days like today.

Today is a jump on a train, eat extra dark chocolate, sun slanting through my window, where in the world are my keys, can one overdose on tea, why can't I find anything to wear, ok, now where's my phone...oh, it's dead (ha!) I'll just curl my hair instead, and despite it all isn't Jesus amazing, kind of day:-) Ever had one of those? Mmhmm, I am. I don't mind. They keep life interesting...like, the spice in a soup that you can't exactly place, but you know you like it anyway. I like these kinds of days. Do you know why? Because, they are a true test to prove what I have going on inside of me, for whatever it might be is what's going to come out full force! And praise His name, all I've done is giggle;-) There have been times in the past that this was definitely not true, times when the ridiculous circumstances around me taught me that I needed to go throw myself at His feet, because I was as far from having anything good come out of me as I'd ever been. I still don't naturally have anything good in me and even still, I at times have to take a moment to be still and quiet and let it sink in that this stuff is very little compared to what I could be dealing with. I've learned that if I take that moment to be still and let His sense of humor fill me, the little ridiculous things become just that, little and ridiculous and very amusing!

So, I've lost my keys...again....what am I going to do about it? Become frustrated and vent about all the things going wrong in my life and how this is the last straw? Nope! I'm going to smile, calm down, stand still, and ask Him to help me find them, because He cares about everything going on in our lives...even lost keys. Isn't that amazing?! I think it is...and how can I possibly have a bad day when I remember that He's right there with me through it all, just waiting to help me find what I've lost, or just hold me in His arms and let me cry just a very little;-)  Because I'm a girl and sometimes a good cry just helps clean my whole world and put things back into prospective...though, I tend to only cry while I'm alone with Him. No need to be dramatic and do it around others, because you know what? No one else is going to be able to hold you or comfort you or understand you like He can. True story. Trust me, I completely get it if you need a good cry for no particular reason, but doing it to draw attention to yourself and your problems is not the right way to go about it. Have a good cry with Him, then allow Him to help you back on your feet, and go face the world with His radiance shining through you!

I always feel so much better when I handle it like this:-) Knowing that He is eager to sit and hold me while I have a bit of a melt down is so incredible! To know that I can be myself, I don't have to pretend with Him because He knows me better than I know myself is the most wonderful thought!!! And to know He loves me too much to just allow me to stay the way I am is even better. That He constantly wants to gently (and sometimes not so gently...because at times I need a good kick to the backside to snap me out of whatever I've fallen into) teach me that I can go ever deeper, ever farther with Him, well, it all just makes me fall more and more and more in love with Him every day! Because, though He allows me to "melt" sometimes, He's teaching me that to know more and more of Him is to become stronger and stronger through Him....so, all the falling apart happens less and less...thank goodness!!

But, just to clarify, I'm not falling apart by any means...far from it! Today is beautiful and wonderful and days like today make me love being alive. Don't you want to just go somewhere with me, friend? We could just hop in the car and drive...to wherever! Or we could go eat ice-cream spontaneously before noon...;-) Or you could come with me to a little coffee shop and sit across from me while I design and you can read...or write, or whatever! Or we could just sit somewhere and just be together, because isn't it a sign of true friendship when you can be together doing nothing in particular?

Have a beautiful day with Him! And laugh at the little things...

i am so relating right now...

this girl I know...

...is quite wonderful! She is truly a kindred spirit and the honest truth is that I adore her. You would love her if you knew her. Here are a few of the things that I love about her:

