Peace, Love and Happiness

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."  -Mother Teresa

This has been a fantastic weekend so far, and my heart is "full-up" with joy and peace.  I think it has been so good because I spent it in community with others and I've successfully stepped outside my comfort zone.


On Friday afternoon, I left school right after my last class to babysit four super fun kids.  We planned on making it to the park, and even fit all four bikes into my trunk, but the rain started coming down as soon as we pulled into the parking lot.  Bummer!  At least we had free Wendy's frosty passes and Disney music for the ride.  Once home and frosty-fed, we did several rounds of hide-and-seek, tent/fort-building, Go Fish!, piggy-back riding, jumping/flying time and then settled in for "Toby Tyler" (super sweet old-time Disney movie).  Love it.  Maybe not the most "relaxing" Friday afternoon because it was go-go-go for most of the time, but it was still very peaceful because I got to spend time with such a beautiful family.  Joy!


Saturday (today) I did my grocery shopping, baked cookies, did some law reading, ate dinner with two lovely friends and went to a "Girls' Wine, Cheese and Dessert" night (hence, the cookie baking) hosted by some girls in my class.  It was quite wonderful!  I do not attend too many law school functions because I've either made prior commitments or don't feel comfortable with the expected atmosphere.  This was really nice though -- Good conversation and girl hang-out time.  It is wonderful to be in the same city for law school as I was for undergrad because I have so many undergrad friends here... but I need to branch out some more and get to know my law school classmates better.  This was perfect.  I was so glad to be invited!


Tomorrow will consist of a lot of homework, but that's okay.  I am a student, right?


On a slightly unrelated note I discovered this poem, and I would like to share it with you.  This weekend has been filled with a lot of quiet, little joys that have calmed my heart into a very happy state.  I have, however, known what it is to live with a broken heart, but I think the last lines of the poem are a good reminder for the sorrowful times and the joyful times.  As bad or as good things get here, they will only be perfect once we bid adieu.


"In a Cafe" by Gary Johnson
When Love is lost, the laughter's good and
gone,
The sun sinks down, the heavy fog rolls in,
Nothing is left to say and you know that no
good
Will ever come of this,
Life will never again be miraculous.
Tall dark woman in the café, I see
How the tears glitter in your blue eyes.
You drink black coffee for bravery
And weep onto the front page of the Times.
I had a love once too who now is gone, is
gone, she's gone. The waves roll along
The coast, the sweet summer rain blows in.
      If I knew you, I'd sit by your side and
sing:
      This world is not our home, we're only
passing through.


Now for a book or movie in bed.


"Night, the beloved. Night, when words fade and things come alive. When the destructive analysis of day is done, and all that is truly important becomes whole and sound again. When man reassembles his fragmentary self and grows with the calm of a tree."  -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Happy Hearts

"Who, being loved, is poor?"  -Oscar Wilde


Valentine's Day gets a bad rap.  We live in a "love"-centric world, and yet we have such weird ideas about love.  People think love is satisfied by boyfriends, girlfriends, excessive amounts of chocolate and two dozen roses.  If you're single on Valentine's Day, watch out!  You're going to have the worst day of your year!

I'm here to tell you that is just not true.  I am single (and, don't worry, I was single yesterday on the actual holiday too).  I had, however, quite a delightful Valentine's celebration (if you discount going to class).  I spent it in quality time with friends, in conversation with family, and in the receipt of unexpected gifts.  I felt very loved indeed!

Here are some tips to have a fabulous, fail-proof Valentine's Day:

1. Spend time with young children.

Dancing with Max!

On Sunday night, I went to a tiny Tennessee town with three lovely girlfriends to hear our friends, the band L'Angélus, play in a country grocery/restaurant.  We dressed up, ordered chocolate cake and cheesecake, and played with Little L'Angélus (younger siblings).  SO MUCH FUN.  If you ever want a pick-me-up, look at the face, watch the actions and listen to the conversation of children.  They are so beautiful, innocent and will make you laugh.  I didn't have a boyfriend to dance with, but I did have 6-year-old Max. I didn't get a massage from a boyfriend, but I did get to give 4-year-old Mollie a piggy-back ride.  My boyfriend and I didn't have pictures taken to commemorate the day over a romantic, candlelit meal, but I did participate in quite the photoshoot, thanks to the 6-year-old twins and 8-year-old Angelle.  That was quite enough to make my heart sing (literally).

2. Spend time with good friends.

Kathryn, Bridget, Jade, Christine

I am very blessed with wonderful friends.  We can have silly conversations and serious heart-to-hearts.  They challenge me to be a better person, and I hope I challenge them.  We have so much fun together that, even though we would be delighted to find awesome young men (just because we are joyfully single does not mean that we're completely uninterested in dating!), we are living our current daily vocations with happy and hopeful hearts -- We are students, daughters, sisters, friends.  We love.  Our "double-date" to see L'Angélus on Sunday was fantastic.  On Monday night a group of girls gathered at a house for wine, cheese, dessert and fun games.  Such beautiful quality time together!

3. Be grateful for unexpected surprises/Send an unexpected surprise to someone!

Lace bookmarks, Reese's (my favorite!), a watch, recipes,
a pretty new box, and Photoshop!

On Monday I brought in the mail and was surprised to find so many treasures!  I had a package from my mom and she had filled it with some of my favorite things!  I also received a "Save the Date" notice for my friends' wedding in May, a postcard from my roommate who is living in Senegal, and my Adobe Photoshop software!  Wow!  So many surprise gifts on Valentine's Day!  Thank you!  If you want to make someone's day... send a surprise to them!


4. Pray and say thank you to God.
If you feel like you have nothing else, you have your life, and so you have an opportunity to feel, to think, to do and to love.  As The Sound of Music reminds us, "Love isn't love until you give it away."  God gave His all away for us.  Say thank you, and give your all for Him and for others.  You might be surprised at how loved you feel when you are the one loving.

"Give a little smile, in a little while you're gonna find love conquers all... It can break down walls, if you give a little bit."  -L'Angélus, "Give a Little Bit"