What’s on Your Heart TAG

Thank you to Vickie at Vickie’s Book Nook for nominating me to complete this post. This month’s topic sounds like a really great topic to discuss. Dollfaced Writer has created a tag where each month the theme is different but the tag continues monthly. Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you to participate.
2. Link back to the original post.
3. Attach an image that inspires you regarding the month’s theme (or use the original).
4. Talk about what this month’s theme means to you.
5. Answer the questions.
6. Nominate one or more people to participate.
7. Enjoy the rest of your month.

For February, our theme is: What’s on Your Heart

What is on my heart?

My heart is heavy, but I’m working SO hard to lean into God with great fervor. For those of you who know me, you know that my dad was killed in a car accident one month ago. One month! I can’t believe time has moved so quickly. Most days I feel like life paused on January 23, 2019. What’s been wearing on me this past month is the crazy amount of loss and trauma I’ve had to deal with in a less-than two year span. Almost two years ago, my best friend was diagnosed with a seriously rare cancer. She’s fighting like crazy to defy the odds. I’ve been praying like crazy that God will defy her odds. One year ago, a co-worker friend of mine committed suicide. To say I was shocked is an overstatement. He fully believed in God and never hid his faith. Suicide was the last way I thought he would ever die. Last June, one of my closest friends died in a freak accident. His loss wrecked me hard. It was like losing my big brother. And then just this past January 23rd, my family and I lost my dad because someone swerved in front of him on the freeway. I know that life is filled with trials and tribulations. Jesus says so in John 16:33: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” This verse has really been helping me daily. It encourages me. God knows we will have troubles, BIG troubles, in this lifetime of ours, but He has created a way for us to receive peace even during these awful times. I will miss my dear friends and my dad so much — for the rest of my life — but I take peace in Jesus. He has defeated the world. Because of Jesus, one day I will get to see my loved ones in heaven. I am so excited for that day!

My dear friend, Tim. He died June 2, 2018.

Me and my dad dancing at my wedding on October 23, 2011.

The questions that go along with this tag:

1. Do you believe in love at first sight? No. I don’t think it is possible to immediately love someone you know nothing about. Love is not a feeling. Love it a choice. I think that you can be infatuated and drawn to someone at first sight, but I don’t think you can love at first sight. We should always be a little weary of initial feelings. They can be powerful and misleading.
2. Do you believe in soulmates? No. The idea of soulmates is corny to me. Again, love is a choice, not a feeling. Do I think that my husband is my soulmate? I think that my husband is the mate God wanted me to be with, but I still have to choose every day to love him. This fairy tale notion of love that Hollywood projects is not real, but I think a lot of people have bought into it as real and have made some seriously BIG decisions based on this false narrative.
3. What’s the first thing you notice about a person? I like to go out to lunch with people. The way a person treats and tips a waiter says a lot about a person’s heart. If the person treats the server respectfully with smiles and polite requests, and then tips well, I know that person is a good person. I most likely want to spend more time with that person. But, if a person treats the waiter like a slave, is rude, and tips poorly, I know that person is not a kindhearted person, and I don’t want anything to do with them.
4. What’s your ideal date? My favorite date is dinner filled with great conversation, and then a trip to the local bookstore. Best date ever!
5. What traits do you look for in a friend/significant other? Real, genuine faith in God is a big deal to me. Treating others with kindness, respect, and honor is super important to me. And, being able to respectfully converse with one another is a HUGE deal to me.
6. What are your thoughts about being friends with an ex? I think it’s a myth. It is possible to break up amicably, but I’m not sure it’s really possible to be friends. Friendship implies a continued relationship. I’ve never known a single human who broke up with a boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, or husband, and then purposely hung out with them as friends. Perhaps my issue is that breaking up sort of implies you weren’t really good friends to begin with, why would you suddenly become good friends after the break up? 
7. If you’re a believer, when did you give your heart to the Lord? If not, what in life keeps a bounce in your step? I am a believer! I gave my heart to Jesus when I was six years old in 1987. I professed a love for Jesus my whole life, but about four years ago my eyes were truly opened to Jesus and what it means to be a follower of Christ. I recommitted my life to Him in October 2015.

I nominate the following to continue with the tag:

Trisha @ Joy of Reading

Becca @ The Becca Files

Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective

Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home

No obligation to participate. Just follow the leading of the Spirit. Blessings!