It's a Southern thing

Sometimes I have wondered if Oklahoma was considered part of "the south".

I mean, yes, we do wave to strangers driving by on the country roads, say

"ya'll" every other sentence, catch lightning bugs in the evenings, ride in the bed of the pickup truck, and have sweet tea running through our veins.. 

But truth is, growing up, I didn't care for when people would call me "southern". Or "country". Or "redneck". And especially not.. 

"Hick." 

I always wanted to be like un-southernized women.. 

Namely Kate Middleton and Audrey Hepburn. They were sophisticated, classy, and possessed timeless grace and elegance. 

Everything I thought being "southern" was not. 

In my mind, southern people were the hillbilly type. Wearing ripped old clothes with dirty faces, complete with missing teeth and a terrible stench. 

I know, I know. This was just what I imagined that other people meant when they said I was southern. All in my head, I understand. 

But through the years, I have come to really appreciate the wonderful qualities of southern living. 

It's really a grand place. 

Where you have to specify when you want "unsweet" tea.. (All "tea" is served sweet), summer starts in April, chicken is fried, pecan pie is a staple, biscuits always come with gravy, everything is darlin and precious, "ain't" is a word, everything is served/collected in mason jars, and someone's heart is always gettin' blessed! A place where you learn to "hold your horses" and pray "the creek doesn't rise". 

Summer evenings spent looking at the stars, hayrides behind the old tractor, cooking everything from scratch, talking on the front porch swing with a piece of peach pie.. Those are the little things that make this place so special. And that's really what life is all about here.. The little things. Living the slow and simple life. Being grateful for every sunrise and saying bedtime prayers together. 

I wouldn't trade growing up here for anything. 

I do declare it's a little piece of heaven. ❤️