The Future of This Blog

**I'm guest posting over on My Little Sunshines, sharing 10 indoor activities for toddlers! Go check it out!**
With only one more month in the year, I've been doing a lot of thinking about this blog. I have come so far this year--I've started publishing 5 days a week, my numbers have jumped (although they are still in the 250-350 range on every platform), I've found my voice, and I feel like I've found my motivation and purpose. I want to blog because 1) I want to blog and 2) I love the community. I'm not looking to earn money, I'm not looking to be the biggest hit, I'm not looking to be the go-to-girl for information, I'm not looking to be the up-and-coming fashion blogger or photographer. I love this creative outlet. It has been a blessing in my life in so many ways, and I seriously cannot proclaim enough how much I love the people I've met through blogging.  However, that doesn't mean I don't want to continue to improve my blog or grow it. So, I've put together a bunch of questions for ideas that have been mulling around in my head for a while. I want your input on how to plan the future of this blog next year. I would love it if you would fill it out for me and even tweet it out! I want family's and real-life friends' opinions, I want close blogging buddies opinions, and I want third-party-objective opinions. Thanks so much you lovely people!

Count Your Many Blessings

"Everything will work out on the Lord's time."

How many times have I heard this phrase in the past few months? Too many to count. Honestly, I began to hate that phrase. It wasn't helping my stress at all. My faith was diminishing. Not my faith in the Gospel, not my faith in the Church, not my faith in Christ, but my faith that everything will work out and the Lord will get us to where we need to be. 

It came to a head about two weeks ago...we had just been informed with some bad news about electives counting for Justin's major, not being approved for a house, and an interview job scam. I broke down and thought to myself, what are we doing wrong? We read scriptures, we pray, we go to the temple and church, we pay our tithing, we aren't sinning, and we are doing all in our power to help ourselves before depending on the Lord. Why weren't we being helped?

Then, about two hours later, I got a call from an agent saying we were approved for a townhome in Sandy and could we come in to sign the lease that week. We had a home for Rhys! Then, later that week, Justin gets a slew of interviews. Then, last week, we learned that Justin actually doesn't have to take a class, so that's less for him to worry about this term. Then, he got an interview with a bank that had wanted him months ago (to quit school and work for them full-time--wasn't gonna happen). And, this weekend, I got about $700 more on my teacher paycheck than expected--curriculum bonus, maybe?

Via

I think that it is God, especially with that first call two hours after the bad housing news, telling me, "I am here. I am helping you. Have more faith. It will work out on my time. You will get to where you need to be and everything will be fine. Trust in me and be grateful for what you do have."

I definitely am and have been. Justin and I have been so blessed in our marriage. There have been a few scary times, like last year when Justin went to the ER, and then last week when I went to the hospital. But, we've never been in dire need. We've never been in debt, we've never been desperate, we've never been without internet or food or a job or friends. We have a nice, quaint apartment with good quality hand-me-down furniture, family on both sides within an hour, steady jobs, great friends, and a pretty good savings account.

So, today I want to list all that I'm feeling thankful for.

- Finding a nice, two-bedroom townhome with a gorgeous kitchen

- Being able to work afternoons, part-time, starting in the fall

- Our savings account continuing to grow this summer

- Everything we've been given for Rhys, from parents, family, and friends

- The two amazing baby showers I've had with family and friends

- All the love and care our ward has shown us this past week--bringing dinner because of my stupid "modified bedrest" and being able to visit with them at my baby shower. I'm going to miss all of you!

- The hand-me-down furniture we are getting from my parents.

- All the interviews Justin has been getting (cross your fingers for this bank interview--it'd be a great job for us!)

- All the time I've been able to have with Justin this summer since I'm not working (last summer, I worked part-time and it was typically in the evening when Justin was home from school for the day)

- My parents and sister living so close to us to help take care of me last week

- Justin not having to take a class, which means less he has to stress about

- Being able to go to the temple two weeks ago

- Brooke for taking free maternity pictures

- An opportunity I may have for free newborn pictures

- Although it was scary, having an ultrasound while I was in the hospital to discover a potential health risk for Rhys (abdomen measuring small and kidneys working too hard--not life-threatening) so we know it'll be better for him to be born this week than wait any longer

- The feelings of peace and happiness the Lord has blessed Justin and I with the past few weeks

- All the support and friends I have IRL and through blogging

Via

Seriously, I can't say thank you to our friends, family, and Lord enough these past few weeks. And, I'm especially grateful for them for this week: moving and being induced! 

