andrew louis

brother-in-law --- but SO MUCH more than that.

This man came into my life 5 years ago. He spiced up the Morrow family -- long before he officially became a part of it. He participated in long, tense spade tournaments (that usually resulted in yelling and fights), he suffered through countless chick-flicks for us, ate our baked goods, took us out for ice cream, treated us to chick-fil-a, and drove us around town - you name it, he would jump at the opportunity.

This past Christmas, I was blessed with having the little Louis family in Virginia for an entire month. I was reminded again at all the countless reasons why I love my big brother.

He always, always interacts in kindness and love.

He gives you hugs just when you need them.

He makes you laugh when you're mad.

He schemes plans for the day that only the "big kids" know about.

He likes my company when running errands.

His love language is FOOD (one reason we get along so well?)

He's happiest when there is fun, fellowship, family, football, and...yes, food. (--one of his many famous quotations).

He will do WHATEVER it takes to watch a cowboys game and go WHEREVER if it's not airing on t.v.

He is a good, good father. He has the "baby talk" down like a champ.

He's the husband my sister needs. He keeps her smiling...and he keeps us laughing at their little arguments.

He has really corny jokes...but for some reason, we always laugh really hard at them.

He loves each member of our family personally and unconditionally.

He now hates chick-flicks and we can't get him to watch them...which makes us suspicious of his apparent love for them as he tried to woo Taylor-Lynn...?

If he doesn't feel like eating what is planned for lunch, he'll borrow my car and go pick up something else.

He'll listen to me and my sister, B., gush about One Tree Hill over our Chipotle burrito bowls...and then check Netflix to see if they carry it.

He keeps up with old friends...loves them and prays for them.

He was made for my sister, therefore he was made for us.

The name "Andrew" means strong and manly. In the 5 years I have known him, he has lived up to his name. He is strong in the Lord, he displays strength in his marriage, and he has that unmatched strength of a father. And he is Taylor's man who possesses such extraordinary traits. He' the man who leads her, loves her, and the man that became her own personal Mr. Darcy. :)

My favorite thing about Drew is the way his love for the Lord is portrayed by the way he loves people. He acts selflessly and gives willingly; he leads and guides with confidence; he delights in the Lord and devotes himself as His servant – for all those things, Drew Louis will be blessed. And for all those things, I respect and cherish him.

mirror, mirror on the wall

I drive a lot. Driving is one of my most favorite past-times. Mostly for the music. And the option to go really, really fast. I especially love to drive with Ben. It's a sacred time for us, I think. I always feel as though we're being productive because we have a destination -- and negligent because we're doing absolutely nothing. It's during those times, however determined or lazy, that we share the best music, the best conversation, the best laughs, and the best closeness. Sometimes we're quiet - with our own thoughts. We may reflect on personal discoveries, or opinions, or questions, or memories that have drifted into our peaceful minds. Sometimes we share them, sometimes we don't. But the silence is welcomed, loved even. A popular question is,

"what are you thinking about?"

and the response is never, ever what is expected. It's hard to guess someone's thoughts, it turns out. And I like that.

My loyal friend (and Ben's disdained annoyance) on road trips is the familiar passenger mirror - you know, the one that folds down for make-up and last minute hair touch-ups. Well, if only I used it more for those purposes. Instead this is how it goes:

Ben is a very focused, careful, deliberate, (and slow), driver. Sometimes he gets SO lost in thought and focus that I have to take extreme measures. En route, I use the mirror provided to test the ugliest, most horrendous facial expressions I can conjure. Once the unattractive face is perfected and in place, I turn to look at Ben. He sees me from the corner of his eye after a few moments and laughs/groans. Mostly it's this,

"destiny, stoooop..."

or

"close that mirror!"

or

"ewww"

or

"wow, that one's the best...I mean worst"

BOY, do I love traveling with him.

love, d

christmas at the morrow's

Mini worship set with my family. Twenty family members gathered in the living room. The babies still and wondrous at the voices and harmony. Bri on keys, my dad on guitar, my uncle on congas. Complete with the likes of "Beautiful Exchange" and "I Surrender All", my grandma's all-too-familar voice blaring the tenor part.

this is Christmas at the Morrow's when church is cancelled.

our christmas present to our parents

A HUGE thanks to Mary Smoot for these gorgeous photos.

the whole clan.

my sister is such a beautiful and graceful mother.

winners of cutest family ever, and cutest baby ever.

one of my very favorite faces.

the inseparable five.

my wonderful "little" brother with all his girls.