• She totally understands when I have the wild desire to bake apples in the fall.
• She's spontaneous like I am...this is quite fun and I'm sure will yield some very hilarious situations over the course of our friendship. (Remember Mad Greens, Grace?)
• I never run out of things to talk to her about.
• She makes me laugh.  Like really, genuinely laugh.
• She understands my deep love for the middle books in the Anne of Green Gables series.
• She is an amazing writer, though she needs to do more of it. I could read and read and read her blog...you know what I think? You need to go over there right now and check her blog out! You're gonna LOVE it!! It's the kind of blog that one checks several times a day to see if anything new has been posted.  http://acrossfields.com/
• She sends me random skype messages and emails. 
• Her friendship has pushed me to press ever deeper into my God.
• She has the most awesome laugh ever! Sometimes when I'm with her, I try to think of funny things to say just so I can hear her laugh! True story.
• She will throw together the most random outfit and it looks incredible on her! Like she just stepped off the pages of a quirky, whimsical magazine add.
• She is one of the bravest girls I know. She has battled against some of the most discouraging attacks on her health and the whole time, she's done it with a smile so radiant and a joy so evident, you'd never know there was anything wrong with her. 
• She genuinely loves when I do crazy, weird, random...ok, sometimes scary, but not on purpose...things. (Remember the cop and the round about, Grace?)
• I could go on and on and on, but do you want to know the thing I love about her the most? Her genuine, deep, evident love for her Savior. Her life is a testament to the world of what it looks like to live completely poured out and used up for the glory of Jesus. She is beautiful, not because of how she looks on the outside (though that is quite stunning) but, because He radiates out of her! Lou, I love you. Thank you for being one of the greatest examples in my life of a young woman pursuing her King.

P.S. Seriously, you need to go read her blog: http://acrossfields.com/

surrender and adventures.

Ah, night has finally crept in and this day is finished. Though it was a perfectly wonderful day, there isn't much that can compare to coming home to my lovely english desk (it begs to be sat at), a delicious cup of hot tea, a cozy hoody, a little room lit by soft warm lights, a blog I love to write on, and a God who I've longed to spend time with all day. The delightful thing about this evening, is that it's completely free to spend with Him.

I love looking forward and seeing hours of free time to dive ever deeper into He whom my soul loves....but, I find so often that I do not want this enough. Oh, that I would ache and long to be with Him more than anyone else in my life! I do not want this relationship with Him to be the kind that I can come and go in as I please. For the utter truth is, as one of my dearest friends has said, He is not a "place holder" until that place is filled by a Godly man. He is the place. Period. And I desire to not be found looking for a husband, but gazing into His face always. The beautiful thing I've discovered is, when you're gazing into His eyes, you do not become restless with being single, but long for more time with Him! It's wonderful!

Yet, all of this takes constant surrender...of everything! This is what I'm learning ever so slowly that I must do each and every day. And the more I surrender every area of my life to Him, the more I see how wretched I am! But, praise His beautiful name, He loves me too much to leave me the way I am! Thankfully:-) For the way I am is disgusting. However, do you ever feel as I do, that the surrender seems to go at a snails pace?? So often I seem to be off to a wonderful start....like a herd of turtles! This is one of those things that I've mentioned before when I cry out, "Why can't it happen today, Father?!" And then I read things like this:

"One does not surrender a life in an instant--that which is lifelong can only be surrendered in a lifetime...Maturity is the accomplishment of years, and I can only surrender to the will of God as I know what that will is. This may take years to know, hence the fullness of the Spirit is not instantaneous but progressive as I attain fullness of the Word which reveals the will."      -Jim Elliot

Oh....Jim Elliot said this. Hmmm...well....yes. Of course I know this....but, I still want it to happen now:-) And if it happened now, I would miss out on all that He has to teach me through this endless pursuit of surrender and all that He is! I know I've said this before, but I need to keep repeating it for myself, the waiting on the surrender, or whatever it may be that we're waiting on, is a gift! I never want to wish away a time of learning and waiting, for I know too well the benefits of times such as these. After all, its an endless frontier of going further and further with Him, right? So, let it take my whole life! Pursuing Him, learning to surrender all that I am to all that He is, giving Him the pen of my life and allowing Him to script it, all this is worthy of taking my entire life and all the years that He blesses me with! And can you imagine a more grand adventure?! Ah, there is never a dull moment when I'm living it with Him:-) Remember the adventure that Frodo and Sam went on...oh yeah, this definitely has that beat to pieces;-)

Have you found this to be true in your life yet? If not, I pray that you do! For He is longing more than anything else to take your hand, and with the most beautiful smile on His face and sparkle in His eyes, to lead you on adventures so incredible, you never even thought them possible! Yep, He's that kind of God.

this morning.

