V-Day, Revolutionized.

For the first time (I think ever) I am not focusing on me on this holiday.

I am not thinking about the flowers I will (or won't) receive today with a sweet note doodled by the person who doodles a million little notes to stick in bouquets at the flower shop.

I'm not obsessing over what to get (or not get) my boyfriend (not only because I don't have one 😉 ).

I don't have 7 bottles of wine and a mound of chocolate lined up to bitterly consume with my other single girlfriends while watching The Notebook. (shameful headshake, I know)

And, the most important part- I don't feel sad or left out on this day of love.

Quite the contrary, I am happy and excited today as I prepare to set out on a mission of love for the next year. I am so pumped to leave behind the comforts of my everyday life, and pour my heart into my work as I convey Christ's love to the beautiful, hurt, broken, and abandoned people of the 11 nations I will travel to.

Bonus- I am starting now! My heart has been changed and broken for what breaks my God's over the last 6 months. I am a happier girl, and am striving to love everyone around me and be an example of Christ in my every day work (even when I don't enjoy it).

Love won't always be comfortable; when I'm hot, sticky, sweaty and covered in bug bites.

Love won't always be easy; when I'm tired, grumpy, or feeling sick.

Love won't always be fun; when I'm irritated with my teammates, or when the work I've been assigned isn't necessarily what I had in mind, or when I'm stuck on a bus for 20+ hours.

But.. this is when I will have to remember that Love is my purpose, and is an action word. It is not feeling based.