(So, I apologize if, for the next week and a half or so, I'm somewhat absent from social media... I don't know when we'll get internet hooked up in our new place and I don't know how long it'll take to give birth...)

Wish us luck!

And again, THANKS!

Workaholic Syndrome

I am like my father and his father before him:

Free-time is the death of us.

Case and point, my grandpa is a retired farmer. But he is by no means retired. He now takes old farming equipment, messes with it, and then sells it at auction. During his birthday party two years ago, after he was done eating, he left the group of family, went out to his shed, and got to work on some project.

My dad loves having projects--things to fix or improve. When he was stationed in Barstow, California, he became obsessed with geo-caching and that ate up his weekend. Now that he is "retired" (from the Marine Corps, but not from being a lawyer), and is in Utah, he has a yard. So, every time we go to visit, he is working in the yard.

I have had a job since I was sixteen. I have always participated in extra-curricular activities. I have always been a busy, studious student. I work well with deadlines. 

But, I hate down-time. As a child, summer was over for me after a few weeks: I had read all the books I wanted to check out for the summer, I biked, I played outdoors, I went swimming, I slept in late, I went camping, I had sleepovers. Now it was time to go back to school...which wouldn't start for another two months.

As a teacher, Spring Break was hard me both this year and last. I got all I needed to do over the first half, so I could enjoy the second half, but never really did. Justin can attest--I get fidgety and nervous when I don't have something to do or be working on. 

Last summer, although I still had teacher paychecks coming in and we weren't stretched for money, I decided to get a part-time job at a newly opened Subway. I wanted something to do (the fact that my husband was in school and at work all day during the summer helped this decision). I didn't want to be home all day with nothing to work on.

This summer will be the first time I don't work! My school year is done the first Friday of June and Rhys isn't due until mid-July. I have slightly considered getting a part-time job, but who would hire a 8-month pregnant woman who would quit after she gave birth? No one.

I know after having Rhys, I'll be busy getting accustomed to being a new mom. Everyone says I'll be busy. But, I still have to wonder, will I be busy enough? What will it feel like to not have to be anywhere at all during the day? To not have a solid, sturdy schedule? To not have deadlines? How will I react when school starts back up again? I will be taking about 4 weeks maternity leave at the beginning of the school year. But, how stressed will I be? How much planning will I do at home?

With all the other uncertainties of this summer (moving, when Rhys will come, Justin getting a job, etc) how I will react to not working? I've never really considered myself a workaholic until this year. I don't feel that I put my job over my family, but I do enjoy working. I like the feeling of being on a schedule and having something to do, deadlines to work towards, accountability. So, how am I, as a workaholic, going to treat this summer of many, many changes? 

It'll be interesting to see.

Spring and Summer Wishes

One thing that I love and hate about spring and summer is the "Spring Fever" I always get. The weather is nice, the sun is shining, mornings are so tranquil, colors are brighter, and nature just beckons me to come enjoy it--early morning runs, bike rides through the neighborhood, reading on the grass, evening hikes, picnic lunches...

I get an almost insatiable itch.

Last year, it was a little harder to soothe that itch during the rest of my school year. But, teaching in a trailer that required the door and all windows to be open for air helped. Getting home by 3:40 every day was perfect for an afternoon run. The school year winding down worked in tandem with more time spent outside.

This year, I have that same itch, and it won't go away. I'm getting to my 3rd trimester so I can't run as I used to, new state testing and big culminating projects and final projects are being worked on at my new school, and the 50 minute commute exhausts me. Not to mention all the stresses and unkowns about the summer and next year makes me yearn even more for peace and tranquility outside.

What I wouldn't give for my Field of Wishes and Dreams to come back. A couple years ago, the house I lived in for college had a monster lawn with a broken lawnmower. There was also a plethora of snow giving needed water to the lawn. So, come May, it was literally a field of wishes.

- I wish Justin had a solid job offer.

- I wish we knew if we were staying in Utah or not (and oddly, I'm at peace with staying in Utah for a few more years--just NOT in Provo).

- I wish I had been active all this year so I could still be running a lot outside while 24 weeks pregnant.

- I wish I had time to do so instead of getting home at 4:45 or later every day.

