Stuffed

I wish I was talking about how stuffed I was after Chinese yesterday or how stuffed I was after Little Hills yumminess, but no, no I've just found THESE THINGS and my life will never be the same.

LOVE AND ALL THAT

Happy February, the month for Lovers.....

I know I'm single. I know Valentine's Day has more hype than what it's worth. I know single women around the world ignore the fact that this day exists or bitterly throw something resembling a funeral to celebrate. I know. BUT, I love love. I love celebrating love. I love seeing others in love and not the I can't keep my hands off of you or I'm hopeless when I'm not near you love, but real true, I care about you as a human being and treasure your friendship love. I love dreaming of myself in love. And I love that there is a month dedicated to the celebration of love. How could you not when there are such awesome things like this

 yummy red velvet cake from I'm A Baker.

Or these sweet displays that I'm going to do some version of by Julie.

And what about these totally delicious M&M's by Whipperberry that are somehow cuter because they're pink and gray and in my fave coffee drink bottles!

A day for lovers indeed! Here's the great thing, I may not have a lover but I am a lover. I love all sorts of things but more importantly I love so many amazing people. And though I myself am spending another Valentine's season single, I love and I will celebrate the whole month away loving every minute of it!

January 30th

Tonight as I sat in a cozy home, listening to the silence of 2 sleeping little boys, outside my windows came the boom of fireworks. At first, I thought they were gun shots but they were so rapid my mind leaped with the excitement that it just might be my favorite! Yes! FIREWORKS! Beautiful ones, lighting up the sky in an array of color. Annie laid on the couch as though it's everyday someone paints the sky with these vibrant dots of color. Or that it's everyday someone interrupts your peaceful evening with booming brilliance. Well, Annie, that may be your life, but it surely isn't mine.

My life, at this point, is forecasted to have 12in. of snow with a sweet little bit of ice before hand. Blah. I'm ready for spring and summer. I'm ready for picnics and flip flops, for flowers, and outdoor concerts. I'm ready for bike rides and long walks, and the hope of a budding romance. I've enjoyed this winter for all of it's snow and mess. It's been unusually bright and cheery in the sky this year. But I'm so ready for NEW. New grass, new hopes, a clean car,and new peek-a-boo shoes.  

So, to whoever you were, celebrating January 30th like it was the last day on earth, thanks for sparking a little hope in my heart for spring and summer, love, and all things beautiful.

I hope that as these last storms of winter blow through we can enjoy them with the expectation that new is just around the river bend.

Any Better?

Today I was left with few words, many tears, and much love.

I'm leaving Hannibal in a few moments and suprisingly my heart aches. I have felt more and more that St. Louis has been becoming my home, a place I can see myself building a life. The place I am choosing to build my life right now. Yet, the ache is still here.

Buildings have changed. Children have grown up. New people have come. But I still call this place home. As I think about it though, it's not the place at all. It's the people. I still call these people home.

Bumping into friendly faces in the crowd. Spotting old friends from across the crowded street. Nothing to do with the place, everything to do with the people.

My heart aches because some friendships are not like they were. My heart aches because some friendships are exactly as they were. My heart aches because though we are only 100 miles away I feel as though I live on another plant.

I've missed the women who have invested in my life, teaching me how to make sweet tea, showing me what it takes to be a good wife, allowing me to see the messiness of life. I miss the men who have been Godly examples, men who have made me laugh histarically, men who have taught me the truth of God' word.

I miss my dear friends that are far more appropriately labled family. I miss my sister. I miss watching her children grow up, hearing what the Lord is doing in her family, getting coffee and munching on scones.

But as much as I miss them all already. I have also come to love the people God has placed in my life in St. Louis, the people I am beginning to really call family, my home.

 I'm again learning from brilliant women just no accents to listen through. I'm laughing with their families. I'm teaching their children. I'm gaining more sisters and brothers. I'm drinking coffee, eating pumpkin bread, and making sweet tea.

That makes this leaving a little less hard. It has been a sweet weekend treasuring all I love about this place. And it will be a sweet week treasuring all I love in my new home.

I have been blessed beyond measure to feel so much love in 2 places that are worlds apart. I love each of these people deeply and I am loved by them. Can life get any better than this?

Make You Feel My Love

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shatters and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong

I'd go hungry I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
Know there's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing like me yet

I could make you happy make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love
To make you feel my love

~Bob Dylan
~Adele

My thoughts exactly.