Is there a Rome, Kansas? Part I

I pondered this question not too many months ago. Why would I look on a state map for a city named 'Rome' in the state of Kansas? I had heard there was a Rome, Georgia, but was there a Rome, Kansas? Why would I look for such seemingly useless information? Because I was convinced God was moving me to Rome. I just thought it would be the city of Rome in Italy.
There were eight of us Smiths who vacationed in Italy for a week in June, 2007. We actually spent three weeks in Europe, an incredible trip of a lifetime, but one of these weeks was spent in a villa in a small town (Compagnano di Roma) just north of the great city of Rome. What a scene: rolling hills of green vineyards, tall Roman trees, houses in the distance, and a flock of sheep on an adjoining hill. An amazing picture right out of the tour magazines. We had a beautiful villa to stay in - 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, fully stocked kitchen, our own pool and soccer field. The owners lived in the larger house next door on the weekends (still quite a distance away) and the groundskeepers lived in the owner's house. The groundskeepers visited us every day to clean up the house a bit and mow the grass. Our first day in Italy was spent getting to know the house and relaxing, as well as trying to recover from jet lag and a long drive the previous day. We had found a local grocery store, so we had food, but we just wanted to relax and get caught up from the time difference.
Day 2: Rome. We got on a suburban train that took us to the metro in Rome. We got off the meetro at the magnificent Colosseum and thoroughly enjoyed a tour in English. We also saw Circus Maximus and toured Palantine Hill which overlooks the Roman Forum. We ate a pizza lunch and gelato for dessert, and were ready to go home, missing a Michaelangelo scuplture because the church it was in was closed until 3 p.m. We were exhausted, and still jet lagged, so we put this special Moses sculpture off until another day when we could get caught up.
Day 3: Rome. This time we went to the Vatican. Toured St. Peter's Basillica and the Vatican museum just trying to get to the Sistene Chapel (super LONG hike!). Didn't get to see Castel Sant'Angelo just down the road, again due to the time of day and the beginnings of fatigue.
Day 4: Lake Bracchiano.
Day 5: Orvieto
Day 6: Rome. Our last day in Italy and we had planned on visiting St. Peter's Basillica again due to how amazing it was! We just had to see it again! From there, we would hit every other monument, sculpture, fountain, and building I had already researched and was excited to see, including the two we had missed our two previous days. But trouble came: the train workers were on strike and wouldn't resume until 9 p.m. that night. We had missed our opportunity to take the train. So, Greg (my wonderfully devoted husband) agreed to drive our rented 9-passenger van into Rome to a metro station just so his wife wouldn't be disappointed. When we hit major traffic, I began to see that this was a mistake. My blessed husband did all he could, fighting back incredible frustration on theh roads, and got his wife to a metro station. But guess what? Even the metro train operators were on strike. So, I decided we'd take the bus into Rome. (I felt that gnawing feeling that it wasn't going to happen. The trip was over. But I ignored this obvious gnawing in my gut and would put my family through just about anything to get into that city! I was a complete maniac!) We talked to two priests-in-training who tried to help us figure out which buses to take into the city and then return on, but I knew what needed to be said. I just didn't want to say it. I began to have tears well up in my eyes and I said to Greg and the boys - we need to go home. We won't be going to Rome today - our absolutely last possible day to go. We would leave the next morning and drive to Venice. Today was the only day we had to enjoy Rome, and we couldn't get there. But we were so close! We left the city behind and drove back to the villa in silence. I couldn't speak a word because I was on the verge of a total , hysterical, uncontrollable sob.
So why Rome, Kansas? Don't give up - keep reading.