Simply wonderful.

Today has been wonderful. I feel secretly guilty for having spent the entire day in bed. Reading, watching the pages fly by, chapters pass, the story progress. Laying my head on my pillow and sinking down deeper into my soft blankets, sleeping whenever the desire seizes me, wisps of dreams coming and go, shadows replacing the sunshine streaming through my open window. Cuddling up next to my person, quietly amazed at him and his love over and over again, drinking foamy hot chocolate, eating ice-cream. A complete break from the endless hours of studying, the stress, the pain, the exhaustion. A peaceful, reviving, simply wonderful day :) 

He came.

He knew the shadows had grown since he left. He knew that the leaves had fallen and outside the gate the weeds had grown around the tender trees. He knew. But high in the branches of the sturdiest tree, a tiny blossom opened and the mocking hills were made to bow as a silhouetted figure formed on the misty horizon. A hope that had flickered precariously in the bitter winds of night burned once more, growing deep and strong as the moon fell into the dawn.

He walked. And as he walked, the darkness that had yawned across her world fled into valleys and caves. From far away he knew that she was waiting for him. He had been long in coming but in his arms he held what he had journeyed afar to obtain. A dress. White and pure. Yes she had waited, but the distance once they had known would make their nearness all the more sweet. Her figure was not at the window when he arrived for she was there to greet him as the latch clicked and the hinges cried in a garden of pastel colours where grass seemed always green and flowers always in bloom and the gate opened to the future.

{A stranger's beautiful reply - thank-you James*}

Air.

“Imagine a person who comes in here tonight and argues 'no air exists' but continues to breathe air while he argues. Now intellectually, atheists continue to breathe - they continue to use reason and draw scientific conclusions [which assumes an orderly universe], to make moral judgments [which assumes absolute values] - but the atheistic view of things would in theory make such 'breathing' impossible. They are breathing God's air all the time they are arguing against him.” 

Greg L. Bahnsen

before I sleep

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."

{Robert Frost} 

My bestfriend's birthday

Every single day I spend with you by my side is magical. Coming down the stairs, knowing that you will be there waiting, holding my hand as we walk to the station, before the sun has risen, the icy winter air crisp, just you and me. When you bring me tea and give me hugs and kisses while I am studying, encouraging me, caring for me, thinking of me always. I am so blessed. So humbled. Forever grateful. 

But today is more magical than most. It is only when I stop and look back that I realise how far we have come, how swiftly time is passing, how we have grown and what we, with God's help, have accomplished. 

Ray, I have seen you become a mature, godly, Christ-honouring, gospel-centred, ministry passionate man who loves God more than anything else in all of creation. I can see the fire burning in your eyes, your heart aflame when you speak to me of what you have been learning. You challenge me, you hold me accountable, you have made me grow, taught me so very much. You place Jesus at the centre every day. Your eternal perspective, your desire for holiness and understanding is more precious to me than you can ever know. 

I want to say thank-you. For your overwhelming love, how you lead me, your kindness, patience, generosity, forgiveness and selflessness. I always thought that I knew what I wanted, but when God gave you to me, He opened my eyes to what love truly is, He gave me more than I could have ever known I needed.  

You make me laugh, you wipe away my tears, you pray with me when I feel as though I cannot take one exhausted step further. Thank-you for living life with me, for giving me the greatest pleasure, most wonderful privilege in being able to share my future with you. Our hopes, our dreams! A team in serving Him.  

Babe, it's your birthday, and I hope that you have the most incredible day! All my love, forever yours*