Best. of. Me.

Forgive the cheese moment.
But...
It's 3am and I am wide awake.
And I can't stop listening to this song (and not just because it's my dreamy Buble) as I sit in a hotel room waiting for my alarm to go off so I can get on a plane and get back to what's waiting for me at home.

I've lived most of my life not having anything waiting for me at home.
And, honestly, so many times that's been okay.
It was what I knew.
But, now that I am where I am and know what I know, I can't believe I've gone so long without it (and kudos to all of us who have) and I realize even the few times I had something waiting for me at home, I certainly never had what is waiting for me now.

What's waiting for me?
(no, not Buble...but listen to the song. Oh the lyrics. They slay me.)



One who gives more than "enough to me".
The man who "changed the taste of love for me".
My "one more chance" (literally...that's what I told the Lord) "I never thought I'd find".
"The one romance I've always known in my mind."
The Mr who I can say of "no one who has ever touched me more".

You could say I saved "the very best of me" for this man.
But, I see now that that is because he has brought the very best of me OUT of me.
That's what this love thing is all about, right?
...finding the person who can bring the best of you out.
...finding the person you can do that for in return.

Someone told me this weekend, "you are oozing peace. You look content."
Someone else said, "you are just glowing."

I feel it.
I do.
I am the best of me.
Somehow with him, because of him, I am stronger and better and happier and contenter and more me-er.

I can't wait to get back to him.
I can't wait to plan our week.
I can't wait to continue the countdown.
I can't wait to get home.


For anyone waiting for love...real love...good love...right love.
To the cute 30-something single ladies I met in Memphis two weeks ago...
To the worried 20-something cutie I met in Indy yesterday...
To the dozens of girls who read this blog who have emailed me since becoming engaged because you've found a little bit of hope in my story...
That love you are hoping for?
This 41 year old, soon-to-be-married girl knows...
It exists.
And it might not come when you want it to or even how you thought it would,
But it exists.
It does.
Keep praying for it.
Keep believing in it.
And...
Save the best of you,
the very best of you it.

(PS My cute Mr couldn't believe how many of you replied to get a book. So, basically, if you sent me your address, you are getting a copy...courtesy of him. They'll go in the mail on Monday...as well as the 3 copies of Armor Up I owe. Happy reading!)

a little seed of faith

Announcing the birth of this little thing:

(isn't she adorable? the designer did an amazing job. look at some of these inside pages...)

My very first book for real live adult people.
(also available as an ebook for $3.99...holy cow that's a good little price)
It's my 2011 TOFW talk "The Faith Experiment" captured in the cutest little gift book.

Yesterday some friends threw me a shower and one of them said, "Look at how your faith experiment has turned out!"
And while I don't believe the "turning out" had to do with the "outcome" (because faith is not about outcomes), I DO believe that the principles I learned and shared in this little book are absolutely true and I do believe they can be life changing. And, as it happened, produced results in my life I do believe would have happened no other way.
Pray.
Think.
Live.

I love how this little book turned out and and I want to share it.
So....

The first 15 comments will get a copy.
Yep. You read that right.
I love my little blog world and I am giving away FIFTEEN COPIES.
Make sure to email me your mailing address to LaurelDOTChristensenATgmailDOTcom after you leave your comment here. And, if you feel so inclined, share the book with others you think could benefit.

Here's to YOUR faith experiment.
xoxo