Skillets and Fritters

Do you ever have one of those moments when you suddenly realize that life is good? 

That life is really, really good? 

I had one a few nights ago. 

Now you may not know it, but I am extremely blessed by the fact that I have a boyfriend who is also an INCREDIBLE cook. Not lying. I love the idea of being "Miss Homemaker", but when it comes down to it, I HATE cooking. I have lied to myself for years trying to convince myself that I actually love it, but when it comes down to it, I hate it. It takes so much time, I never seem to have all the ingredients I need, and for the life of me I can't get everything to finish on time. I've realized this summer that when Alex doesn't come over to cook for me, I end up eating ice cream for dinner...and then eat a cucumber to make up for the unhealthiness. I might as well just accept the fact that he loves to cook; I hate it. 

Luckily I don't have to win his heart through his stomach.

The other night Alex came over and surprised me by cooking dinner. Being the awesome man he is, he had gone to the store and bought pork chops with the intention of making fritters (apparently that's what you call fried pork chops). He got out the cast iron skillet (his cooking weapon of choice) and proceeded to do his thing while I started doing some dishes that were left in the sink .

At least I am pretty awesome at cleaning, right?

After covering the pork chops with breading, he put the meat in the buttered, hot skillet. 

[More background info for you: my kitchen has terrible ventilation, and my house is really small.]

Suddenly, my eyes began to burn as I finished washing the last plate in the sink. I looked up from the soapy water and realized that my entire house was filled with smoke. Thick, dark smoke. I started coughing and had to leave the room to breath normally. Then, the smoke proceeded to fill the whole house. As Alex unplugged the smoke alarm, I threw open the windows and doors, set up the box fan, and went outside to get some fresh air. 

Alex stayed in the house and kept cooking, dedicated to the success of the meal.

A while later, Alex emerged from the house with the notorious cast iron skillet. I couldn't help but laugh as he threw it on the gravel driveway, smoke still pouring out of its black edges. A few minutes later, he reemerged from the house bearing 2 delicious looking plates: pork fritters and broccoli. Since the house was still filled with smoke,  we ate sitting in my driveway on the back of my car.

The meal was surprisingly good, with the exception of a few edges that tasted slightly charred. It took a while for us to be able to go back into the house, but I didn't mind. It was so beautiful outside. After a while we finally went in, put in Boy Meets World, and sat on the couch to enjoy the sitcom of our childhood.

As I stood in my driveway contemplating the slightly disastrous dinner attempt, I couldn't help but laugh to myself. It was in that moment that I realized how completely happy and content I am with my life right now.

That is a really good place to be.

Although the other night wasn't anything extraordinary, I realized how happy I was to be sitting in my little house, next to my amazing boyfriend, simply relaxing and enjoying each others company. I am completely content in our relationship; although I look forward to the future, I am thankful for where we are now and I am happy I have the ability to enjoy our relationship for what it is.  I am completely content with where I am in school right now. I am content with my job, my friends, my family, and my life as it is. I am in a really good place with God right now, and I am so thankful that I can see the blessings He has put in my life at this moment in time. 

Who would have thought that that would have come about from a skillet and some burned pork fritters?

**I decided to include a few pictures of other meals he's made for me to prove that he really is an awesome cook. =]