THE HANDSOME BOYS!!

This is my family.

We do real, we do mistakes, we do grace, we do cuddling, we do dance parties, we do loud really well...

we do so much love.

loved.

The action of loving is something, but to be loved - well, that's everything.

It's a feeling everyone desires; it's a longing to be noticed, regarded, wanted. It is a part of human nature and at the core of our souls.

Lately, I have contemplated what it would be like to be loved. I imagine it to be enchanting, mesmerizing, blissful. I think my head would swim and I would probably question it over and over again...loving the way it sounds as it's repeated to me. I want this. I pray for this.

But, as a 21 year-old hopeless romantic with hefty expectations for love, I must remember that the truest form of love is from the Lord. He alone demonstrates the selflessness and purity of that which is love itself. I am reminded of this whenever I picture human love...I am reminded that it will never measure up to the love that God has so freely given.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love...I have drawn you in with loving-kindness" - Jeremiah 31:3

I have LOVED you. Loved. Can you even imagine the magnitude of that concept? Isn't there something humbling about knowing you are LOVED by God? It's not just a verb; it's not just an action - it is actually a description of His relationship with us. It attaches us to Him. We are His. We are LOVED.

Just my thoughts of the night.

- d

simple pleasures are treasures

this list is lengthy -- and I believe that's a good thing.

- reading to children, seeing their eyes soak in the pictures while they point out the objects of recognition

- getting in the car and seeing at least five inspiration exchange cds from your best friend who sends them from across the country

- eating outside in the sunshine

- a really good worship song

- watching your sister be a mother

- a worn Bible

- Andrea Bocelli & Katharine McPhee belting the notes of "The Prayer" on blu-ray with surround sound

- the smile from 'that person' when you catch each others' eyes from across the room

- itunes giftcards

- seeing a thunder storm within the clouds up in an airplane and realizing just how small you are in this world

- listening to "ragdoll" by aerosmith with the windows down, sunglasses on, and the breeze putting tangles in your hair

- wasting time

- feeling your best friend's baby boy kick from within her round pregant belly

- seeing families in restaurants stop and pray before their meal

- spotting your first firefly of the summer

- shivering on the first brisk day of fall when the leaves are faintly yellow

- sitting down at the piano to practice fundamentals for two hours

- giving gifts and anticipating reactions

- realizing your potential

- praying, not for yourself, but for others

- using your imagination

- the feeling you get once you turn in a huge paper

- effortless harmony when singing with your sisters

- watching your brother throw his first touchdown pass - and knowing you'll see hundreds more

- seeing cars on the highway with "just married" signs...bliss

- a rainy day (when you're prepared for it)

- beautiful reunions with old high school friends

- reading a proverb a day

- toy story 3

- being canadian

- a word document that is 41 pages long...made up entirely of quotes

- when romo throws a touchdown

- creating something uniquely "you"

- singing silly little songs with your favorite toddler...embracing your inner child to make him laugh

- christmas movies

- elderly people who are happy

- cashing checks

- fresh highlights in your hair or a new hair cut

- songs in minor keys - ironically letting the sadness liven your heart

- good, timely hugs

- your nephew's little smiles that spread across his fat cheeks as you make silly faces over skype

- saying something funny...and actually making people laugh

- spending money at the movie theater on a movie that was totally worth it (popcorn doused in butter is a plus)

- getting mail

- when someone tells you he/she loves texas

- a heartfelt compliment

- chick-fil-a when you're craving it

- talking about faith with your friends

- a new pair of shoes

- discovering a new musician

- lengthy prayer time...the kind where you lose all concept of time because you're chatting away with Jesus

- making time for reading novels

- an early morning run

- loving people who forget you

- organizing your songs on itunes by playlists -- descriptive and mood oriented playlists -- pointless, but strangely self-fulfilling

- seeing your younger sisters become strong leaders

- sunshine at the perfect angle so you can see the distinct rays cutting across your vision

- the pretty names you save for your future children (I don't share them in fear of being made fun of/stolen from)

- grammar grammar grammar

- driving - for the music and the option to go really fast

- some good ole shakespeare when you're feeling romantic

- hearing your favorite song at a live concert

- road trips with your family

- staying up late at night and sleeping late into the morning

- eating a hotdog at a baseball game

- crunching leaves under your cozy boots on an October day

- finding a good sale on something you really, really wanted

- having people fully trust you with their children

- singing when no one is listening

beauty in life and most importantly, beauty within yourself, is found in the little things.

