Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Learning to Shine

The Kindergarten at Will's school put on a program this morning. I am disappointed with my pictures. I think my camera has been acting funny. But, I wanted to quickly share what I got.
They have flashlights around their necks because they did a really cute version of "This little light of mine" using the flashlights. I loved it!

Will and John Burton- his best little buddy
Avery, Maggie, and Will

I made star cookies for our little "stars."

The top cookies have a lemon glaze and yellow sugar glitter

These have the same lemon glaze and yellow icing dots

Southernness

Lest you think "Southernness" is not a real word, I assure you it is. Merriam-Webster defines it as "of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated South."

This definition doesn't really do it for me. I mean, how can a region be "conventionally designated South?" It either is, or it isn't. Graciously allow me to expound....

Many factors have me thinking about the South lately:

I recently finished reading The Help, one of the most extraordinary books I have read in years. Kathryn Stockett is my favorite new author. This is her first book, but undoubtably will not be her last. She captures the mood of the South in the 1960s down to the chicken salad and starched table cloth at bridge club.

Tim McGraw (not my favorite) has a new song out titled "Southern Voice." The lyrics are catchy. I even find myself humming along "C'mon in chile, i'm sure glad to know ya." He references all kinds of Southern icons: sweet iced tea, Faulkner, Daytona Beach, Scarlett, and many others. The band Alabama had a song many years ago called "Song of the South." It is, in my opinion, a much better song about the South than this new "Southern Voice" song. It speaks of "sweet potato pie and a shut my mouth." Oh, to have the perfect opportunity to use the phrase "shut my mouth" is indeed a glorious thing!

My parents recently had a neighborhood garage sale and my mother cleaned out attics, closets, and my old room. I found an envelope full of graduate school applications that were never mailed. One was to the University of Mississippi Center for Southern Studies. That is right, I wanted to get a Masters Degree in Southern Studies. Can you think of anything more fascinating than an entire course load full of classes such as: Anthropology of Blues culture, The South in Film, Civil Rights and Liberties, and Appalacian Folk Craft? I can't. But, then I met JohnWill. So instead of a Masters Degree in the South, I got John Will. Not a bad trade-off. (I tell him I am still going to go down to Oxford some day and get that degree. We both know that's never going to happen.)

Monograms. Southerners love monograms. We love monograms on our clothing, towels, bedding, bags, dishes, silver, stationary, hair bows, slippers, and even cars. I recently had a conversation with a friend from Illinois who is a convert to our monogramming ways. She said her friends up "there" don't understand why we want our name on everything. I don't understand it either, I just know we love them. Maybe if I had my Masters degree in Southern Studies I would have learned this in History of Monogramming 101.

I took Southern Literature in college. It was my favorite class of all the classes I took for my English degree and it was taught by a beloved teacher. As a part of the class, she took a group of students on a literary tour of Oxford, Mississippi. We toured Rowan Oak, home of Faulkner, and the cemetary where he is buried. My final paper for this class was titled "Is the South in Danger of Losing its Identity?" I don't remember the answer to this question. All I remember is some vague reference to deviled eggs and funeral food. Maybe this is the answer.

11-20-09

In case you were wondering, why yes, I have already purchased my movie ticket from Fandango. Why yes, I will be seeing this movie on 11-20-09.

(I must apologize. I have been cooped up in this house with a very sick 3 year old all week. I need something to look forward to....)