A reminder

God knows what He is doing

This Time is Ours

There are a few things I desire. One of the greatest of these is to marry Ross Slough. Yes, it's true that we're just young and in love but our "young love" is stronger and deeper than even I can comprehend. It's so real.

I just got home from a 3-day stay in Stillwater with him and something really cool happened. When we were laying together, the thought of marrying him was running in circles in my head until I caught myself. I always think about how great and wonderful the future will be and forget how incredible the moment is at the time. But in that moment I was reminded that I am already spending the rest of my life with him. Of course the bond of marriage completes a romantic relationship, but our life together started three years ago when we first met. We don't need a wedding to begin our journey together. It's already begun. Maybe this seemed cooler in my head, but I just thought it was interesting that I was looking past something that was sitting right in front of me. My heart was at peace, and I couldn't help but be joyful and thankful.

Overall, the three days were amazing. I love being able to laugh with Ross. He is such a beautiful person and the love given through him is infectious. I hate being over 200 miles away from you, Slough, but I just remind myself how short the distance between our hearts is. I will love you everyday, best friend.

Why did you get that tattoo?

I really do enjoy the people I work with. They make me laugh and help me kill the boredom, but they also break my heart. They talk about drugs, alcohol, and sex all the time. They encourage me to cuss and come hang out with them at parties. Needless to say, I can see the burdens that Satan has persuaded them to carry. I try my best to be a light in every awkward situation they put me in, but it isn't always easy.

Just the other day a girl I worked with asked me why I got my tattoo, "Love changes everything." It was hard for me in that moment because I couldn't spit out the right words to explain that it was about my relationship with Jesus. I had labeled her as a person I couldn't be real with, and it wasn't until later that I realized Jesus was real with everyone. I ended up telling her it was about my life story and that it was just a personal thing. I kept thinking about it on my way home and I realized it isn't necessarily a personal thing. It's a Jesus thing. His love changed my everything. His love changes the way I see, hear, and act. I wanted to go back to the restaurant and tell her that I got the tattoo because it's what my heart knows is the truth.

His love does change everything. It changes the way a mother looks at her child. It changes the way we talk to strangers in the grocery store. It changes our attitudes towards our parents when they make a mistake. It changes the way we treat our classmates. It changes the way we look at others. It changes the image we have of ourselves and exposes who we are underneath that image. It changes our standards in a potential spouse. It changes the way you embrace daily things - things like the sun rising or being able to take a deep breath. It changes the way we live, and changes what we think living truly is. Another amazing thing about His love is that it won't go anywhere. It will change everything, forever. It's permanent. Just like my tattoo.