In my 29 years...

My parents taught me how to love. 

 (In that "Unconditional" kind of way)

My husband taught me how to love. 

(In that "smile on your face when your thinking about them" kind of way)

My children taught me how to love.

 (In that "will do anything and sacrifice to make them happy" kind of way)

My friends taught me how to love. 

(In that "I'll always listen" kind of way)

Christ taught me how to love. 

(In that "lead by perfect example" kind of way)

 LOVE looks different, feels different, and is reciprocated differently as we walk through life. To understand parental love is to hold your child for the first time and feel that sensation that rocks your soul. That love that explodes inside of you as you look inside the eyes of your flesh, the love that chills your bones when their spirits are broken, the love that consumes you when they squeeze your hand or kiss your cheek.  Love -I had no idea existed and so glad I was able to find. To understand true love of a partner is to join hands in prayer over a sick baby, laugh in memory of what date nights used to look like, to lean on for support in times of need, and assurance that there is only 1 person who knows the real you!  To understand the love of a friend is to know that any time is good to call/talk, that no matter how frivolous an issue they will hear you out, and most importantly having a sister in Christ who always seems to be leading you back to him. To understand our savior's love is to look in the book of Corinthians ...

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in partand we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes,what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 

I'm so incredibly blessed on my 29 th birthday...To have experienced such love.  My hope for this year is to show others love like Christ intended. To not anger easily, to see the best in all situations, to have no enemies, and quite frankly -love like a child. My boys are the best role models for that. They love with a pure heart, no holding back, and with no criteria! I will strive to have an elementary love this year. Very simple but deliberate. 

Thanks to all who have shown me love today with phone calls, texts, emails or hugs. I feel your love... it puts a smile on my face and a sweet song in my heart. Glory be to God for a wonderful day and many to come. 

Xoxo-bday girl

((quick shout out to a special little lady- Collins Henderson -on her first birthday! I'm so thankful for this precious baby and her sweet momma... I'm glad we will forever be connected by sharing our special day!  I hope your day is filled with as much love and kisses as mine has been!))