Can you feel the LOVE tonight?

So, it's 1:39 AM in Germany, which means that we are officially able to celebrate Valentines Day! Tomorrow is my day off, so I was able to stay up late tonight to work on a special little project for the ones who are sleeping now :) After tucking the last girls into bed, I spent the next few hours writing notes to the girls, boys, Bob and Sue, and our dorm brother, Marshall. In each note, I shared a verse of Scripture about the steadfast love of the Lord because it is that love that I am reminded of today...it is that love that I celebrate today.

I also wanted to share those things about them that just make me love them--Joyce's heart for worship, Priscilla always trying to tickle me under the chin while I am praying before bed, G.I.'s adorable laugh and the way he calls me 'Miss Angels," Kate's enthusiam for life, Luke's passion for reading, AJ and his daily cornflakes (eaten with several spoonfuls of sugar), Laura's inquisitiveness before bed ("Lauren, what will heaven be like? Lauren, what how do you imagine God to look? Lauren, does Satan really have horns? Lauren, what will your wedding dress look like?), Britta's appreciation for tea and her daily requests for hugs, the way Ira takes notice of my dry hands and proceeds to bless me with hand massages and lotion, and Josh's innocent humor. These children are so special to me and the more time I spend with them, the more I love the silly things they say and do...the more I love their individual personalities and creative natures, and the more I love them just because they are!

So, in an effort to bless them tonight/today/this morning ...haha...(what time of day is it if I haven't gone to bed yet?) I attached Valentine Fruit Roll-Ups (those special treats that Mom would pack in my lunch in elementary school and middle school) to heart-shaped notes and placed them in front of their doors. I also made this into a bit of a prank because I can't forget to tell you that I cut up several pieces of red and pink paper and covered the floor in front of their doors with this confetti. I am secretly hoping to hear laughing when they wake up :)

Happy Valentine's Day, Friends :)

"Once thing God has spoken,

two things have I heard:

that you, O God, are strong,

and that you, O Lord, are loving."

Psalm 62:11

"But I will sing of your strength;

I will sing aloud of your steadfast love

in the morning.

For you have been to me a fortress

and a refuge in the day of my distress.

O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,

for you, O God, are my fortress,

the God who shows me steadfast love."

Psalm 59:16-17