"the road is now a sudden sea"

I am sitting on my dorm bed – complete with bed risers so as to fit what seems as my entire world underneath. My bed lies horizontal against the window – which overlooks the beautiful brick McMurran Hall complete with enormous, elegant white pillars. It looks about the length of 3 football fields, although I’m sure I’m exaggerating this quite a bit. All my English classes meet there. I love that building.

I am listening to Dashboard Confessional…on headphones, of course. Oh, roommates. Rare are the opportunities to openly listen to music. So, with reluctance, I allow the music to be confined to my ears alone. Alle is sitting across the room absorbed in a book, completely unaware that I am blasting the “ohh ohh oh’s” of “Don’t Wait.” Outside, people roughly between 18-25 walk across the large green lawn that separates my residence hall, Potomac North, from the vast McMurran. You’ll see some on bikes, but most walk. I like to think about their stories as I look out my 3rd floor window. What classes they’re heading to, what food content fills their dining hall Styrofoam to-go containers, who lives on campus, who lives off, who’s from out of state, who’s from down the street, who’s homesick, who’s using college as an escape from home, who spends their weekends wasted, who spends their weekends studying. I have met so many different people here. People who are drastically different from me and people who are so similar that I’m floored with excitement and assurance about the next two years. I’ve always known diversity occurs among different cultures and countries, but it’s amazing the diversity I’ve experienced from fellow Virginians. Virginia seems to become so big when you're constantly meeting people from different towns – towns you’ve never visited or even heard about.

I have come to love these people. I love dreading a statistics group project the second week of the semester – only to end up being awake until 3 a.m. with Doritos, Dr. Pepper, frequency distributions, and 3 of the most hilarious and accepting girls ever. I love that beautiful girl who greets me with a hug, smiles as she talks, and gushes about things like faith and friendship. I love Christopher Newport University and finally feeling like I belong somewhere, that I fit somewhere. I love the quiet of the mornings, the challenging courses, the brisk walks across campus, the buffalo chicken wraps at the dining hall, the enormity of the library that swallows you as you study, the row of practice rooms in the Ferguson Center with sound proof walls and a lone piano...where the raw music is created, the writing classes where we dissect grammar for a full 50 minutes, the student pride and noise during the football games, hockey games, etc., the late night commotion, the freedom, the professors, the obsessive love between my hallmates, the continuous laughter with newfound best friends, the view from my window, and the homey feel of my new room.

- d

highlights from my 21st birthday:

- I sang with my choir in the marble rotunda of the trible library.

- I ate mexican food (aka soul food) at plaza azteca with brianna and ben.

- I went shopping at charlotte with my sis. :)

- I received 116 notifications on facebook.

- I video chatted with my sister, bro-in-law, and adorable nephew.

- I napped with my 2-year-old brother...there is nothing better than his smile when he wakes up finding I'm still in bed with him.

- I exercised my new right!

- I tried duck. I don't recommend it.

- I started up the Christmas music...beginning with "The First Noel" for obvious reasons. :)

- I received $45 worth of itunes giftcards....love.

- I drove with the windows rolled down...in 52 degree weather. duh.

- I learned that my brother will be starting for the VARSITY football game this friday.

- I dressed up and went to the Melting Pot with my beloved parents. Best meal ever.

- my two best friends threw me a surprise birthday party: tailgate style. complete with Ben Rothwell's original burgers with feta cheese.

- I sat around my living room singing worship songs with friends accompanied by an acoustic guitar.

- I had a sleepover with my beautiful hallmate, staying up until 6 am talking about friendships, faith, insecurities, and boys while eating easy mac and hot pockets.

This is going to be a beautiful year. Thank-you Jesus for all the blessings in my life.

little brother

just a saturday afternoon with anderson morrow:

Jon McLaughlin's LOVEly lyric

I was listening to this song today and truly empathized with the message:

I'm gonna throw my love around.



Love is frequently viewed as too hard, too messy, too pointless, too temporary, too painful, too costly, and too demanding. I have seen people battle these feelings; they have since lost their belief in love. Instead, they bury their ability to love, they cling tightly to imitations so as not to gamble with the real stuff, they seek fulfillment elsewhere. It is quite a shame. I am beginning to think that only the brave will encounter love. Only those willing to risk it all will find it all. Love takes courage.

But those with that courage, throw your love around. Let the world know you possess it. Do not be afraid. Love with courage. Love courageously.

- d