Love, Love, Love...I Want Your Love

These days it seems like the whole world is caving in...or maybe its just the chaos that we know as "Pre-Finals' Week Stress Syndrome". I'm gonna keep this short and sweet tonight...partially because it's 1:45 a.m...and partially in part to the fact that I'm going on an insanely low amount of sleep this week.

We all want love.

We all want to feel as if we matter to somebody.

We all want to be cherished.

Doted upon. Cared for. Thought about. Remebered.

It's normal.

It's healthy.

It's human.

The thing that sets us apart from the rest of the critters out there is our ability to love!

Why shy away from that for any reason? Why abandon your shot at true love for anybody or anything less than God himself?

Don't be silly, ladies.

Don't make excuses. Don't run away.

Don't be shy. Don't be afraid.

Love deeply. Purely.

Don't be afraid to jump in.

..and whatever you do, don't close your eyes.

Falling is the most beautiful part of it all.

Matthew 5:4 ♥

Today I decided to just curl up in bed and enjoy some quiet time to reflect on all that has happened in the past few days and the events on the horizon. Tomorrow is the day that I drive to Louisiana to spend time with the family and remember my sweet Uncle Dave before we lay him to rest on Tuesday. Those words don't feel as if they should be coming out of my mouth...the reality of it all hasn't hit. That's pretty much it. It's hard to accept the reality of what has happened.

In my search for peace and answers I started looking up as many Bible verses as I could find on coping with death and loss. For the most part I found the same Bible verses I had always heard at funerals...but then I read Matthew 5:4.

"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you.

Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you"

That one verse brought to much comfort to me. I was so blessed to have this amazing person in my life for 20 years and to be able to love him. I am blessed for all the memories I have of trips to Louisiana to see him, sitting on the floor listening to all the long talks he had with my father, that big laugh that filled the room, and his sweet Cajun voice as he told us he loved us. We were blessed to have him. Blessed to love him. Blessed to forever have his memory in our hearts.

Now, although the man we remember is no longer with us, we have love to carry us. We have the love of the Father to embrace us and bring us the comfort that some sweet, sweet day we're going to walk down streets of gold hand-in-hand with this beloved man of God. So thankful for God's promise and his comfort in times like this when all else seems to be gone. Thankful for being loved..and for the chance to love. I am blessed.

Memories.

Last night was a restless night (apparently). I remember watching the clock hit 5:00 a.m. before I was finally able to relax enough to turn off the light and curl up with Tyson (my poodle). I was miserable..and really that's the only explanation I had. Didn't understand it..but it makes a little more sense how that it's morning again.

I got the news this morning that my hero, my sweet Uncle Dave, passed away around 6 a.m. He fought a hard battle with cancer for many years and this morning God called him home to rest. I've never really been the one to believe much in things like this, but -now what it's morning again- I wonder if that had anything to do with why I just wasn't able to find rest last night.

Obviously there have been lots of phone calls and things of that nature this morning to our house..concern, prayers, all that stuff that comes at a time like this..but the things that seems to be the most on my mind are the things that only exist in memories: the sound of his sweet Cajun drawl that I loved so much, his laughter, and the way that he always called us "Baby". He was a great man of God..and a great husband, father, "DeDad" to Eva and Gib, pastor, friend, and many more things to many people. He had a big heart and a great sense of humor. He was truly a man of love.

Although he was my uncle I always viewed him as more of a grandfatherly figure and ever since I was a little girl I said that he would preach my wedding someday..just as he had preached my parents' wedding. On a day like today, I'm not really sure how to feel or what to think of feel. I only know that he will forever be here in our hearts. We love you. We always will.

In the beginning.

I am really excited to start this new blog and to create a place where we can all really just be open and honest about the things that matter the most in our lives..whether they are the "big issues" or simply the little, everyday blessings that come along. Along the way I hope to open the floor up for conversation on some "hard hitting" issues and get a lot of feedback and well use this to get the word out about some great, new stuff that I think will really have a positive impact in the lives of a lot of young ladies and women.

I am keeping this initial blog short for a couple of reasons:

1) It has taken be FOREVER to get all of this set up and I'm a little weary.

2) It's 2:30 a.m. here in Texas!

So, I'm going to shut this party down tonight but am looking forward to start blogging over the next couple of days! Have a great weekend everybody!