I don’t know how to write this post.

Mainly because I don’t want to write it. And I really want to write it.

I love blogging. I love this community of friends we have here. I love your comments. I love your emails. I love your blogs. I just love it all. And when I say “love”, I mean LUH-HUV. Cause I do.

But I need a break.

I know. “Jump on the blog-break-bandwagon, Annie. You follower.”

And maybe that is true. The Gilmore Girls taught me, “Where you lead, I will follow, any-any-where, that you tell me to….”

But here is what else is true. I’m a sinner and I need to deal with my sin. I’m hurting and I need to deal with my hurt. I’m scared and I need to deal with my fears. I’m a Christian and I need to deal with my God.

Not my blog.

My life is very loud and I need quiet. Real bad. Real real bad.

Especially with an exciting trip to Capetown, South Africa on the horizon, I need my soul to be calm. Right now it feels like a bunch of puzzle pieces, broken apart and shaken up in a mason jar.

That can’t be good.

So. I’ll be back. Before Africa for sure. But I don’t know when. [But trust me, if anything happens with the book, or if I get engaged to someone I have yet to meet, I'll let you know. Those would be SO worth a blog-break-break. And are currently worth your prayers, I hope.]

If you don’t ever come back here because I’ve left for too long, then before you leave, I’ll take this chance to say thanks. I’m a better writer, and a better Annie, because you show up here day after day.

See y’all soon.

Here is Matt’s new video. Yay!!

Good news: I was there for the whole filming and it was a blast and all my friends are in it. It’s like playing Where’s Waldo with a bunch of people that you actually don’t know. [So, I guess that's not so fun for you.] But it was a SUPER cool night and something I can check off my list of things to do in Nashville.

Bad news: In a sad turn of events, I am no. where. to. be. seen. Sigh. That lack of natural trendiness has cost me again. But Stoltz isn’t in it either and he sweats trendy, so I don’t take it personal.

[Sorry you have to watch a commercial before the video starts. Lame, MTV. Lame.]

That’s you. I just have a few world wide web stops I don’t want you to miss.

Yesterday, I was the interviewee [glad you liked it, by the way]. Today, I interview. Over at Bloggable Music Network, you can see an interview I got to do with Joy Williams. I heart her mucho.

Joy Williams Interview Part 1

Joy Williams Interview Part 2

Also, my super great friend Linda has written an amazing book that I’m thinking you are going to want to give for Mother’s Day. Because did you realize that Mother’s Day is May 10? That is not so far away.

Spilt Milk on Amazon.com

So you can click there and get yourself a copy, and then get one for your mama and some of your mama friends. You know. Whoevs.

Wanna read about my trip to Africa? Well, my AH-MAZE-ING blog master Lauren made a special page for the Mocha Club Capetown trip. You can see it at the top of this page (it’s a tab) or you can just click.

CAPE TOWN ’09

Speaking of awesome non-profit organizations that take bloggers around the world and break their hearts, I hope you are keeping up with some of my buddies who are in India this week.

Compassion Bloggers In India

I think that shall wear out your clicker for a while. Amen.

So for years I have read and LOVED the work of Denise Hildreth. And in November, when we were sitting in the same room and she introduced herself to the class, I wanted to stand up and scream, “I LOVE THE WAY YOU WRITE!!” but that would have been embarrassing. [And complimentary, I guess, to some degree. But embarrassing.]

So during our lunch break, I went over to her and blabbered something or another and at the end of the conversation, I was friends with one of my very favorite authors.

And then she asked me to do something that I do. not. do.

Denise Hildreth, author I love and respect, asked me to talk about being single.

I don’t know if you know, but there are 2 things I don’t blog about. EVER. Especially not in a serious fashion. And being single at 28 is one of them.

But because Denise Hildreth asked me to do it, I did.

So you may not like clicking over, or you genuinely may not care [which is totally fine], but if you want to hear my thoughts about the fact that I am still single but praying and hoping to be married at some point, this is possibly your only chance.

Unless Denise Hildreth asks me to do it again. Because apparently, she is the boss of me.

Annie’s Interview Part 1

Annie’s Interview Part 2

Annie’s Interview Part 3

Annie’s Interview Part 4

Annie’s recipe and movie recommendation

[I think there will be a few more posts this month, so I'll add them as they are posted.]

Because I really had no idea that fried green beans were uncommon.

I was talking with Sophie yesterday and came to realize that if she, queen of all things Southern battered and fried, did not know about said bean delicacy, that maybe it was time that all my people got them some education. In the green bean department.

People, meet fried green beans.

