~ Things that make life worth living ~

Sunsets. Falling in love. Hearing your favorite song on the radio. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside. Candlelight. Milkshakes. Bubble baths. Giggling. Seeing the stars twinkle. Long conversations late at night. Waves hitting a beach. Running through sprinklers. Smiles. 

 

 

The beauty of a snowfall. Sledding. Red cheeks. Laughter.  Bubbles. Twirling. Hula hoops. Laughing at an inside joke. Laughing at yourself. Laughing so hard your stomach hurts. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all. Just plain laughing. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful. Friends. 













Realizing that you are loved by the God of the Universe. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you. Taking a chance. Knowing God. Those "aha" moments in life. Hope.

 




 Amazing grace.

 

Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep. First kisses. Making new friends or spending time with old ones. Playing with a new puppy. Holding a sleeping baby. Sweet dreams. Hot chocolate. The prefect cup of coffee. Butterfly kisses. Making chocolate chip cookies. Making a mess. Hearing "I love you". Warm snuggles.








Holding hands with someone you care about. Watching the sunrise. Watching a sunset. Realizing you made a difference in someone's world. Realizing that you really are that strong. Encouraging someone. Knowing that somebody misses you. Knowing that you are someone worth missing. Knowing you matter to someone - but first of all, to yourself. Dancing in the dark. Singing in the shower. 

Feeling your heart open. 

                                                      Knowing that you really can reach for the stars.

~ Winter, peace, broken roads ~

Tonight, I'm listening.

I'm listening to the crackle of the warm fire not 10 feet from me.

I'm listening to the wind howling outside - negative 8 degrees wind chill is ridiculously cold for Dallas! But inside, only cozy warmth. :)

I'm listening to the sound of my cat purring nearby.

And I'm listening to the sound of peace, mixed with a little amazing grace.

In this moment, in my now, these average and ordinary sounds remind me of one specific, beautiful thing: I'm at peace.

Peace.

I know what peace is because I've experienced everything it isn't.

I believe God doesn't create broken roads of our lives but He sure can lead us through them...right to Him, where His perfect love and perfect peace abounds. I never knew all the lost dreams I had were really resting in Hands greater than mine. I never knew that the true love that I was looking for all along could not be found within any person but in a God who gave life it's name. I never knew that the broken pieces of my life were worth the time to be put back together. I never knew what love truly was ... until it called me, saved me, redeemed me.

And where I'm at ... where I've been ... where I'm going, I dedicate this song to my God, my Savior, my best friend:

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4