sweet home alabama

I never thought I would say this, but you know, I really love living in the South.. It just feels like home to me, where all of my best memories are. I used to think that when I grew up I would live somewhere exotic and foreign (Egypt?), but the older I get, the more I love the south. I'm not saying I would never leave, but I would always miss it. Constantly running into people you know, sweet tea, family, that twang, the opening notes to "Sweet Home Alabama", and of course, football.. all of these are comforting to me. I don't even think I could date and for sure not marry a non-Southern boy. They're just more charming, and certainly more conservative and polite. Who would ever understand my family's love for pie like a Southern boy? After all, Rhett Butler is my ideal man. At least as long as he looks like Clark Gable.

I don't know what prompted that proclamation of love for my home, but there it is.

I've been doing some reading lately, and I have fallen in love with a new book series! Well, they're new to me at least. If you haven't read "The Hunger Games", then you should. Well, not if you're looking for something light and fluffy, but if you like intense books, it's a must! It's like "1984" meets "The Most Dangerous Game". Supposedly there's going to be a movie made of this book sometime soonish, so hopefully this series won't become like Twilight.

Another one that my friend Brittany recommended to me is called "What's a Girl to do?" and it's a Christian book about dealing with breakups and such.. it's also very good. However, sometimes books like that are hard to read. Because it's things that I know deep down, but don't want to actually have to deal with. Such as when the author makes the point that it is much better to wait to be married until God's time for you than to take it into your own hands and end up being miserable. Obviously, that sounds reasonable, but I just get so impatient sometimes. It always seems so much easier to plan things my way, but I always get knocked back down when that happens. Sometimes it's just so hard to completely surrender my plans to God, even though I know deep down, that His way is so much better than my way. Even if it does mean waiting until I'm 35 to get married.. (ugh!)

I know this is mainly a food blog and I haven't written about food much lately, but there isn't much to say.. Meghan's gone home for the summer, and it's no fun cooking for one person. Not to mention that I haven't had much appetite lately.. I lost 4 pounds this week! However, the heartbreak diet is not one I would recommend.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " Jeremiah 29:11

the start of something great?

The past few days have really led me to wonder, do we ever really know people? We know what they tell us, and how they act around us, but we can never know if that's the real person, or simply the act they put on for us. I wonder this because JP broke up with me, insisting that he is neither entirely comfortable nor entirely happy around me.. oh btw, he still loves me. Yeah, you're right, that doesn't make ANY sense. Oh well, he can run from difficulties his entire life if he wants to, that's his prerogative. Just don't drag me down next time.

I thought it would be horrible and all to be single again after so much time, but honestly, I haven't even been that torn up about it. Maybe because he's already been in WI for a month, so I haven't seen him anyways, who knows.. but I am excited, because since it didn't work out with him, that means God has someone so much better for me out there and I can't wait to meet him!! No sense crying over spilled milk..

Other than that, summer continues to drag on. It has seriously been a horrible summer. All I do is work and go to class, and it's too ridiculously hot to even want to go outside. Never thought I'd say it, but bring on the fall semester!