Ode to Lehi

December 1st marked nine years that Matt and I have lived in Lehi.  When we moved here, Lehi was still pretty rural.  There were lots of big open spaces in between neighborhoods.  We thought we would live in our first home for a few years and then move somewhere else.  After living in our home for 3 1/2 years, we loved Lehi so much that we wanted to stay.  We were pretty excited when we bought our second home here in Lehi, we love it here!  (Second as in the second time we purchased a home after selling the first home, not like, we currently own two houses.)


Lehi has grown a lot since we first moved here.  According to census data, in the year 2000, the population of Lehi was just under 20,000.  As of 2011, the population hovers just under 50,000.  That is a pretty big jump.  We enjoy living here and love the community and all that it has to offer.  Lehi still has a bit of a small-town feel.  However, there are those of us who live in Lehi and those of us who are from Lehi.  There is a difference.  While we may live in Lehi for the next 40+ years, I am not sure we will ever be from Lehi.  There are a few things about us that scream, "non-native of Lehi!"
For example:
*  We don't own a truck
*  We don't own any type of trailer
* We don't own a gun
*We wouldn't mind too much if historic Main Street was knocked down
* We have only gone to the Roundup Rodeo 1 time in 9 years
*My kids attend school full-time during hunting season
* In fact, we don't hunt at all.  GASP!!!
*Matt does not have a goatee.
*Matt wears a tie to church. 
* I don't shop at Kohler's

*We didn't go shopping at Cabela's on Black Friday.

This is not to knock Lehi or anything.  We re really happy here and plan to stay.  We have great friends and neighbors and schools and Thanksgiving Point!  I had never though too much about native, vs. non-native Lehi residents.  I mentioned to one of my neighbors (yes, a native) that we didn't hunt and she said, "I know. "  I asked how she knew and she said, "I can just tell.  It is obvious."  I thought that was really funny.  Anywho, we have had a happy nine years here in Lehi.  And we are not leaving anytime soon.