It's a beautiful morning and this is ringing like a sweet song through my heart:

Light is sown like seed for the righteous

And gladness for the upright in heart.

Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones,

And give thanks to His holy name.

-Psalm 97:11,12

I have so many wonderful things to be glad about this morning, here are just a few: 

• the Word of God that cuts like a sword through the darkness.
• waking up before my alarm...yep, that's right! 
• nibbling dark chocolate whilst drinking freshly roasted and ground coffee....thank you Lauren!!!
• eating dark chocolate before 10 in the morning...is that allowed? hmmm, maybe not for a normal person, but I love eating chocolate in the morning...and drinking coffee at night...or in the morning...or any other time....:-D
• listening to the "becoming jane" soundtrack. it's beautiful and it's been floating in and out of my days since I bought it last week.
• designing an article for the magazine. So, excited about this one! i so have the best job in the world...no, you don't want to argue this point with me...I'll win;-)
• so I must now insert a tiny little something to someone: Nanu, I know you read my blog all the time and I just want you to know (and for those of you reading who are wondering which grandma I'm talking about, it's my grandma Irene) that I'm thinking about you this morning and I love you so much! Just thought you should know that I think you're the best grandma in the whole world, hands down;-) 
• most of all, i'm glad..joyful....don't you think joyful is a much nicer word? I always have....anyway, I'm joyful that I'm alive, living where I am, doing what I'm doing, and that I have this amazing man named Jesus in my life who's completely stolen my heart.

What are you joyful about this beautiful morning? 

P.S. Did you know that Jesus is completely taken with you too? 

He is and if you've somewhat forgotten, go check out Song of Solomon.

"Like a lily coming thorns, so is my darling...."

3 things.

I only have three things to say:

1. Delicious coffee at wonderful coffee shop.
2. Working with delightful girl at said coffee shop.
3. Eating scrumptious apple cake while drinking delicious coffee with delightful girl at wonderful coffee shop....perfect!

P.S. You should listen to this song by Warren Barfield:

-Love Is Not a Fight-

Love is not a place
To come and go as we please
It's a house we enter in
Then commit to never leave

So lock the door behind you
Throw away the key
We'll work it out together
Let it bring us to our knees

Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for

To some, love is a word
That they can fall into
But when they're falling out
Keeping that word is hard to do

Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for

Love will come to save us
If we'll only call
He will ask nothing from us
But demand we give our all

Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for

I will fight for you
Would you fight for me?
It's worth fighting for

things about autumn.

Doesn't the thought of a God so wonderful, who loves us with such an incomprehensible love, make each day worth living? It does mine, anyway! :-) I was thinking of all the wonderful things that are coming in the next few months with the ushering in of Autumn! Yes, I know I keep talking about it, but you see my friend, I am dreadfully excited about this upcoming season!!! True story. So, here are a few things I'm excited about:

• Am I the only one that's noticed how how much better coffee tastes in the fall? I'm excited about cinnamon coffee this fall!
• Golden aspen leaves...I grew up going to the Blue Ridge Parkway every fall, which is hard to beat when it comes to amazing fall colors...however, Colorado's aspens are quite enchanting with their bright golden leaves in the fall. I don't mind them at all;-)
• Riding my apple red townie bike (aka "Lucy") while bundled up in warm peacoat, soft scarf, and cute hat with braided hair. Yep.
• Oh, I'm excited that I am no longer blonde! Ha! Officially brunette now:-) Gettin' back to my natural look...first time in five years. Feels good;-)
• Ok, I know I'm now officially skipping fall to winter with this one, but I just have to tell you how excited I am to go home for Christmas and be with one whole side of my family that I've never actually been with for Christmas...at least not all of them. Did I mention they're greek?! Oh yes, that's right, can you say "My Big Fat Greek Christmas" here I come!!!! I can't even express how much I love being around them and how much fun they are! *Sighs* Christmas feels a long way off....
• How about being excited for new boots? Well, I haven't gotten them yet...can't really afford them right now...but, I'm trusting that He'll provide them:-) Anyone remember the whole blue dress story?? Yeah, He's good like that when a want suddenly becomes a need...my other pair have a hole, but hey, they did last me for three years...
• Oh, oh, I know! Pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, or any other spicy scent that Bath&Bodyworks invents for their plug-ins!! I'm using Apple Crumb right now and let me tell you, it's autumn in a wall plug! Seriously, you should think about trying this scent out.
• Ginger bread and molassas cookies.
• Thanksgiving!!!
• Being in Jamie's wedding the day after Thanksgiving!!!!!! YAY!
• Baking with the windows cracked and the crisp autumn air mixing with the scent of whatever happens to be baking....could someone out there please bottle this scent?! I would be indebted to you forever!
• Apples! Wish I was close to an orchard...
• Writing to you, whomever you are! I have a feeling this fall is going to produce some very fun blog posts:-) 

