The Best Birthday Yet: Hello 22.
I must document the day that Loren put together yesterday. Friends: take notes; we have much to learn from my husband about loving others. Through him {and many others}, Jesus' heart and love for me was expressed in amazing ways. It was a day I won't soon forget: it was filled with some of my favorite adventures right next to my favorite human.
Around 7:57 am my eye slits opened, without an alarm. (This is a big deal). About 3 minutes later I hear Loren entering our bedroom carrying the breakfast tray and talking in his mooshy-voice, telling me not to get out of bed. Behold, there was a beautiful gluten-free pancake with a wonderful burning blue candle, bacon on the side, a glass of OJ and a beautiful rose with love words.
And I thought to myself, "Who is this guy? And how did I get to put a ring on his finger? He is perfectly himself, exactly how Jesus made him, and I get to keep him."
After we ate the beloved meal, I got ready for the day and headed to TJ Max with the perfect amount of cash to purchase a beauty of a maxi-skirt. Chosen with the help of the one and only Haley Nunes. Upon returning home, I received a vase of beautiful pink roses.
Next stop: walk around the farmers market. Purchase some kale, spinach, and beef.
Next stop: lunch with the Smiths, apple tree grafting, and tea. We chatted all about Jesus and wounds and pruning and refining and..oh the beauty of it all!
We finished the lovely time at the Smiths and Loren drove us to the beautiful-fragrant land of Home Depot! Don't you love that place? I have been dying to make a new Welcome-Sign, so naturally we spent the $6 and got all supplies needed!
- The old is gone, the new has come!
Did I mention that when we got home from Home Depot we were welcomed by this love? The friends I have: they're the best. They also know my love for plants.
Loren commanded we get all dolled up and head to my favorite restaurant. Did you know Pastinis's sauces are all gluten free? And that they substitute wheat noodles for gluten free rice noodles with no extra charge?! Talk about amazing.
Our friends Jeff & Kaitlyn stopped by to drop off the most delicious cake in the world: black bean cake with almond butter frosting and chocolate covered coffee beans. What? Who knew black beans could transfer into cake and somehow the most magical tasting yummy of all?! Apparently they knew. Oh and they brought dairy free cheese. Bless.
Loren & I were chose to worship and pray with some church family at the Wednesday night gathering. Always a gift. Always blessed. Always reminded of the sweet love the Father has for us.
Closing out the night with GF brownies and the GF Tiramisu from Pastinis.. Have I mentioned our love for sweets?
Throughout the day, Loren handed me a single rose with a note on it. What a love this man is. Bless his heart.
Have I mentioned that Loren asked my family members to pitch in to purchase me a Canon Rebel camera? Yes! A dream come to life! He has. Love that man. He even got it early so that I could use it for photos in my last client's birth. When you dream for something, ask others that love you to join you in "mission" to get that dream! If it's a camera or planting a church..or both! Others love to love.
I was overwhelmed with love from my Father, Jesus, and from Loren. Filled with a light heart, I soaked in the joy of the day, fully delighting in the fact that I planned nothing.
Men: swoon your wives on their special day! Wives: do the same! Remind each other how loved they are, how special they are, and why you chose to spend the rest of your life chasing Jesus together. You are the only one in that person's life that gets to love them in the deepest ways and remind them exactly how valuable they are, through their flaws.
Lorens pure and selfless love for me drives me to support and respect him and build him up. It's a win win.
I thought 20 was the best year of my life. And, yes, it was the best that far. Then 21 happened and was also amazing. Hello, 22, I welcome you.
