his love letter to me

My dad is the best man I know. He has always, always done right by my mom, and he has always, always done right by us. To me, that in itself shows more substantial character than pretty much anything else. And although he may be the best daddy in the world, he has still taught us that there is one better still: our heavenly father. Today mark morrow did what he always does on a sunday morning: he passionately spoke to his church. He talked about why God allows suffering and how God wants to see us use our hurt and pain to make us better, not bitter. I've been reading The Father's Love Letter and learning more about the character of God and his own perspective of me, his child. I have learned that while yes, people suffer and yes, I suffer, God has claimed himself the father who comforts me throughout all my troubles.

"God wants to pick you up, give you a hug and whisper your name in your ear. You are His child and He is your father. This is your destiny; this is what you were created for. When you let Him love you in this way, as a father loves his little child, you will begin to realize that the need for love and affirmation you had as a little child is still deep within you. When you allow yourself to be embraced by God, you begin to see that this is what you've been looking for all your life. You may have searched for it in your career, in a relationship, or in many other things, but you will find it only in one place - in the arms of your heavenly Father."

Lord, I pray that you would give me the grace to become more childlike. I want to lose myself in your unfailing love. Help me to walk in the simplicity of faith that allows me to trust you wholeheartedly for all my needs.

"God is the Father of compassion and of all comfort. When you need comfort most, he is faithful to be by your side through all your pain and disappointment. He weeps with you, and his heart breaks with yours. Your heavenly Father wants to hold your hand as you walk through the seasons in your life. You were never meant to shoulder these burdens on your own. God wants to comfort you with his tender love."

Lord, please heal, restore, and give favor. Thank you for staying true to all your promises -- promises to remain faithful, to hold me, to comfort me, and to love me. And the promise that you are my father. And I am your child.

I love you.

-d

"all that I'm after is a life full of laughter - as long as I'm laughin' with you"

Last weekend me and b.rothwell packed up and went driving. Our first stop was baltimore, maryland where we navigated (via ben's droid phone) to a tiny, quaint bar/venue for a miraculous dave barnes show. After sitting on bar stools and soaking in the musical goodness for three hours (and then meeting him!) we then continued our journey to pheonixville, pennsylvania for ben's best friend's college graduation.

here are some of my most favorite parts:

1. our competition.

2. our 'road trip' playlist...with all the good stuff.

3. all our pee stops where ben would visit the bathroom and I would wait in the car. (maybe I should be concerned that I don't pee enough?)

4. being thrifty by packing homemade sub sandwiches for the drive.

5. "I Have And Always Will" on the acoustic guitar embraced by the crowd's absolute stillness. Even the asians behind us stopped jabbering over their drinks long enough to witness the beauty, emotion, and delivery of this song.

6. Dave's obvious passion as he used about 10 minutes of his set to talk about the mocha club.

7. Steve moak's cover of miley cyrus mixed with don mclean.

8. Ben's constant attempts at earning "sweetie" stars...and his unwillingness to relinquish any stars to his poor girlfriend. Even when I begged, he would shrug and say, 'it's competition, baby'....a true testament to our relationship.

9. visiting "love park" in Philadelphia.

10. having ben wake me up each morning.

11. bringing books, magazines, etc. to pass the time in the car, but instead being content just to put the seat back, listen to music, and hold my boyfriend's hand.

12. chipotle pitstop, causing the GPS to redirect us using the scenic route. (only good things come from eating chipotle).

13. my new floral sundress and white coat -- compliments of the boyfriend.

14. antique jewelry shopping in the cute little downtown area.

15. learning an intense (yet entertaining/addicting) card game...and beating ben. :)

everything is beautiful

cotton fields,

the open road

the radio plays a song

we both know we don't sing along

- dave barnes

A few words on words

I spent today putting together a "quote book" for Talitha Adele's 21st birthday. I integrated and incorporated several (and I mean several) of my collected quotations. Excerpts from literature, lyrics from songs, bible verses, statements from musicians, philosophers, authors, my favorite tv show. It could be endless.

As I sat there flipping through the pages, I understood the purpose for this compilation. I realized the enormity of the mere words. I realized the impact in which they are capable. These chosen words...these words are for the loved, the unloved, the broken, the faithful, the faithless, the stumblers, the seekers, the hopeful, and the hopeless, the weak, the strong, the beautiful and the believers.

If these words could but touch the soul of someone who fits one of those descriptions (and truthfully we all have at some point), then these words have succeeded.

Words matter.

-d