Day 22

día veintidós: (Nov. 22, yesterday) Today I am so thankful for Andrew Hudgins and his wonderful family. I couldn't ask for more caring people to be such a big part of my life.

Dear Heavenly Father, today I want to thank You for the incredible people I was able to spend this past weekend with. God, thank You for Andrew and his family. In giving gratitude for Andrew, I don't really know what to say or where to begin. God, he is such a blessing in my life. Thank You for creating him to be exactly who he is, and thank You for him accepting me exactly as You've created me. Lord, I feel comfortable being completely myself around him. You've blessed me with more than a boyfriend in Andrew - You have also given me a best friend in him. Spending time with him and talking with him is so effortless, God. It doesn't matter what You have us doing or saying. Thank You for all the fun we have together. Thank You for being able to spend time together in the first place. We've been doing the long-distance thing for much longer than expected, but You have made our relationship stronger because of that. Thank You for giving us the time and means to talk to each other (online, phone, Skype) and spend time together. God, You've made it so enjoyable just to be in his presence that I never want to leave. Thank You, God, that we were able to be such good friends before we started dating. That was a huge blessing to me, and I feel that it's definitely the way You wanted it to play out. Thank You for Your hand in every part of our friendship and relationship. Thank You for making Andrew so caring, thoughtful, & loving. God, he is so set and growing in his relationship with You. Thank You for Andrew's continual push of me toward You, as well. He does everything he can to make sure I'm in a good and growing relationship with You. God, thank You for being the center of my relationship with Andrew. I am so blessed to have a boyfriend who cares so much about glorifying You in whatever he does and whatever we do. Thank You for our shared morals and values. Lord, thank You for showing me Your love through Andrew. Your unconditional love is shown to me so clearly by our relationship. Thank You for placing Andrew in my life at a time when You know I need that love the most. You have sent him to me to provide such incredible support. He doesn't/can't even realize how much he has helped me and continues to do so. You have placed him by my side (literally, next to me) while I've faced the hardest thing I've ever gone through. And he is still always here for me during the effects of that. God he is a constant reminder to me that You are always with me and always loving me. Thank You for working through Andrew to bring me closer to You.

Thank You also, God, for the amazing family that Andrew has. Thank You that he has grown up with abundant love and support. Now they are also showing that love and support to me. Lord, Andrew's parents are so generous in many respects. They are making my transition out of my house so much easier. Thank You for Mr. & Mrs. Hudgins' generosity in allowing me to store things at their house. You have given them some room to spare, and they are sharing that blessing with me. Thank You for their sincere & generous offers to help me move bigger things there, as well. When that time comes, I pray that it is a generally easy process. Lord, thank You for the Hudgins' sincerity and hospitality. I feel so at home at their house. They open up their doors and their arms to me at any time and for however long. Lord, thank You for their generosity and their love. Just as it's easy for me to spend time with Andrew, it's also easy for me to spend time with his family. God, I really look forward to seeing Erin more when I am back at school. Thank You for making her a JMU Duke! I pray that You allow us to spend quality time together frequently. You have made Erin to be such a nice and funny girl. She is such a genuine joy to be around. Thank You for the fun and laughs that we are able to share together.

God, I always look forward to the next time I will be able to spend with the Hudgins family. Thank You for the long weekend I was just able to spend in Altavista, and thank You for my upcoming weekend in Roanoke Rapids. Bless our time there in celebration of Thanksgiving. I look forward to meeting more of Andrew's family, and I pray that they will enjoy meeting me, as well.

God, thank you for Andrew and his family. It is incredible to me how You have placed me in such a great relationship when I've really needed some extra love. I pray that my relationship with Andrew will only grow and become deeper. Help us work through any problems that may arise in the future. Most of all, may I remember how blessed I am to have Andrew in my life. Thank You for all he is to me and all he does for me. Thank You for showing me Your love through him. Amen.

"They were sitting
They were sitting on the strawberry swing
Every moment was so precious

They were sitting
They were talking under strawberry swing
Everybody was for fighting
Wouldn't wanna waste a thing

Cold, cold water bring me round
Now my feet won't touch the ground
Cold, cold water what ya say?
When it's such
It's such a perfect day
It's such a perfect day

I remember
We were walking up to strawberry swing
I can't wait until the morning
Wouldn't wanna change a thing

People moving all the time
Inside a perfectly straight line
Don't you wanna curve away?
When it's such
It's such a perfect day
It's such a perfect day

Now the sky could be blue
I don't mind
Without you it's a waste of time

Could be blue
I don't mind
Without you it's a waste of time

Could be blue,
Could be grey
Without you I'm just miles away

Could be blue
I don't mind
Without you it's a waste of time"

-Coldplay, "Strawberry Swing"