Day 26 - Simply Flowers

"A life without loving you is like a year without summer."

Who knew how much flowers could brighten a room? a day? every morning? and my heart? 

Is it just me, or has this winter felt like one of the longest?  I miss the sun shining and flowers blooming and blue skies and green grass and birds singing! I absolutely cannot wait for spring! I feel it is coming soon.

I received these flowers from my wonderful Valentine :) It is such a warm blessing waking up every morning to my daisies reminding me not only of my boyfriend's love for me, but the beauty God has created simply in flowers.  It is amazing how a simple thing like flowers can brighten up my days.

Cherish the simple things today my friends and remember that you are loved!

Day 23 - Giving Love

"O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."  

-St. Francis of Assisi

So recently I've been so very concerned about my relationship with my boyfriend; concerned that he does not possess all the things that I need.  Is he strong enough in his faith to keep mine strong?  Does he consume his time focused on things that I also care about?  Does he have the same interests as me?  Soon I found myself in a spiral of thoughts convincing myself that my boyfriend is not good enough for me.  In this tornado of negative thoughts, I kept digging myself deeper and deeper into thoughts of things he should be doing for me.  I can imagine how I am driving him crazy telling him all these things he needs to be for me!  How self-consumed I have become!!

Today God spoke to my heart and I discovered that I have been asking all the wrong questions.  I should be asking: "How can my faith benefit him?"; "What can I do to focus on the things that he likes?";  "What can I show interest in that he is interested in?";  "Am I being good enough for him?"

So from now on, I will put him before myself.  Providing him with understanding and love. And asking him, "What can I do today to make you happy?"  And giving him a hug for free, not looking for anything in return.

Day 2 - What is Valentine's Day Really About?

Today is Valentines Day and what a perfect day to find love, right? Valentine's day is a day where everyone is so concerned with romance. Honestly, today I found love, but not in a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates or a fancy dinner. I spent the beginning of my day spending time with a girl friend of mine. We shared lunch and enjoyed eachother's presence in our lives by focusing on who really has created and formed our relationship, God. I love getting lunch with her because we always share a prayer together before we begin eating. At first this was really awkward for me, because I was so concerned about what other people may think of us. You know, like weird religious people. As we were praying today, two girls at a table next to us began giggling in awkward confusion. It was then that I realized it's not me who it is awkward about praying publicly. It is others that omit to recognize the presence of God in their lives that feel awkward to witness the beauty of people praying before them. I felt beautifully unique to allow others to witness publicly that I love God.

As I am trying to reflect on today about God's presence in my life, I would definately have to say he showed his face in the relationships I have with others. Since it is Valentine's Day, it was an excuse to let others in my life know how much I love them! I wrote my boyfriend a love letter and it reminded me of the simple joy of having a companion like him in my life. I honestly believe that it is such a blessing that God has allowed us to fall in love. Love is a gift from God. I would like to take a minute to thank Him for blessing me with all those who love me. I especially want to thank God for the love He has for me. That is it. On Valentine's Day, love is gift from God and can be found in many many ways, not just a box of chocolates.

God has definately presented Himself to me through my boyfriend in numerous ways. Today on Valentine's Day, we spent the day playing in the snow, which might I say is another beautiful gift from God. I mean not only is snow a beautiful phenomina that falls from the sky and creates a white blanket covering the earth; it is also so much fun to play in!! We spent the day throwing snowballs at eachother, making snow angels, attempting to build an igloo, creating a snowman of our own, tackling eachother in the snow, kissing eachother in the snow, and sharing our smiles because of the blessing of this day together. My boyfriend's love for me is an absolute presence of God in my life and I am more than grateful for all that our love has given me.

Happy Valentine's Day :) Enjoy the Love that you have been blessed with today.