- I wish Justin and I were better at budgeting.

- I wish Justin and I were better at not eating out.

- I wish Justin and I were better at leading healthy lifestyles.

- I wish we knew what to do about housing next year.

- I wish I had more time for reading and writing my novels that have been on pause for almost 4 years.

- I wish Justin and my schedules were more open for each other.

If you had a Field of Wishes, what would you wish for?

On Being a Utility Player

I have played soccer for 13 years now. At age 10, I started out as a goalie. My coaches experimented with where to put me on field--defender, sweeper, forward, striker, wing, midfield. I have played every single position there is to play on a soccer team. While my two favorites (and two best) are goalie and center-mid, I am what you would call a "utility player." This means, I know what is expected of each position and I can do what is expected of each position. Not to toot my own horn, but this makes me an extremely valuable player.

However, being a utility player, though valuable in sports, isn't that grand or desirable in talents/hobbies/skills. The reason being is that you don't master anything!

But, that is what I am--a utility player of life.

A Utility Player of Life--Sports

I haven't always played soccer. My parents thought it was important for me to try all different kinds of sports: ballet, jazz dance, t-ball, softball, basketball, field hockey. 

I found soccer when I was 10, and fell in love with it. It also helped that our county had a very strong rec league for soccer. Thus, I played two seasons every year and stayed with the same team until it was time to move to an older league. 

However, as I got into the high school age, our church really liked to play volleyball. So, I got into it. I tried out as a freshman--definitely didn't make it. I kept practicing. I kept playing. I also tried out for soccer, but I was very sick during try-outs (sadly, this was to be a dark coincidence every year for soccer). My sophomore year, I transferred schools and wasn't allowed to try out for any sport. But, I volunteered to be manager for volleyball. I learned the rules of the game, strategies, and technique. I tried out junior year, and the coaches said I could make JV, but the school's policy didn't allow Juniors on JV. So, I was head manager that year, practiced with the team, and even went to camps with the team. So, senior year, I was basically a walk-on to the Varsity team. I still played soccer at the same time.

Now, as a post-college kid, I still play soccer and volleyball all the time. I also run. I found running the summer after I graduated. I learned that I loved it. Although I have no desire to be a marathon runner like my dad, I do love running.

So, I still have 3 sports--volleyball, soccer, and running. I can't ever choose between the three of them. And I will never play on a collegiate team or be a hard-core runner.

A Utility Player of Life--Hobbies and Talents

I have had too many hobbies to count! Reading and writing has always been there and will always be there. Although that past few years (due to my extraordinary work load in 3 jobs and getting a college degree with a 3.8 GPA) I have had very little time to do pleasure reading (fantasy and historical fiction) and writing. I do write besides my blog--poetry and fantasy. I can't wait for the day I have more time for it. I see a lot of my other friends spend hours on end just writing and almost publishing books. Well, even though I won't have to be doing homework or studying, my full-time job as an English teacher is not the type I can leave at work. Teaching is much more than just full-time. It takes up a lot of personal time at home as well--time I could be using to hone my writing skills or other hobbies and talents. And, I because of that, my writing talent (at least fiction and poetic) has diminished a bit.

When I was young, my sister and I were really into collecting rocks. So much that our mom even bought us a rock book. But, although I still like looking at rocks, I don't care other than that.

I play video games. But, I will never be able to beat my hardcore gamer of a husband.

I cook. But I won't be like professional cooking bloggers and I haven't gone to culinary school.

I blog. (Even my blog is a utility blog--it's definitely not a fashion blog, it's not just a cooking blog, not a teaching blog, not a family blog, not a "hard issue" blog...it's a "little-bit-of-everything" blog). I see advice on having 1 set of audience and a niche in your blog--a trend you typically write towards. I'm a utility blogger.

I watch TV. Hahaha. As if that helps me with anything. But then again, I know of the Bachelor bloggers and  I have a friend who is an Office addict and another who knows anything and everything on Star Wars. Nope. Can't do that.

I organize and reorganize. But I don't do DIY and I couldn't base my blog around it.

I've attempted stitching, sewing (made half a doll's dress), crocheting, and knitting. I just can't get the hang of any of them (unlike my 13 year old sister).

I used to play violin and piano. One of my biggest regrets is that I quit. I can still tinker tunes out of them.

I speak Welsh--I can carry on a basic conversation, but I have a goal to be fluent. I just need to work towards that goal.

