week-long stay with a diagnosis of Vesicoureteral Reflux. Many tests, procedures and a couple of surgeries filled many of my views with tears for her and for myself. Thankfully, last November, the doctors, nurses and medical staff of St. Louis Children’s Hospital made it possible that we may never have to have those views again.
In December of 2016, our family moved to Hoyleton, IL, located about an hour east of St. Louis. When we came to visit Hoyleton, we sat in the living room of a family that would be in our church. I looked around and saw people visiting and chatting, happy to be with one another as the Cardinals’ game was on in the background, and I thought to myself, “this is the view I want for my family.” After much consideration, we moved, and the country view of Hoyleton couldn’t be more beautiful to this city girl. I do things that I’ve never done before, like plant a garden, harvest fresh herbs and make fresh pesto!
In April of 2017, my view changed once again when my son Zachary was born. I was terrified of one day having a boy. I didn’t know anything about boys. I went to an all-girls high school, only had a sister growing up and even our dogs were female! How was I going to raise a boy? Well, I fell fast in love with that little man. He is my sweetie and I couldn’t love him more.
As I sit here writing this, my view is more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. I live in a wonderful community with my family and a backyard littered with an explosion of the 1990 Little Tikes catalog and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Is the St. Louis Arch still my favorite view? Almost, but nothing can compare to this one.
