What does love look like?

Ali and me in Minnesota, July 2013

My friend Ali is currently in Thailand doing mission work and just loving up on the people there. Ali is a seasoned traveler and missionary. When I saw her in July, I was delighted to hear all about her upcoming travels. Every time that Ali sets off for a new location, she blogs, chronicling her journeys and the amazing ways that God shows up. As I was reading her blog today, this question stood out to me:

I know my job in all of this. It's knowing that I am loved and It's knowing how to love. Asking the fabulous questions momma Heidi asked us while in Moz:

"What does love look like?"

I'm in a season of online dating, struggling with being single, and looking forward to eventually being a wife and a Mom. As soon as my eyes hit the words on the screen, I stopped and thought of all the ways I'm being loved during this season. Love looks like:

• Waking up to a text message from one of my dearest friends in New Jersey that immediately put at a smile on my face.
• PSL's from McDonalds, a trip to Hobby Lobby, and lots of chats with my second Mom.
• Taking care of me by spending the afternoon at the beach and reading.
• Turning my phone off before I go to bed.
• Skype date with two dear friends where we laugh, love and talk about the tough stuff.
• Saying no.
• Laughing so hard over dinner with the family that I almost fell out of the chair. Monty Python impersonations and Indian accents crack me up every single time.
• Tuesday work days at a nearby Starbucks.
• Learning how to knit.
• John Mayer, Mumford and Sons, and Phillip Phillips Pandora stations
• Going to bed early.

One of my goals this past summer was to be intentional in focusing on being grateful. As I write this list, I realize that a large part of my struggles the last few weeks was caused because I was choosing not to realize how much love there is in my life, no matter how it looks.