A Utility Player of Life--Religion

I am Mormon and that will never change. I love my church, and I love the Gospel. But, there are even niches in the Church I don't belong too. I am definitely not the ideal Relief Society type woman--the perfect homemaker, crafter, cooker who will always create cute things for activities or being at your door the instant you are sick or pregnant. I am not a family history guru. I don't have scriptures memorized. I am a not a constant temple goer (although I do go and I love every time I do). I am not a church history guru. I don't play instruments or sing. But, I do love service, I love Relief Society, I love being in nursery, I love family history and reading the scriptures. I also love learning about other religions--not that I would ever convert--but I am curious to see how well they relate to Mormonism and how everything fits together!

A Utility Player of Life--Schooling
I consider myself a life-long learner. I love learning new things, I love discovering new places, reading new stories, exploring new cultures. Favorite subjects of mine have been: History (any and all), English/literature (any and all), Creative Writing, Journalism, Anthropology, World Music, Drama, Sociology, Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology, Geography, Spanish, and Welsh. As you can see, it was a tough decision to do a History Teaching major and English Teaching minor. I would've done a Social Sciences composite, allowing me to teach any and all social sciences, but having to take government/political science and economy classes wasn't worth it at all. So, I am content for now. But, I do plan on going back and getting a Geography endorsement. I also want to go to Grad school, but I don't know what for yet. These are some of my ideas: medieval history, Welsh history, Tudor history, Arthurian lore, European myth and legend, creative writing...too many options!

~~~~~~

As you can see, I am not a master in any one thing. Sometimes I wish I had a niche for myself: be the Etsy crafter creating jewelry or cute crochet items or printables, be the fashion blogger who works with Shabby Apple and Apricot Lane, be the writer who already has sent out inquiries, be the die-hard teacher who has sold lesson plans and planning binders, be the homemaker guru with organization tips and a couponing master, be the nomadic traveler who can photograph the world, be the star of a college sport team with a shot at the majors, be a performance-worthy instrumentalist who loves to give concerts. But, I am none of these because I want to be all of these.

That is one thing I wish for my children. I do want them to explore numerous options, yes, but I do want them to find their niche and prosper and grow in it. As for me, I guess my niche is the life-long learner, willing to try anything at least once, learn a bit of everything--a utility player.

The Type of Mother I Want to Be

A blogging friend of mine, Kate from Raising the Rogers, invited me to be part of a link up today. The topic is What Kind of Mother Are You? Well, I'm not a mother yet, and Kate knows this, so she asked me to answer what type of mother I hope to be.

I've thought about this for numerous weeks. What type of mother do I want to be? How much do I want to be like my mother? What do I want to teach my children? What is most important to me? Then I realized something big about my own personality. My life revolves around Industry. 

Now, I don't mean being a workaholic and making as much money as possible--that's not what I want to instill in my children. No.

I'm thinking of Benjamin Franklin's virtue of Industry (he has 12 others, sort of like his own Happiness Project, which I think I'll talk about in a different post). 

"Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions." -Benjamin Franklin

Dictionary.com:  energetic, devoted activity at any work or task; diligence

I am talking about Franklin's holistic view of industry. That is what I want to teach my children--to not necessarily always be doing something, but be engaged in working toward something. And, I want to teach it to the in 4 different areas (listed least important to most important).

(This is not the only thing I want to focus on as a mother, but it is what came to my mind today.)

When I first got my driver's license at age 16, my mom handed me the keys to the car and told me to go out and search for a job. I did and I have been working ever since. My dad has always had at least one job. He taught me the determination of "pounding the pavement"  until I got the best job I could. I want to continue these teachings to my children. Because of my parent's philosophy of working hard, I felt I could be independent, and I was. I graduated college without any debt, went on a study abroad to Great Britain, maintained a 3.8 GPA and juggled 3 jobs. All my siblings right now have a job, including my 13 year old sister who babysits. If my children can understand the importance of working and being able to rely on yourself and depend on yourself, making you independent, they will grow up that much more mature.