What are you excited about this Autumn?? Now, go enjoy some hot coffee (or tea) and anticipate

this delightful season that is almost upon us! Talk to you soon...

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  ~George Eliot

longing.

Back at "my" little coffee shop this morning, in my small corner of the world. Fall is floating about our mornings now, promising that it's well on its way, but not quite wanting to leave wherever it has to come from. I'm longing for autumn to come...funny thing, I'm kind of longing for winter too. I know, I know, when you live somewhere that boasts nine months of winter, it seems to be a stupid thing to wish for. Thing is though, I enjoyed last winter so much, I really am wanting it to come. I think it's because we have more overcast days in the winter....I know I'm strange, but I really do love these days. Take today, for example. It's a perfectly beautiful, sunny day in the 60's...who wouldn't love such a day? Me. Not that I don't throughly enjoy it, because I certainly do, I'd just prefer clouds soaked in gray and heavy with rain....or a great thunder storm. I think it's a quirk that I have...

So, instead I'll sit here not wishing for what I cannot have, but enjoying what He has given instead:-) Even non-rainy days. This is a lesson He's definitely been gently teaching me lately. To be content today, not wishing for tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or next year. Not that it's wrong to long for something to happen, but to not let the longing overtake what might be happening in the now. There are many things I long for and I pray I never lose that longing, for that would be a tragedy. I long for silly things that really don't matter in the long run, but I mostly long to be with Him. Each day that passes, it is made ever clearer that truly, this is not my home. And there is such a deep longing in me that nothing in this world can fill, it only strengthens the knowledge that this really is not where I was made or meant to be. With such knowledge, it strengthens my resolve to not walk down the path of what "I want" because if He made me to ultimately be with Him and He knows me far better than I know myself, it would stand to reason that He knows far better what I desire and need than I do.

Yes, there are many things in my life that I tend to greatly long for. There are many times that I tend to cry out to Him, "Why is it taking so long?! Why must it take this long?? Why can't it just happen now?!" Are you getting the picture of a three year old little girl, stamping her foot, and demanding her questions be answered? :-) So often that is the image I see when I realize this is exactly what I'm doing. What a patient God we serve, who gently smiles at our tantrums and then picks us up, hugs us tight and whispers, "Allow Me to write your story, allow Me to lead you where you need to walk, and allow Me to give you My best in My time, and watch as Heaven is revealed to you on earth." Ah, the waiting is hard, so very hard, and many times painful, but I have learned that delayed gratification yields the greatest reward. And oh, how much more I treasure that which I've had to wait upon.

 There is something so beautiful about loving where I am in this moment. Of looking around and saying, "Yes, there are things I long for and want. However, I am so happy and content in Him, that if nothing ever changes in this life, I will be perfectly happy. For it is not the coming of said events that fulfills me, but Him. And because I'm living life with Him in this moment, I am truly fulfilled beyond all I've ever imagined."

Sitting here at this little table. listening to beautiful music, designing things I only ever dreamed of, sipping hot coffee and enjoying the sunshine, I can think of nothing else I would rather be doing in this moment.

Are you content today?

of a coffee shop and tree climbing.

