You Can Take A Southerner Out of the South...

Seriously, ya'll, I did not intend to blog about the South while we were gone.  I wasn't even sure I would post often other than the 34 Weeks of Clean posts that are scheduled and ready to go, but once we got here, well, how could I not share!?!

Just for a quick background - we are officially Southerners, so it is OK to poke fun at ourselves.  We were born in this area and raised here until we went to college.  But, since we got married, our time has been spent mostly in the mid-west area and we have been OK with that.  I often tell people we are southern traitors.  I do not miss the heat, the bugs, the hurricanes or the tornadoes.  I am a wimp like that!

Nevertheless, as they say (whoever they is)-you can take a southerner out of of the south, but you can't take the south out of the southerner.  It is in our blood I guess, and it has taken this unexpected trip to remind us that this area does hold a special place in our hearts.

It also provides a lot of laughs!

Like seeing places called PooBahs (a clothing store, believe it or not), and Mr. Bunky's Market, and a restaurant called Lizard's Thicket (don't even want to know what they are serving there!).

Then there are places like the Piggly Wiggly, Krispy Kreme, and Bojangles!

And waitresses named Princess.

And the sincere smiles and welcomes and yes ma'ams!  Oh how I have missed that!

There is enough moisture in the air to swim through and Ashton's curly hair is soaking it all up! (this was at the end of the day, after her brother had combed it.)

There are beautiful purple wisteria plants in the trees and azelas in full bloom everywhere.  It makes my heart smile and my sinuses hurt.

Today for lunch we were welcomed like long lost family and told goodbye like they meant it.  The waitress teased us about hospitality and had a full conversation with Colby.  She took time to pay attention.  She called as honey and sweetie, maybe in the same sentence!

There is red clay everywhere.

And palm trees.

And even mountains.

People here speak like us, and yes, we are falling back into Southern speak quickly.  Even Colby is perfecting his Southern accent.  Won't his Guatemalan foster mom be proud. ;)

And last night someone told us to have a nice night, and used 5 syllables for the word "nice" alone!!

We giggled and told ourselves Welcome Home!

Blessings,