A little girl in the midst of a big, big world. A little girl on the verge of incredible things. A little girl raised on a little farm in a little town with big love. A little girl that will soon be a big girl who will have the memories inscribed upon her heart all the times on that little farm with all that big love.

I used to be this little girl. As did my aunt, my sister, and my cousins. And now it's my niece. A little girl who rides tractors and isn't afraid to play in the dirt. A little girl who is full of life, hopes, and dreams. A little girl who is independent and can take care of herself. A little girl who has an amazing imagination. A little girl who can pick peas, butterbeans, and cucumbers. A little girl who is not afraid of hard work. A little girl who can hang with the boys. A little girl who loves Granny's sweet tea. A little girl who has been taught about Jesus. A little girl who knows she is loved.

The farm life is a life that not everyone is cut out for. It is a lot of hard work for little reward at times. It's a gamble, on the soil and on the rain. But with a lot of dedication and prayer, the Lord always saw us through.

There is so much beauty within those acres of land that have harvested crop after crop. Beauty that many would not appreciate, but beauty that helped prepare me for the world and that taught me more lessons than I can count.

Part of this beauty was the people. The people who were bonded by a last name and the same big, brown eyes. People who taught us to earn our place in the world and to follow our dreams. People who always had a certain spot at the dinner table so they knew they had their place. People who always showed love and taught us little girls to always show love and respect in return.

Being a little girl in a big world can seem intimidating, but with a little farm and a whole lot of love, it's not so intimidating anymore.