We love, because HE first loved us.

as I sit here on a frozen Sunday night,

I am completely floored by the goodness of our Father

and the love that He has shown this week.

 

with each passing day, I stand more and more

amazed by Him, and his ability to just pour

love and grace over me and my life.

 

This week was good, so good, so rich

in love and joy and so needed.

 

this year, as Valentines rolled around, I told myself
I was going to ponder how thankful I am for all the love

in my life, instead of joining the sulk party of single.

 

yet, pondering how different things were this year

and how stressful the past few weeks have been

I found myself overwhelmed and starting to feel kind of down.

 

after spending some time in prayer, and telling the Lord

I needed a pick me up it was no surprise..

 

 the very next day I found myself at the post office

3 times in 24 hours. and that was only the beginning

I was completely overwhelmed

with gratitude and feeling SO loved.

 

People who I haven't seen/ talked to in months

were sending packages FULL of love, and an

abundance of goodies.

not to mention, the 5 pounds of candy and at least

15 cards to follow in the next few days.

 

and 3 precious friends coming to spend the weekend with me.

 

I still can't find a blank space on my desk these days.

my heart is SO full, and my cup is overflowing.

 

I am leaving this week, full of thankfulness

feeling so blessed and knowing that I am so loved

by so many here on earth, because of my Father

who first loved, and allowed us the ability to love.

 

this weekend, we celebrated a very sweet few days of

GALentines.

 

{for those that care to read on..

and for my journaling's sake}

after so much love and goodies, in a short few days

 

I started the weekend with sweet friends

showing up at my door Thursday night after a LONG day

and a late night at work. it was so perfect.

we had the most relaxed late dinner and night full

of sweet talks and playing cards.

 

after a not-so-fancy Friday

we kicked off the weekend with a trip to our fav

Mexican place, laughing till we cried

and a fun movie night.

 

Saturday,

we slept in and I made heart shaped pancakes

with nutella of course. and we hosted a

spa party, and pampered till the cows came home.

 

a late lunch to our fav hole in the wall

with friends, and selfying it was necessary.

 

after a relaxed afternoon, our sweet guests left us

and I may or may not have almost cried.

it was such a blessing to be brought such joy

by their visit this weekend.

 

after their departure, me and a roomie had a date

with Jesus at church. it was such a good time

and I may or may not have loved the battle of the bands:

love edition. our church beats your church. ;)

 

when we left church, it was POURING snow

but that didn't rain on our parade.

we continued on our venture to have a dinner date 

downtown with a sweet friend.

 

snow covered downtown, was quite the sight to see.

oh such beauty.

we had such a great time, and it was so sweet to be

surrounded with such good peeps once again.

their company is my fav.

 

as if my weekend wasn't already a winner,

today me and the roomie slept in until NOON {praise!}

and then attempted to adventure around VA

and after both places were closed

we settled for lunch and a late movie.

it was SO perfect, and so needed.

 

 

leaving this week/weekend SO incredibly refreshed

and full of gratitude.

I have THE best people in my life,

and the Lord continues to provide.

 

I hope your Valentines or GALentines

was just as refreshing and wonderful as mine.

 

Here's to a week of sweetness continued.

 

find joy in the small things, friend!

 

Until next time,

Austyn