Forever and Always.

Chapter Five

Joshua and I made a Summer Bucket list. We talked so much and got so close that we figured, why not make a Summer Bucket list?

I remember it like it was yesterday.

He and I went to the library and just talked about all these things that we could do together… why I wanted to spend more time with him... I had absolutely no idea.

Little did I know, I kept on falling more and more.

It was disastrous at first. I remember going to Denver Hmong Alliance Church for the first time and all I could concentrate was on him… and that was not good.

The way he prayed and the way he lost himself within the beat of the drums.

I was falling in love with a Godly man. It was different, certainly different. You see, Joshua found out that I had liked him and I admitted it the week after.

-----------------------------------------------------------

*Flashback*

As I was walking to the library to meet up with Joshua, I thought of all the things I could say.

I mean, the way he looked at me, his eyes showed that he knew. He knew that I liked him. Oh no.

As I was walking, all I could do was worry. I worried on what he was going to say when I told him.

Hecks, I didn’t even know what I was going to say! He didn’t like me, he only saw me as a friend. There was no hope at all in a relationship.

Why was I getting so wound up in this guy?

No Catalina, why are you doing this to yourself? My brain didn’t listen to my heart at all as I walked onto that patio of the library.

There he was, just looking off into the distance.

This may sound girly, but boy was he handsome just standing there.

Right as I opened the door to the patio, he turned and looked at me. I blushed; he caught me staring at him like a buffoon! Oh my, my face was as red as a tomato.

My heart skipped a beat.

He smiled and walked over to a bench. I smiled back and sat about a foot away from him. How awkward... -_-

We sat in silence for a little bit. I had no idea what I was going to say. My mind and my heart were jumbled with countless thoughts.

He looked off into the distance, at the lake.

“It looks like it’s about to rain, but you never know with Colorado.” Joshua always seemed so concentrated and noticed little things.

*awkward laugh inserted here* “Yeah, haha... It does! I love this library, it has an amazing view.”

He answered, “I definitely agree with that. So what did you want to talk about? I mean, you said you had to tell me something right? Haha, or was I was daydreaming when you told me that?”

“Joshua, I like you!” oh my. Did I really just blurt that out?! Smooth Catalina, smooth. And here I was, still trying to come up with a logical reason or explanation. Ding, it went off in my head.

“But you seem really cool, and I could see us as friends. I mean, yeah!” There you go! Smart thinking, point for Catalina!

“Oh… haha yeah, friendship! I think that’s best.” He smiled at me, a smile that brightened his eyes.

I smiled back, but deep inside, why did I feel this little stab of pain in my heart?

“Definitely, friends… that sounds good!” I smiled, it was a pretty good one if I say so myself. Maybe he was meant to be just a brother and a friend.

Maybe, but we’d never know...

We ended up walking to the lake. This beautiful lake beside the library.

I was fascinated with the memorial dedicated to the victims of 9/11. Simply amazing. We sat down at a bench hidden in the trees.

It was made of marble, and flowers and leaves surrounded the area. It was such a beautiful view.

In the silence, he said, "You know, this could be 'our bench.' It's hidden but real pretty."

"I definitely agree with that, my favorite spot from now on." I smiled at him as I said this.

"Deal."

 *End of Flashback*

-----------------------------------------------------------

Joshua brought me to Christ. He found hope in me, and I needed it so much.

The first Bible verse that Joshua shared with me was..

Matthew 7:7

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

I was so captured by the verse. Could God be truly that kind? I wanted to know more, so you know what I did, I went to church.

Denver Hmong Alliance Church, an absolutely life changing part of my life.

I remember attending my first Sunday Class as Phillip shared a sermon about God’s love. It is never ending and truly unconditional.

I fell in love with God. I fell in love with His strength and with His blessings.

What He had to teach us and how Jesus Christ was a bodily form of God himself. How God sacrificed His son for our sins!

I accepted Christ that day, it was such an overwhelming but loving compassion that I wanted to succeed in. I walk in love with the Lord..

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HI THERE LOVLIE READERS.

I am so sorry, this chapter is so late! But I never knew that you guys were still reading, again sorry. And YES, you guessed right! I am a proud child of God.

I will also be sharing my walk with the Lord in this story, it will be a story filled with Love from God, Family, Friends, and now a very important man in my life, Joshua.

I pray that you guys enjoyed this chapter; I will get the next one up as soon as possible!

love, catalinasmiles