This is a very good day indeed. Why, you may ask? Well, I'll tell you why. I have found the most adorable coffee shop that I plan on spending every afternoon at for the next...well...at least week:-) It's tiny and in a town I didn't even know existed, but the coffee is wonderful, the environment is perfect to spend hours designing in, and over all, I can picture myself cozied up in this little place with snowflakes falling down all winter...Plus, there's the friendliest little tree that sits right outside the front door and with such a beautiful little tree beckoning one in, I really never stood a chance in not loving it anyway...well, that and the fact that it's a little red stone building with large black carriage lanterns hanging on each side of the brick red door. I'm enchanted really.

So, here I am, thinking of how I can think of nowhere else I'd rather be on this lovely English sort of afternoon. Do you know the kind of afternoon I'm talking about? The kind where the clouds hang heavy in the sky, not allowing even the tiniest ray of light to escape straight through, but filtering every last drop of sunshine until that which does fight it's way through is reduced to a soft gray glow. The kind of afternoon that holds a wonderful mist and would almost enchant you into thinking that you truly are in England...Yes, it's that sort of afternoon. Coffee tastes so much better on such an afternoon and I truly do come alive in this kind of weather. It makes one want to ramble about and discover all kinds of amazing things around each corner...oh, I was not meant to live in this country! Come, let's steal away, shall we? Let's steal away and ramble over moors and through tree laden forests, discovering Robin and his merry men or Peter and his Tink. Let's wade through shining streams and climb as many trees as we can. I love to climb a good tree whenever the occasion arises...personally, I think it's a wonderful way to spend a significant amount of time. When I was a little girl, I spent a good portion of each afternoon perched on the upmost branches of a stately magnolia tree. That tree became so many things to my little girl's imagination. At times it was a tower where I was locked away, waiting for Prince Charming to come and rescue me...though, I never actually imagined a "Prince" but just some brave hero who would brave the moat around said tower, which was filled with loads of alligators of course:-) Other days, that tall tree with its large waxy leaves became a haven for hundreds of sick and hurt "animals" that I would rescue and bring back to my castle or a large orphanage where hundreds (yes, I took care of them all by myself) of children found a home. Other days, it was just what it was, a large and tall tree who's high branches could evoke the most amazing day dreams. To this day, if I can find a tree that offers the sort of branches that beg to be climbed, they really need not beg, for I'm quite addicted to tree climbing...or birch swinging....

So was I once myself a swinger of birches.
And so I dream of going back to be.
It's when I'm weary of considerations,
And life is too much like a pathless wood
Where your face burns and tickles with the cobwebs
Broken across it, and one eye is weeping
From a twig's having lashed across it open.
I'd like to get away from earth awhile
And then come back to it and begin over.
May no fate willfully misunderstand me
And half grant what I wish and snatch me away
Not to return. Earth's the right place for love:
I don't know where it's likely to go better.
I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree,
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches. 

                                                  -Robert Frost

                                           

for beth.

I am blessed for many, many reasons. I have so many people in my life that have shaped me and molded me into who I am and whom I love dearly. However, there is one lady in particular who I'm thinking of this evening. You see, I came to the realization this past year that I definitely do not express to those around me just how much they really mean to me. I feel it so deeply and just assumed that of course they knew...but, how can they when I don't actually say it. Duh. So, I'd like to make sure that this wonderful woman knows exactly how I feel and that there is never any doubt...ever.


