In the Name of Love & Other Things {Part 3}

Valentines Day. Some of us love it. Some of us hate it. Some of us are indifferent. Either way, there is a day, and that day is focused on love. Today is the last day I will be sharing some thoughts of love.

Happy Valentines Day! This is the day we've all been waiting for either with anticipation or with dread. Tonight I'm going to see fireworks set to music over the frozen lake with my family {my true loves}. But first, today's edition will be focusing on the beautiful components of love.

• It brings out the best in people.
• It is inspirational.
• It is wonderful to experience.
• It is a blessing to watch.
• It teaches us about our heavenly relationship.
• It promotes peace and unselfishness.
• It grows healthy people.

We've already established love is sad and difficult, but it can be so much more and better than that. It can be our life motto. It can be our driving force. It can be the fruits of our labour. So whether you are living romantic love, family love, friendship love, spiritual love, or many more types of love, strive everyday to become better at loving. Because sometimes love is beautiful.

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In the Name of Love & Other Things {Part 2}

Valentines Day. Some of us love it. Some of us hate it. Some of us are indifferent. Either way, there is a day, and that day is focused on love. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, I am sharing some thoughts about love.

Today's edition will be focusing on the unrealistic expectations of love.

• It is not all-fulfilling.
• It is not the reason for living.
• It is imperfect.
• It makes mistakes.
• It requires more forgiveness than we prepare for.
• It requires constant work.
• It will disappoint us.

Someone once told me that love and marriage are hard work, because if we don't work at it, we will lose it. This same person said that it is easy to love our children and work at those relationships. But as for our spouses, that love is not always easy. But Lord-willing, we strive everyday to become better at loving. Because sometimes love is unrealistic.

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In the Name of Love & Other Things {Part 1}

Valentines Day. Some of us love it. Some of us hate it. Some of us are indifferent. Either way, there is a day, and that day is focused on love. So for the next three days, I will be sharing some thoughts about love.

Today's edition will be focusing more on the sad parts of love in this world.

• When people sacrifice character or values or morals or beliefs in the name of love.
• When people feel negatively pressured in the name of love.
• When something that was once love can turn into something so closely resembling hate.
• When human love isn't enough. 
• When people feel unlovable. 
• When love isn't returned. 
• When love is conditional.

True love isn't attainable in this world. There I said it. We are human. We are selfish. We are imperfect. But Lord-willing, we strive everyday to become better at loving. Because sometimes love is sad.

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Ty & Flaxee

Goodness knows I've talked about and pictured Flaxee lots on this blog, and this past weekend, my girl got MARRIED!!!! What a beautiful wedding. Pastor Johny called it "Something right out of Pinterest" which was exactly true. Here are some snapshots.

Congratulations to Tyler & Flaxee!

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No. 364 - Embrace Your Surroundings

Can you believe that this is the second last photograph? Since I've already known what my last picture would be for some time now, I thought it only fitting that the second to last would include my family.

This is my family. They are my best friends, biggest supporters, favourite people, most valued influence, and I could go on. However, living with these two has shown me the value of embracing the time when you have it. I did not always have the opportunity to live in the same household as either Dad or Brother, so lately, I've been really trying to make a conscious effort to enjoy living with them now. 

And it pays off. I love being around them, and they can make me laugh like no other. They put up with all my crazy crafty hippie shenanigans. And in turn, I get unparalleled support. So, I'm taking this time {and I encourage you too} to embrace my surroundings. Here are some other shots from the family dinner.

LAST PICTURE TOMORROW! WOOT WOOT!

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No. 209 - Going To The Chapel . . .

. . . and we're gonna get married.

It seems like there are a lot of weddings happening currently. All of this marital stuff has got me thinking about relationships and marriage. Not in the oh-I-wish-I-was-getting-married-now way, but more in the what-should-I-aspire-to-do-now way. Two weeks ago, Pastor Glen preached a sermon called "The Marriage Covenant", and he made an excellent point that has stuck with me.
He said, "Being single is not about waiting for someone to serve you;
it is about preparing to serve someone." 

This really hit home with me. Sometimes I am too busy thinking about how great it would be to have a relationship, because then I would "feel this" or "this" or "get to do this". All very much focused on myself. What if I began thinking about relationships as then I would get to "give this" or "serve this way" or "encourage in this manner." I believe this attitude can be transferred in any interaction, but I believe it is essentially important in a romantic relationship. 

I am nowhere near to being an expert on marriage, 

but I am an expert on what I want to strive for in myself. 

I want to be slow to speak, so someday I can hear what he is saying. 

I want to be compassionate, so someday I can understand where he is coming from. 

I want to be strong in the Lord, so someday I know how to pray for/with him.

I want to be healthy, so someday I can live a long life with him.

I want to be friendly, so someday I can be a part of a welcoming household.

These are just some of the things I think about before going to the chapel . . . 

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Pursuit

Sometimes Paul Brandt's lyrics say it all:

♫

I’d rather burn with desire deep in my soul,

And love like a fire that’s out of control, and laugh and dance and hope 

and chance and kiss

I’d rather live my whole life

with a sense of abandon,

Squeeze every drop out,

no matter what happens.

And not wonder what I've missed

I’d rather risk.

♫

What is it about risk that scares humanity so much? We would rather criticize life and its components from the safety of a computer screen. I am not promoting protests, but at least they are risking their life, reputation, and safety for something they passionately believe in. What about creativity? Yesterday I watched a couple of my friends get up onto a stage and compete in a local talent show. They risked humiliation, criticism, and comfort in order to be vulnerable in an area of their life they were passionate about. So often we are content to let a select few be creative for us because it's too personal to reveal the passion inside.

I don't understand it, but I'm a victim to it.

What about love? True love and relationships take ultimate risk. It takes incredible strength for a man to risk it all when he asks a woman out. It takes a large amount of trust for a woman to risk her heart by saying yes. It takes risk to purse a Godly relationship in the current day and age. What about communication? How vulnerable is it to let someone you love so much see that far into your soul? Into the terrible parts, but only there can beauty be found and restored.

Pursue risk.