now the eyes of my eyes are opened.

Since I am not part of a couple and do not have to direct my affection to a significant other on this most "sacred and holy" of days - I am going to share some of the things that have brought me joy and made me feel loved in the recent days.

Pan-seared boneless pork chops

I have had a couple of different recipes for pork lately and I just really like it. One has a cider sauce with it and the other is a mushroom/onion sauce. I feel like a chef when I actually cook supper and pork seems to be my specialty. Tonight I'm breaking out and trying orange-ginger chicken.

Family Force 5

When in the office, this is the music I've been gravitating towards lately. It's a little rock and a little silly but its energetic and really gets me motivated. And every once in a while their songs are actually really poignant and I like that surprising depth for a band that knows how to have fun.

Family Time

I got to go home this weekend for the first time since Christmas. There are no words to describe how nice it is to just be home. My parents are really awesome to let me invade their time and space like that. They are also really awesome to drive to Watertown after I forgot my phone charger yet again...

XBOX Kinect

Ok - this thing is seriously cool. You are the controller! And you dodge, dive, dip, duck and dodge. (Oh wait, that's something else...) You can really work up a sweat with this game - and more than a few sore muscles. I could barely move Wednesday morning after trying Kinect for the first time. Also - playing 20,000 leaks with my mom in our living room are memories worth having.

Conversations with great friends

My friends may not live in Milbank (although I sort of have a new one for awhile), but that doesn't mean we can't have amazing friendships. Thank you to those who take the time to connect with me - I may not always make it easy, but I hope I make it worth it. :)

Youth Ministry

I know I don't talk a lot about my job on here, but I can't for confidentiality reasons. I want you to know that for as much as it can take over my life and dictate what I can and cannot do - I wouldn't change it. I LOVE the youth of this church and when I am gone - I miss them. When they do something awesome - I beam with pride. When they hurt - it cuts me, too.

So - that's what I've been thinking about on this Valentine's day.