Dearest Beth,
     As I sit here this evening, you have really been on my heart and I realized that I truly have not told you just how much you mean to me. I've never told you how what you've done, what you've not done, and what you've been has truly shaped my life. In all the years I've known you, since you came into our family, you have never once gotten involved in the drama and ridiculousness of things that have happened. You've taught me that it really is ok to let the drama pass by and just smile. You have never questioned (at least, not out loud...and you'll never know just how much that's meant to me) the decisions that I've made, you've just quietly stood by and assured me that you supported me no matter what I chose to do. Through all the terrible things that come with a broken family, you came in and did not ebb and flow with the sea of emotions all around you, but were this amazing rock who was just still and solid through it all. At least, that's what I saw and I have not seen this very often in my life. I can't imagine how hard it's been for you, but I want you to know, now that I'm an adult (and because it's so much easier for me to write out what I feel) I truly, deeply, appreciate you more than you'll ever know and far more than I'll ever be able to capture with words. I absolutely love being around you, I love talking to you, mostly because you never demand anything of me. You never try to drag things out of me, or come up with reasons why I do what I do, or manipulate me into telling you things...You just let me be and because of my personality this makes me want to be around you all the more and actually share what's going on in my life. Thank you for that, for this also has been very rare. And, when I'm not around you, I really miss you...a lot. I really, really do. And, do you know how proud it makes me when you introduce me as your daughter? Maybe you've never thought about it, but it means SO much to me:-) I love the fact that I'm your daughter. Trust me when I say, if you had had children of your own, they could not love or admire you more than I do. So, thank you. Thank you for being you, for loving me and being my friend, and for being the most perfect example of a stepmom. Yeah, you rock the whole stepmom thing! I love you.

"An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels...Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also,and he praises her, saying:"Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all."    -Proverbs 31:10, 28, 29

-Me

how in the world...

did someone find my blog by using the key words "foggy forest horse"...in that order...ummmm....hmmmm....I'm sorry, what?? I laughed at this...very hard:-) And of course, I had to share it with you! Hope you're having a beautiful day with Him!

"Our only business is to LOVE and DELIGHT ourselves in God!"  
            -Brother Lawrence


Thank you Mandy for this wonderful quote!!

today.

Had a wonderfully beautiful rainy day here today. I love the rain...I feel like I come alive with every drop that falls from the ever changing sky. If I could live in a place that rained at some point in every day, I think I'd be really, truly content...well, I am really and truly content now, but there would definitely be a small corner of my soul that would smile with joy it only knows with the coming of rain. True story:-) There are times after long stretches of sun that I ache for the rain to come. I realize this is not normal, but there's just something about the rain...I feel as if the face of my God is that much closer in the rain.

So, feeling Him draw closer because of the rain...:-)....I was thinking about many things today. There was a constant dialogue going between He and I...me asking where, when, how, and He answering with a gentle smile, "I'll let you know, don't worry. Today you are right where you are suppose to be, doing exactly what I've called you to do. And every single thing you do, no matter how small, no matter who it's for, is all for the glory of My Name." Oh...that's right...I mean I know that, I just don't always think about it. There are so many times I get caught up in the grand picture that dances before my eyes. Perhaps it's the precious children I long to rescue, the weak and forgotten I want to give His voice to, the least and broken I want to be His hands for....perhaps it's all this and so much more. Yet, today He has called me to be right where I am, loving on four of the most precious kiddos I know, working for some of my best friends in the whole world, building relationships, cooking to make things easier, giving my time so others can have more of their own to do what He has called them to, looking for pictures, designing, coming to know seven of the most beautiful women who radiate Christ in every way and who I have the pleasure of working with as well, loving my family, loving those He's placed in my life, blogging...:-)....yes, all of this and more. This is what He's called me to today. Today, He has not called me to the mission field. Today, He has not called me to rescue an orphan. Today, He has not called me into the darkest corners of this world to shine His light. Today, He has not asked that I live in a hut in a country that is poor beyond comprehension. Today, He has not given me an orphanage or children to fill it. Today. Though He has not called me to any of this here in this moment today He is clearly showing me that, today, every single thing He has called me to do, no matter how small, is preparing me for all of these things He'll call me to do in the future. And though I may feel they are small and have no meaning today, He is teaching me that I need not have praise for any small thing, but simply learn the lesson they are to teach, so that tomorrow, when my days are filled with all the "big things" I will be wonderfully equipped to handle them...and discover that it was through the "little things" I learned to do today that He taught and made me ready for all that He has called me to tomorrow.

things we (...I) learned on our road trip.

DAY 1:

•  Don’t drink a gallon of coffee before trying to drive 18 hours...really, it makes for a long trip. 