I want my children to grow up with the peaceful feeling of a nice, clean, organized home. Their home should be their safe spot, their refuge. I have started a series on femiology.com called "A House of Order" to help relay my ideas and knowledge of organization. But, I wouldn't have this knowledge if my parents hadn't taught it to me. Before kids get jobs, they need to already know how to do hard work. I learned to clean and help with chores at an early age. Of course, they were age appropriate. I didn't start scrubbing bathrooms until I was almost in middle school. But, I learned why it is important to keep a clean house and I want to help my children understand they can be more relaxed and less stressed if their rooms are clean and the dishes are done. Then, I won't have to worry about how they will do on their own. As a freshman in college, I had numerous roommates ask me how to do dishes or a load of laundry or how to scrub the toilet! I want my kids to know and prepared.

As a teacher who will eventually be a mom, I want my children to know that their parents only expect them to do the best they can. If that is straight A's, wonderful. If it is C-s and D+s and they gave it the best effort they could exert, , than what more can we ask of them? I was a straight A student in grade school, but I remember in 9th grade with my first AP course, I got a D on one of my report cards (in history, no less!). I was so scared of what my parents would think and say and thus, how they would punish me. But, when my mom saw, she said, "It is ok, hon. Everyone is bound to have a bad term." She knew how much effort I had put into the class and she wasn't disappointed. She felt bad because how I felt, but that was all. I want to teach my children I won't be disappointed in them if they try their best.

More than that, though, I want them to always be trying to improve themselves. As a Mormon, our family and home will be centered on Christ. We will go to church every Sunday. We will have family prayer and family scripture reading every day. I will teach them the lessons, virtues, and standards of our church and how to be a tolerant, loving Christian. But, I want them to take it into their own account as well. I want to teach my children the importance of independent daily prayers and scripture reading. I want them to know how much I love my Heavenly Father and Savior and how much I depend on them. I want them to follow that example and get to know their Heavenly Father and Savior as well as I am getting to know them.

Industry also includes hobbies and talents. And I don't mean videogames. Yes my husband and I are gamers and yes, we will probably play videogames with our kids, but that is not being industrious. I want them to find a self-improving hobby and grow their talents. Whether it be arts and crafts, music, sports, writing, or some other talent, I want them to find their niche and I want them to shine. I want them to be diligent and determined. I want them to always be improving some aspect in their life.

I want to instill the concept that Charity is the true love of Christ. To be truly Christian, we must love and serve our brothers and sisters and neighbors. I want to somewhere, have these scriptures showing in our home:

1 Corinthians 13:4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.

Moroni 7:46-47 (found in the Book of Mormon) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

I want to teach my children the importance of loving everyone and being tolerant of others. I did not grow up in Utah, being a military brat, and I met and became friends with people from all walks of life. They all have their failings, but so do I. They all have wonderful characteristics that I could only hope for. That is what I want my children to see--the good in everyone. I want my children to be willing to reach out a helping hand to someone who is hurt or in need. I want my children to be willing to make friends who can't very easily. I want my children to be loving.

In trying to teach the concept of Industry in these 4 areas, in trying to get my children to be "always employed in something useful", to be actively engaged, to be diligent in their doings, I feel that my children will grow up happy and successful.

After looking back at this, and looking back at Benjamin Franklin's 11 Virtues (Temperance, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Moderation, Industry, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Silence, Sincerity, Chastity, Humility), my definition of Industry becomes a blanket term for all of these virtues. Maybe, to make it easy on myself, I'll just read them Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography in which he goes into detail of trying to achieve all these virtues and tell them to be like him. (I'm only half kidding, but I do think I want to read this to them and have them be aware of it, as well as the concept of a Happiness Project throughout their lives).

My Future Him

I want a man who is willing to spend the evening with me, reading and laying on a blanket out on our lawn.

I want a man who is taller than me. That way I can wear my 4-inch heels and still have to stand on tip-toes to kiss him.

I want a man who is smarter than me, has dreams, and always wants to be a student, always learning.

I want a husband who is at least as athletic as I am and loves to run to new places.

I want a man who dares to adventure and explore new terrains and worlds.

I want a man who loves our church, respects his priesthood, and loves the children we will have.

What's In a Rocking Chair?

(mom...if you read this, please send me a pic of the rocking chair I love so much so I can put it on the blog...maybe one with me as a little girl?)
 BTW: This entry is officially dedicated to my mom!

