God does great things in our lives. Today I reflect on a great thing He did in my life four years ago today.

Last night Gray texted me at work. “Another full moon, want to go for a hike?” Of course I jumped at the idea. I figured, though, that it was “the boys” going out hiking in the woods, with me sort of tagging along. Gray picked me up at school when I was done working. Although I would’ve been fine with a group, I was quite content also with just the two of us heading out. The night was so crisp, and the sky vividly clear. We drove quite a distance, far enough to leave the city behind us as a hazy reality. After walking a short while in the snowy marsh, he asked if I wanted to stop for a while. Then he asked if I wanted a fire. “Really?” My eyes lit up. I’ll give it to the guy, he knows how to impress a girl! After he gathered wood from the forest behind us, he built a great fire, and pulled out a sleeping bag from his backpack for us to sit on. We must have stayed there for a good while, lying next to each other and watching the stars. We sat in silence for a while, my head resting on his shoulder. “So I was thinking,” he broke the silence, “maybe we should just start dating.” “Okay.” I smiled. After a few minutes he surprises me again. “I want to start this off in prayer.” And he takes my hand in his. Then he prays one beautifully genuine prayer, committing our relationship to God. We then made our way to Starbucks, where we stayed until 2:30 in the morning talking and reading Scriptures. I admire this guy, and I am so grateful to be entering into this relationship with him.
      Father, thank You for bringing Grayson into my life. Thank You for the encouragement and blessing he is to me. Thank You for how comfortable I am to sit next to him, hold his hand, and actually talk with him.

Today, February 22, 2012 I can still hear the crunch of the snow under my feet as we embarked on that chilly walk. I can still feel the icy cold, fresh air run through my nose and into my lungs as we walked side by side under the moon. I have never regretted  breaking curfew that night. I am more thankful than ever before that he is still, even so much more, a blessing and encouragement to me every day.

I have studied love. I have compared the words and observed its Author.  And yet–even more-so now, it frightens me. Some say that love does not make sense, yet this makes sense to me. I am still apprehensive, but I am moving forward and embracing love. I have always determined myself not to play around with the term or concept of being in love. But here I am determining myself to be in love. This is a choice I am making because I believe in it. It is, most definitely, not what I expected; and I am terrified. But I believe in my heart, my mind, and my faith, that this is good. It makes sense to be in love with Grayson. Not that I have a rigid list of standards or expect any kind of perfection, but he satisfies what I have always seen as good and worthwhile–what I have wanted. He is the encouragement that I have prayed for. We are in love. I am still learning, and always will be learning what that means. It is in God’s hands, and oh that it would always be.

Today, February 22, 2012, I can still recall that moment I made a decision. I made a decision to love Grayson. Aside from my emotions, my attraction, those feelings which were so foreign, I made a decision to love. It may seem less romantic than falling hopelessly in love at first sight (It took me 2 weeks to decide, after all). However, it was more than romantic. A choice to look beyond attraction, to reach beyond emotion, and to choose him over me. To serve, to respect, to adore. This choice, in my heart, mind, and soul, was forever. At that moment, I placed him in my heart as mine. I would marry him.

Today, February 22, 2012, I see in my husband such a spirit of adventure, service, discipleship, humility, and a heart for those who do not yet know Christ. I see in him an urgency to bring Christ’s message of hope, His great love, to the ends of the earth. His frustration with monotony and routine, which drives us on. His strive for the big picture, the ultimate goal, which inspires me to be faithful in the little things–the process. His heart which is sold out to the purposes of God.