Whatever Happened to Romance?

Whatever happened to romance? I mean pure, selfless, head over heels, take-a-chance, show the world, beautiful, poetic romance.... I truly fear that our generation has completely missed out on the grandeur of love; hollowing it down and confining it to the limits of 140 characters.

In today's world, being "romantic" involves text messages and the words 'hang out'.  Facebook messages popping up 'hey' and tweeting, hoping your words are interpreted by your intended reader.  People being as indirect and vague as humanly possible to avoid being forward or getting hurt. I call it the sub-text of dating.

I'm not asking that everyday be like a fairytale. In fact, my wish for the world is to stop living in the fantasy and start being real and raw with one another. To get to know someone outside of the bubbles of a text message and the go-to LOL response. How about... Laugh out loud. With another person. In the same room.

You can tell the world the things you 'like' all over social media. So tell it to them. To their face. Not their Facebook...
 Stop thinking of everything in the terms of 'insta' and instead take your time.
Open doors. And close all the chats.
Send flowers, or balloons, or love letters, not friend requests.
Know their story. Don't watch it through Snapchat. Be apart of it.

Vow never to use the abbreviations, when language is limitless.

 Let's start to pursue the idea of pursuing...

My Personal Mission Statement

“Life is about making choices, and I believe that the choices you make in life define you as an individual. In my opinion, the greatest amount of character can be seen in someone that chooses to do the right thing, even if it means sacrificing personal gain. What one values is a direct response of the choices they make throughout their lifetime. So…

I choose to be genuine and true, so that my real colors are always what others see. Because of this I find extreme value in the quality of honesty, humility, and the ability to be trusted and depended upon.

I choose to work hard at every task I am given, until it is completed, so that in the end I appreciate the outcome even more. The reward is sweeter when your dedication, commitment, and work ethic help you achieve your objective.

I choose to maintain a positive outlook on life, by spreading joy to those around me. I believe in the pursuit of happiness; but not in yourself, instead I choose to bring kindness to everyone I meet. I want to pay it forward and make an impact for the betterment of our society.

I choose to walk by faith and uphold myself to the highest standards, so I can confidently represent the One who gave me this opportunity on earth. I choose to let my courage overcome my fears. I choose to hold my head high with dignity and class. Most importantly, I choose to love, for I believe that to be the purpose of life.”

She Promised You Heaven.

They tell me you're gone, 

but everything I breathe is your life. 

A girl who's spirit can be felt in the sunshine,

Your love whispered in the summer breeze. 

You are every laugh, 

every smile, 

every ounce of joy, 

and the hope of tomorrow. 

Every time we pursue happiness, 

we chase after you. 

Until the end of here & now,

When we meet in forever,

I will look at the face I have memorized in my mind, 

and cling to your shadow, 

until I can feel your heart beating... ❤

In Memory of Rhiannon Peak

March 23,1992 --- April 24, 2012

If There Are Words I Don't Have Them...

If there are words for Him then I don't have them. 
You see, my brain has not yet reached the point where it could 
form a thought that could adequately describe the greatness of my God, 
and my lungs have not yet developed the ability to release a breath 
with enough agility to breathe out the greatness of his love, 

and my voice, you see, 
my voice, is so inhibited, restrained by human limits 
that it's hard to even sing the praise of…  
You see if there are words for Him then I don't have them. 

My God, 
His grace is remarkable, mercies are enumerable, 
strength is impenetrable, He is honorable, accountable, favorable, 
He is unsearchable yet knowable, indefinable yet approachable, indescribable yet personal, 
He is beyond comprehension, further than imagination, constant thru generations, 
king of every nation. 

But if there are words for Him then I don't have them. 
You see, my words are few, and to try to capture the one true God, 
using my vocabulary will never do, 
but I use words as an expression, 
an expression of worship to a savior, 
a savior who is both worthy and deserving of my praise, so I use words. 

My heart extols the Lord, blesses his name forever, 
He has won my heart captured my mind and has bound them both together, 
He has defeated me in my rebellion, 
conquered me in my sin, 
He has welcomed me into his presence, 
completely invited me in. 
He has made himself the object of my sight, 
flooding me with mercies in the morning, 
drowning me with grace in the night. 

But if there are words for Him 
then I don't have them. 
But what I do have is good news, 
for my God knew that manmade words would never do, 
for words are just tools that we use to point to the truth, 
so He sent His son Jesus Christ as "The Word", living proof, 

He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation, 
for by Him all things are created, giving nothingness formation, 
and by His words he sustains, in the power of His name, 
for He is before all things and over all things he reigns, holy is his name, 
so praise him for his life... 

