Living In The Overflow Of God's Love

I have recently started leading a Bible study with a handful of my small group girls and it is on the book A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado. Which I absolutely love, by the way. Through this study, we are looking more in depth at 1 Corinthians 13 and the different aspects of love and what it means to live out of the overflow of God's love. In other words, am I really "living loved?" And i truly hope so. I pray that I recognize just a portion of God's vast love for me, so that in response to this recognition I might be able to portray that love to those around me. It's been neat to focus on what living loved really looks like, but when i sit down and think about all the things I have come to love recently, I see a list much like this (some deep, some not so much.. just a random list love list...)

Things that I currently love:
1. Hand Sanitizer. - Swine flu is in full swing and i have never saturated my hands in so much soap and hand sanitizer. Praise the Lord for health thus far into the school year.
2. Time spent in Knoxville- I have found it SUCH a refreshment to get out and travel to knoxville at least twice a week and spend time with close friends Samantha, Cameron, Kelsey and especially Julia and Eleanor. (Seriously, I feel like i practically live at Jules and El's apartment, as i often "shack" there on the weekends.) They are so kind and i'm so grateful that they let me intrude on their lives and practically live with them on the weekends.
I even got to meet up with Emily Geyer and spend the night with her in her hotel room when she was in knoxville on a business trip. So fun!
3. TN football. - Another reason i love going to ktown is to take part in the weekly to do that is known as TN football. Saturday game days are so fun and seeing everyone outside all sporting the same color to cheer their team on just makes me a happy person. I can't wait for the UT/Auburn game on Saturday. Thanks to my roomie Carling, i have a ticket and I'll get to go represent a house divided.
4. New Friends - Like i've said in my previous blog, its fun to hang out with not only my UT friends from camp, but also their friends. It's been fun meeting new people and occasionally getting to spend time with different sets of people.
5. Mr. Coffey's 5th Grade class at FAIRVIEW MARGURITE - This is where I have been assigned to this semester. I will get to spend 50 hours here and teach around 6 lessons to these 5th graders. I was super apprehensive about this placement because it was pretty much EVERYthing out of my comfort zone (1/2 hispanic, a higher grade level than i was used to, working with a male teacher, etc..) .....BUT I LOVE IT. absolutely love it. God was good to give me such a great teacher and class. I'm pumped.
6. pretty days and walks. - Yes... WALKS. Something's gotten into me. And i've realized that i dont take advantage of the beauty of God's creation enough. On pretty days, i've been trying to take advantage of being outside more and even going with a friend on a walk. It's super refreshing and makes for great quality time. i love it.
This is me and my roomie Sarah one pretty evening as I got KFC and she got Subway and we went to the dam close to our house and ate dinner together then went walking till it got dark. Again, SO FUN!
7. my schedule. - although tuesdays and thursdays are a drag, its nice to have my first classes on mondays and wednesdays not start till 1:30, and to have Fridays OFF. (although i use fridays to go to my school from 8 to 3.. its still nice to not have actual class).
8. My family - So cliche, but after what I've seen this semester and especially at this new school placement, I can't get over how freaking blessed I am in this category.
9. The love of God - so rich and pure, so measureless and strong. It shall forevermore endure, the saints and angels song!