In my Utah history clas, we have been discussing the turn of the 20th century and how the 1900s have changed the face of the state forever, especially in the loss and appreciation of the rich family and home oriented heritage. We read a short story called "Zarahemla" by Douglass Thatcher to illustrate the point.

In this short story, the main character is debating on whether or not to sell his grandmother's old house. It was important to him becuase he grew up in this house, raised by his mother and grandmother. His grandmother was a plural wife to an early Mormon and this house was her own home. It still had a brass bed that the polygamous grandfather slept in and died in. The main character's son wanted that bed. The house was full of memories of the past for the main character--his own childhood and the stories his grandmother told him. It was near and dear to him, it was a part of him. How could he part with this house?

***

That got me thinking of heirlooms.
What do we keep and why? What means a lot to us?

***

For Easter weekend, I went to my Grandmother's. The whole time we talked about life--her life as a child, when she got married, my college life, my obsession and plans for Wales, my non-existant love life. Then we talked about my parents' engagement and early married life. We looked at pictures of when I was a toddler.

In quite a few of them was a dark polished brown rocking chair with pink cushions. I have been rocked and nursed in that rocking chair, same as my siblings. I have rocked them to sleep numerous times as well as my mom. I have sat in my moms lap and cried as she rocked me after a bad day at school. I would rock in that chair and study for midterms. I would hurry and grab it when our Home Teachers came over every month. It is one of the few things left in the house that is as old, if not older, than me.

While looking at these pictues with Grandma, I realized, I wanted that rocking chair!

However, due to military transfers and poor housing economy, my family has moved 3 times within the past 3 years! I couldn't remember if we even still had the rocking chair! I tried to imagine where we would have placed it in our newest home! I was nervous that I wouldn't get this rocking chair!

I called mom. This is basically our conversation.

"Hi mom! Grandma and I were just looking at some old pictures and I was wondering...remember that old rocking chair? Do we still have it?"

"Ya, it's in Dad and my bedroom. Why do you ask?"

"Cuz I couldn't remember if we still had it or not. I like that rocking chair."

"...You want it?"

"YES!"

"We'll see what we can do...It's not super comfy to rock babies in, though."

"I don't care, I want it! Please!"

So now, thank you mom! I may get this rocking chair! Why would I want a 20+ year old rocking chair, that doesn't even have the pink cushions and is difficult/uncomfortable to nurse babies in? Why?
Because it is an heirloom. It meant something to me as a child and thus, it will mean something to me as an adult. Then the circle will continue--it will mean something to my children. And, I'll always be able to remember and have my mom in the house with me every time I rock in that chair.

Summer Goals

Reading:

1) Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan

2) Knife of Dreams (Wheel of Time) by Robert Jordan

3) Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

4) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

5) With the Heart of a King by Brenton Rain Patterson

6) The Fourth Part of the World by Toby Lester

7) Sense and Sensability by Jane Austin

Movies

1) Chocolat
2) The Cider House Rules
3) Hanna
4) Jane Eyre
5) Captain America
6) POTC 4
7) Life, Above All
8) XMen: First Class

Writing

1) Buy a new "Musings During a Random Moment" notebook
(I found my old one! YAAAY!)
2) 50 typed pages on my fantasy novel

Working Out


1) Get back down to 130 lbs
2) (When I'm not doing EFY) run 5 days a week
3) At least once, run 5 miles!

Well, Howdy Ya'll!

I love the South. I do, I do.

I lived 8 years in Virginia during a crucial age - 10-18, all the way from elementary school to graduation. I lived in North Virginia - on the bare fringes of the South, but there were still a ton of Southern families there. I fell in love with the landscape, the people, the community, the cooking. True, I did not like country music - what non-Southerner would? But, as my time there ended, I started to enjoy it - to love it. True, I still can only take a bare minimum of twangy country music, but I have converted.

Even before that, country was in my blood. True, it's a little different then Southern, but some of it is the same. My dad was born and raised in a tiny farming community in Idaho. I, myself, am Idahoan. That's all there is in the southeast corner of Idaho - Country!

All these movies with Southern accents - I love it. Every now and then, I happen to speak in a Southern accent. I lived there 8 years, listening to friends speak with a Southern accent. Then, here at college, I lived two years with Texan roommates. Of course, I was bound to randomly speak with a Southern Accent.

I love the culture of the South. The accents, the big houses, community, barbeques, family, dancing, all of it. I would love to move back there. How amazing would it be to marry a Southern man, proud of where he came from, proud of where he was returning to. Then, to live there all my life, raise my children there, be part of the community...sigh. A dream come true.