The way, he persevered in strife, 
the humble son of God becoming the perfect sacrifice, 
praise him for his death... 

that He willingly stood in our place, that he lovingly endured the grave, 
that he battled our enemy and on the third day rose in victory, 

He is everything that was promised, 
praise Him as your risen king,
lift your voice and sing for one day he will return for us 
and we will finally be united with our savior for eternity, eternity. 

So it’s not just words that I proclaim, 
for my words point to "The Word" and "The Word" has a name, 
hope has a name, 
loye has a name, 
peace has a name, 
love has a name 
and that name is Jesus Christ. 

Praise his name forever!

*I didn't write this... But I love it!*

Tick, Tock

We all have what must be used,

Saved by the same enemy,

The time on our clocks,

Ticking away our lives,

Heartbeats ❤️

My "Bucket" List

The following is a list of all the things I want to complete in my lifetime. In no particular I would like to...

Travel to Paris

Learn to play guitar

Save a life

Meet David Beckham

Toss a penny in the Trevi Fountain

Scuba diving 

Name a star

Feed a panda

Walk through a tulip field

Get a henna tattoo

Stomp grapes

Read all "the classics"

See the Wonders of the world

Play with a penguin

Hike up a mountain

Kiss the Blarney Stone

Write a song

Go to Cinderella's Castle

Visit my ancestors in Denmark

Get baptized

Go parasailing

Attend a music festival

Celebrate NYE in NYC

See a kangaroo in Australia

Fly 1st class

Take a hot air balloon ride

Go to a drive in movie

Write on Juliet's wall in Verona 

Take a picture with Audrey Hepburn & Marilyn Monroe's stars 

Learn another language

Be on the Today Show

Let go of a floating lantern

Get a belly button ring

Celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary

Walk through AOII Headquarters

See the magic at Harry Potter world 

Have an author sign their book

Here's a list of the ones I've already completed...

Kiss a stranger (Sorry mom!)

Take ballroom dancing lessons
Publish my writing professionally

Shop the Mall of America

Go on a missions trip

See a broadway musical

Be in 2 places at one time
Finish a color run 

Read the bible cover to cover in a year

Gamble in Vegas

Breakfast at Tiffany's 

Sing for hundreds of people

Run a 5k

RAKs on my birthday

Graduate from high school & college

22 Acts of Kindness 💜

In honor of my birthday, l decided to do one act of kindness for every year I've been alive. Throughout the week I worked to spread positivity & smiles throughout our community & campus... But I couldn't have completed them alone. So thank you to all my friends and family who helped & supported this campaign & who inspire me to be a better person everyday.

My hope, is that you'll be encouraged to pay it forward, living by example, writing Ephesians 4:32 on your heart: 

"Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." 

Here's a list of the acts we did -- ideas for you to continue! :) 

1. Sent thank you notes to soldiers who have served our nation overseas. 

2. Purchased $1 lotto cards, attached them to a good luck note & then tucked them into the car handles of random cars in a parking lot. 

3. Left a gift card for the person behind me in the drive thru to pay for their meal. 

4. Surprised other people with birthday presents who had birthdays on the same day. 

5. Purchased new pajamas & slippers for a resident at a nursing home, who's family doesn't visit. 

6. Stuck $1 bills into books at our local Christian bookstore. 

7 & 8. Donated to a sorority sister's bake sale raiding money for her trip to Haiti --Then delivered the cookies to the workers at the homeless shelter. 

9. Left a candy surprise for the next person at the tanning salon. 

10. Wrote inspirational quotes on sticky notes & placed them around the community & campus. 

11. Taped a bag of unpopped popcorn on the Red box machine to complete a movie night. 

12. Donated clothing to Goodwill. 

13. Filled vending machines with quarters for the next person to use. 

14. Wrote thank you notes and bought flowers for the ladies who work in our cafeteria. 

15. Recycled plastic bottles from our residence hall. 

16. Sent a note of encouragement to a friend who lives far away. 

17.  Donated money to a fraternity fundraiser for ALS research in honor of a family friend who passed away due to that disease. 

18. Wrote a thank you & left candy for the custodian of our building. 

19. Purchased raffle tickets for friends, supporting arthritis research. 

20. Called the Homeless shelter to see what items they were in need of-- went to shop & purchase those things & delivered them to the shelter. 

21. Showed true forgiveness to someone who had hurt me in the past. 

22. Purchased donuts, wrote thank you notes and delivered them to our police station. 

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."