They are your regular old pole beans. Not like the flat Allen’s green beans, but the round ones. They are cooked and then smothered in a toasted onion batter and DUH-EEP fried. Then this restaurant serves them with a ranchy horseradishy sauce. No. Complaints. Here.

Up close bean shot? Sure. Don’t mind a bit. It’s my pleasure. Smile, bean. It’s your big moment.

And obviously, I’m eating a salad. Because I’m nothing if not ridiculously healthy.

Here is my cousin Jake going two-sies.

He’s single, ladies. 24 years old. Going to be a teacher. Loves the Lord. Absolutely darlin. So email me if you want to marry him. Just make sure you have a CostCo card, because the man can PUT BACK SOME FOOD.

And because I know this will make your day, HERE is where you can buy these “savory gourmet coated vegetables” [Yeah, that's the official title. Obviously.]. But it appears that these can only be bought in cases, which is a serious amount of veggies. That will cost you almost $50. Blah-dow!

And listen, I am neither your boss nor your mama, but I feel it my duty to say that I’m not sure it will be beneficial to your health for you to purchase 13.7 pounds of fried green beans. You probably don’t want to look at the nutritional information [slash I wish I hadn't seen it].

What can I say? I just love vegetables.

And… you’re welcome.

I have 9,356 things flying through my mind. And there are so many things on the internet that need my attention. [That sounds yucky, but I mean things like facebook inbox, gmail inbox, google reader, etc.] I feel like I’m a bit woven and spun into the world wide web.

So maybe this is a good day to make a list. Some of the 9,356 things are rather private, because I don’t know if you know this, but there are actually a few topics that I don’t write about. [Gasp. I know.] But a list I shall make none the less.

- I am SO READY for my book to get moving. I’m excited about it and I’m ready to start getting it out there. I’ve totally got ants in my pants about the whole thing. But no updates yet. Sorry.

- The PEEPS list is looking good- are you on it?

- I find myself saying, “I know, right?” about every third sentence. I think I picked that up from Linda.

- I had some blood drawn today at a doctor’s appointment and then I took a nap. When I woke up, I was glad that I didn’t die. [And oh, I might be a bit of a medical drama queen.]

- My mom made us Easter baskets and included, praise the Lord, Cadbury eggs.

- I’m going to the SheSpeaks Conference. Mainly because it rules. And Lysa TerKeurst is on my short list of heroes. Will you be there?

- Have I ever told you that my favorite movie is Mary Poppins? It is. Today at least.

- I’m joining Vicki Courtney on her 30-Day Shred Challenge. [Do you know Vicki? If you have a teen daughter, you NEED to know Vicki. I'm just sayin'.] I’m going to start on April 28 so that I finish on May 28. Wanna play along? Here’s the link to the DVD on Amazon.com if you are interested.

- I need to be done by May 28. Because on May 28, I’m going to Africa.  [You didn't see THAT one comin', did ya? More info on that in the near future... but you are going to L.O.V.E it.]

- It makes me sick that I’m missing the Ten out of Tenn movie this week. I heart them, as you may well remember.

- It has literally taken me 3 hours to write this blog post.

- Does ANYONE remember the movie “Ollie Hopnoodle’s Haven of Bliss“? It was a favorite of mine in 1989 and the birthplace of my longstanding crush on Jerry O’Connell.

AnnieBlogs OUT.

When I got on the plane from Atlanta to Nashville, I didn’t notice anyone else.

I am what some would label “self-absorbed” in situations like that where I don’t know anyone and have a destination. As I sat and got comfy, I began to listen to the sounds and conversations around me. [Because I tend to fluctuate between self-absorbed and completely nosy.]

As the flight attendants slammed the overhead compartments shut, the two hens behind me were cackling back and forth about all the ways they plan to stick it to their HOA president. “Oh… I’ll get that gnome and put it right beside the mailbox. That’s against the rules, right?” Nothing says good drama like some neighborhood drama. There was a young guy from Britain across the aisle reading a book and he would audibly grunt in agreement about once every 30 seconds. I wanted to be friends with him, if for no other reason than to hear about this awesome book.

A flight attendant walked by and tapped the man sitting two rows in front of me. “We have a seat in first class if you’d like it.”

My mind began to race. I mean, I know it’s only a 36 minute flight, and I actually have a row to myself, but come ON! Flying from Atlanta to Nashville? Dude must be famous. I wanted to remind her that HELLO I can list a few reasons I should be in first class- namely that I am good enough, smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me. I DESERVE first class as much as famous guy. Just because he is “faayyymusss” [said in a very snotty voice and rolling my eyes].