• Aja can squeal at a pitch that should not be humanly possible to reach when she finally sees a Chick-fil-a sign after looking for one for hours.

• Looking over, Aja says, “I have a confession to make.” Preparing for something very serious I turn to her, giving her my full, undivided attention and seriously reply, “Oh, ok. What is it?” Without cracking a smile she says, “ I like Justin Bieber. Like, I really like Justin Bieber.” Watch out world, Aja has Bieber fever!!!

• When stopping at a Kentucky gas station, we learned that the people there are actually our long lost family that we never knew about! Seriously. One nice older gentleman wanted to know where we were coming from, assured me that that was a LONG way (yes, my back side agrees with you, dear Sir), that we needed to take our time and not drive too fast, and made me promise him that we would definitely stop and get a hotel room...twice. You would have loved him, Nanu!

• We love to randomly shout out “Paducah!!” and “Buckboard!!!” while driving...randomly...

• Don’t try to make Aja laugh while eating a cherry...it’s highly possible you could possibly inhale your own cherry pit...yep.

• If you hit a “jail worker” in Illinois, you get fined $10,000...no, we did not put this to the test...however, Aja without any hesitation yells out, “LET’S DO IT!” .....if I was concerned about her before.....

• Missouri boasts some of the most amazing lightning ever! It’s an amazing way to stay awake while driving at 2 in the morning....who needs coffee when one has a lightning show??

DAY 2:

• Upon stopping for candy corn and a book on tape at Cracker Barrel, Aja seriously informs me, “Well, we need to go ahead and get gas, because Kansas is a PSYCHO state and we might run out before we get to another gas station!! ” 

• While pumping gas at said station, hold on tight because there is a high possibility that Kansas could mistake you for Dorothy and blow you to Oz!

• Aja and I both decided that, “Sushi is like fireworks in our mouths!” True story.

in which I eat....

So, here's the thing. I'm southern...like, really southern, which is a beautiful thing...I think;-) I love that I come from the south! You won't find anyone more proud of their state, in fact, now that we're on the topic, I one hundred percent think South Carolina is the most beautiful state, hands down. I am biased:-) There are many other states that have stolen my heart (namely Oregon), but if asked, I will fiercely defend how incredible my home state is (Charleston anyone?) and not accept any other place as coming close.

Yes, the low country of South Carolina is a hauntingly beautiful place, boasting some of the best food in this great land of ours. 'Twas in said low country, that my taste buds experienced something new this evening. You see, I am of the strong opinion that I should try most things, at least once. Not the insane "let me go out and eat the lining of a cow's stomach" kind of anything. But, the normal and sometimes strange "if you're going to go to many different countries you need to get out of your food bubble" kind of anything. And so it was that I found myself sitting in Ms. Flo's restaurant in beautiful Murrel's Inlet, South Carolina this fine summer evening. Not just sitting, but seriously considering something new (thoughts of a plate piled high with baby octopus while living in South Korea flitting through my head) and quite far from my comfort level to try as an appetizer. However, I like a good challenge, especially when it comes to something like this so looking at my Dad, I inquired about said menu item. Saying that he'd quite enjoyed it when he'd eaten it in the past, I bravely agreed to take the plunge and try some.

The waitress, having assured me that I was going to love what was about to be placed before me, scurried off to wrestle said animal so that we might have the most fresh and delectable version....ok, well not really, but she did hurry off at quite a little clip, seeming very eager to have it back out to us. And back she did come (in record time I might add....or was it that I was just wishing for a bit more time to prepare myself for said food?) placing before me something that looked nothing like the animal it had come from. Slowly, I raised the battered, seasoned, and deep fried (I know this is shocking to all my friends who know what a health nut I am) object to my mouth and....crunch...."Now," I thought to myself, "what do you honestly think about this?" myself answered back, "Delicious!" Though, looking back, I'm not sure that the batter and seasoning were not a bit of a ploy to cover up a bit of the flavor...maybe someone who has had the unfried version would be able to enlighten me a bit more?

Now, can you imagine what said item could have been? Oh, look....there's a picture of one below! Gator anyone?