You've Gotta Be Polish...

My Latest Book Obsession

I purchased the Hunger Games trilogy of books a few weeks ago.  They were sitting on my coffee table for a few days and then I could resist no longer... I had to give in and read them.  I had been trying to decide whether or not to read them or wait until I'd seen the movie that is coming out in a few months first.  They were really enjoyable.  I love it when I want to stay up late to see what is going to happen.  Mockingjay also helped pass many hours in the airport this past week. 

Comfort Food

I made my very own version of Mom's dumpling soup last night and it turned out very well for my first attempt at the dish.  It's one of those things that tastes even better because it reminds me of growing up and being with family.  If anyone got sick while we were kids, Mom made sure to cook up a big pot of chicken dumpling soup.  You always had to watch out for the WHOLE black peppercorns she threw in there to "burn out" the sickness.  My recipe used some leftover ham and potatoes from dinner the other night so it was more creamy than brothy.  Perfect for cold weather. 

The Bright Side

I'm not crazy about winter and the cold weather it brings.  This year, we've been blessed with really mild weather and little to no snow.  It will likely be a brown Christmas.  However, there are a few good things about colder temperatures:

• Flannel sheets!  I love crawling into a cozy bed in the winter (but it is a lot harder to get out in the morning). 
• My little electric "fireplace".  It may be cheesy not to have the real thing, but I like to watch the flames and the warmth it brings. 
• All of the Christmas lights as I drive around town.  They make me smile even though it's pitch black when I leave work in the evening. 
• Mulled apple cider.  YUM. 
• Baking again- I don't do much of it in the summer.

Marriage

I just read this article about how fewer people are getting married and/or waiting longer to get married.  I don't think this is a shock to most people.  I am in that percentage of "older" singles.  However, it's sad that so many young people think it is an obsolete institution... yet they think it's fine to have kids outside of marriage.  This creates an environment that is less likely to result in healthy, well-adjusted children.  I saw a study that said that children living with a mother and her boyfriend (even if it is the child's father) are more likely to be abused than if the couple were married.  This is unfortunate not just for these kids, but for the rest of our society because everyone "pays" for it eventually.  Marriage is not easy and perhaps that's why people prefer to ease of non-committal relationships.  I hope that people will learn to become more intentional before getting married and that results in more successful marriages and good examples for all the young people out there.