Saturday.

I literally have about 6 blog topics and entries circling around my head right now. I have random thoughts tucked away in my mind, and even at times scribble them down on the closest piece of paper. The hard part about this is prioritizing what comes out first. The best part? I feel like I have been waiting so long for the words to come, and now that they are here I am treated to the best surprise as I experience them arrive.

I will start with Saturday. I, along with the Lexington community celebrated the marriage of Carolyn Kleinert and Jamie Hewitt. I remember talking to Jamie endlessly about his desired pursuit of the lovely lady now his bride last Spring. I was always impressed by his patience and prayerful spirit. The wedding was wonderful, and the reception in classic Kleinert fashion was an amazing partay.

My favorites of the night:

1) A very wonderful moment shared with Lindsay, she even made me cry as we talked about the journey of this year and our very sweet honest friendship. It was simply divine.

2) A very sweet dance shared with Matty. A large group of us were dancing wildly and exuberantly, and as the song transition into "Wonderful Tonight" by the live band, all of the girls we were dancing with quickly left. Matt and I stood there for a moment and just laughed at them, and then we danced. We talked and whispered about our random thoughts, but mostly we just swayed hand in hand to the pace of the music. It was one of my most favorite moments with Matty in the span of our friendship.

3) In the car I noticed "Wait. My earrings are gone!!" PROOF of a good night on the dance floor. It was fantastic.

4) Conversations with Hatcher and Jana. Love them. Thankful for the hard questions, and the soft place for the answers to land.

5) I felt like myself. I think in a lot of ways though I felt like my new returned self. Maybe it was the dress. I have had that dress tucked in my closet for a year. I bought it in Connecticut last year when I got back from Europe after I was encouraged that I should. It stayed in my closet for the entire year. Saturday afternoon I pulled out the long black and white article of clothing, Mandy curled my hair, and I applied red lipstick. It was fun to get dressed up that way, and look at my reflection and see not just confidence but just awareness. I got several comments on how I looked, but there was one person in particular whom I will not name because it would embarrass him, who in a hug, quietly spoke into my ear "you look absolutely beautiful. It's so wonderful to see you." I was taken so aback by his sentiment, and as I stepped back and searched his eyes I saw that the sincerity in which he meant was palpable. Every girl desires someone to notice them. Something I learned in Italy last year was that beauty is never about what we place on our bodies, or apply to our faces. More often then not, its what shines through your eyes and is communicated in your life. In Italy I was free of the lies I so often believed, and I was able to see experience the response of which. Having just returned from a whirlwind of adventure and challenges, I know that on Saturday night I was not being complimented on an outfit. I was being affirmed in a journey of flight. My response to this person was not just thank you, it was only fitting to give them a kiss on the cheek.

Saturday night was refreshing and absolutely divine. Two wonderful friends have begun a journey and ministry in marriage, and I was glad that I was able to witness it.

Loved.It.