He stood up and as his shoulders came into view, I saw sand and olive colored fatigues. Graciously saying “Why, thank you,” he moved out into the aisle and headed to the one remaining seat in first class.

Dude wasn’t famous. He was a member of the United Stated Army.  My protection. A servant to our country.

I teared up, realizing for the ump-teenth time that I am officially a jerk.

There are some deeper truths and issues that God and I are going to discuss today. [And by "discuss" I mean, "He's going to deal with my sinful heart".]

Namely, why was I not satisfied with a row to myself?

And dear Annie, it was 36 minutes. Really? REALLY? Sheesh. You are insufferable.

Greater than these, though, is the reminder that my selfish reasons for deserving a first class seat pale in comparison to what got him there.

Sacrifice.

So something really interesting has happened at some blogs that I frequent.

A blogger by the name “Miss Musing” has pretty much been STEALING other people’s posts and posting them as her own. Here you can read about Velveteen Mind’s experience, and CJane talked about it, and so did Azucar who seems tough as nails and I want to be friends with her.

Miss Musing’s blog has been spontaneously combusted by Blogger and Twitter bombed her account. So she’s a goner on the internet. At least under that alias.

But I say all that to say this:

- If you EVER see anything from my blog posted on someone else’s blog, PLEASE let me know. That is plagiarism and it is NOT right.

- If you EVER see anything on two blogs that seem like the same post, leave comments for both people. Someone is a thief and someone is oblivious. Let them both know that YOU know.

- If you find that you love a particular post on a particular blog and you want your people to see it, JUST ASK. I have HUGE respect for the people who handle it that way. That is a compliment to the blogger. When my google analytics pick up a stolen post, that makes me frown. And just FYI, once the blogger hits “PUBLISH” or “POST” it is copyrighted. So to take it without permission is actually against the law. I’m just saying.

- I know there are days when you can hear my friends’ voices in my voice. Heck, sometimes I can literally hear Sophie in my OWN head when I’m typing. Or Sarah. Or even Jason. And for SURE Annie Parsons. That’s different than cutting and pasting posts. That’s me being a vocal sponge and trying to suck all the funny out of everyone else. Cause my people are hilarious and all our jokes muddle together in the same pot in my mind.

In the grand scheme of life, this is not a big deal. But it just tip-toed over the creepy border enough to be blog-worthy. Sometimes I feel like we are all just sitting in my living room talking and drinking chai and then this happens and I’m reminded that Chester Molester or Creepy McCreeperson could be reading.  And stealing.

LAME.

Sorry about that.

While on the plane yesterday, I got to watch 3 episodes of “The Real Housewives of New York City” and the 1 episode they are teasing us with of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey”.  This new season, my friends, is going to be a real pleasure.

I got home and spent a few wonderful hours with some of my Nash-family and it was really sweet. Like. REALLY sweet. Like. LIFE GIVING PEOPLE THAT I ADORE LOVING ME BACK AND WHEREAS I MIGHT HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO EMPTY I AM NOW FULL AGAIN sweet.

And now I’m in the car driving to Atlanta for a week for my dear friend Katie’s wedding.

And my cousin Jake’s birthday.

And my sisters are gathering from all corners of the United States [and by "all corners" I mean "Hawaii and Alabama"].

And I get to see my parents every day for a week.

And Haley and Molly have children that seriously need some Annie time. And Annie seriously needs some Haley/Molly time.

And by the way, I’m not really “in the car” right now, I’m on my couch downloading podcasts so I don’t accidentally die of boredom on the drive to Atlanta.

And I have 3 minutes until I have to leave my house if I’m going to get to my doctor’s appointment in Canton, GA on time AND have time to stop at a Chick-fil-A

And trust me. I will make time for Chick-fil-A.

[For you feed reader peeps, you're gonna wanna click on over for a delightful little homemade video.]

Here’s the recipe for this sweet tea, directly from my Mama.

Use 6 family size Tetley tea bags for one gallon of tea and steep for 5 minutes.  Pour into container with sugar.  I only put about 1 cup of sugar but 1 ¼ is probably more Southern.  Stir till sugar dissolved then add cold water.  If you are in a hurry, add enough ice cubes to fill half way and stir until they melt.

And special thanks to Lady Antebellum for being my background singers. Or… uh… something like that.

Marisa, we need to hear from you in the comments regarding Waffle House. Please and thank you.

To all you Southern ladies and gentlemen out there, give Shannon more tips in the comments. Especially if I did something wrong. Or if you have a different/better way to make tea. I won’t take it personally.

[On the other hand, and for future reference, don't say ONE WORD about my chicken and dumplins. Cause that is a labor of love that I do not take lightly.]