My Fairy Tale

Every girl wants her fairy tale. Mine started when I was still in high school. Of course I had dated a few guys, but my fairy tale began when I was in 11^th grade. I had met this COLLEGE GUY. Yes, I got to tell all my friends I was dating a guy in college. And they were still dating immature high school guys. I got jokes like, “He’s a pastor? You’ll never have any fun!” Of course I think they were jealous, and I may have bragged a bit, but my reasons for dating were so different than theirs. They wanted a person to obsess over, hang all over, spend every second with, and then drop him as soon as the next “cutest” guy walked by. I was looking to marry.

I was so blessed with a Christian family where I had example of couples to follow. I was also blessed in my teenage years with a pastor’s wife with a passion for helping young ladies grow into the women God wanted them to be. When I was about 13, our group of churches in Florida started “Secret Keepers”, based on Dannah Gresh’s books Secret Keeper and The Bride Wore White. We had girls retreats that taught about what these books and the Bible said about dating, marriage, sex, and boys. These retreats led me into the path of looking for a husband, not just a boyfriend. We learned about saving ourselves physically, spiritually, and emotionally for our future husbands. According to the Bible, you only get one! So shouldn’t they get all of you? Not just the pieces left over after silly relationships?

So, little did I know that while God was speaking to me about all these issues at the retreat in March of 2005, that God was preparing me for something great. Just this past January (2012), while we were packing up our house for deputation, I found my notes from that retreat. In it, we were given the assignment to write a prayer to God, and ask him for all the things we wanted in a husband. I absolutely do not remember writing this prayer, so what a surprise to find a sentence that read, “Please send me a husband to do mission work with.” Here’s the incredible part- I met Jared just 2 months after that retreat. Isn’t it crazy that we can look back over our lives and see how God has been writing our stories? His ears were listening the day I said that prayer, and he sure did answer it!

I’m writing this to try to encourage those who think they will never find their spouse, or who are tired of chasing around silly relationships. PRAY for your future spouse! Remember, “Ask, and you shall receive.” Also, SAVE YOURSELF! Your spouse deserves all of you, and you deserve all of them! Physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Don’t load up your life with baggage and experiences you can’t take back. God meant you for one person. And believe me, it’s worth the wait!

So here we are, seven years after our fairy tale began, married, and about to start the mission work I prayed for. Our marriage is not always perfect, but God’s in charge and he’s still writing our story! I’m excited to see how it ends… but I’m sure it’ll be Happily Ever After!

 

 

Ladies: If you haven’t read Dannah Gresh’s book, I encourage you to do so! Even if you’re married, there is a lot of great info for your daughters and help for healing your past. Check them out! http://purefreedom.org/index.htm

What we've been up to

The last few weeks have flown by! We ended the month of August by getting on a plane in Indiana and flying home to Florida for a week. What a wonderful time we had. It was great to see Jared’s family, since we had not seen them since March. I always enjoy time with my family. Jared and I were so excited to even get to spend a day at the beach! The reason we really went home was to report to our home church, which we also had not seen since March. What a great time of encouragement to know we have not been forgotten and that we are still loved! J I know that we won’t be forgotten, but sometimes it does get lonely on the road.

So, after a week of being home, we flew back to Indiana to get our things and then made the 10 hour drive to Arkansas. This is going to be our home base for the next month or two as we visit churches. We are staying in the apartments at the Missionary Baptist Seminary in Little Rock, and I am so happy! While being on deputation for 9 months, we have stayed numerous places. Once we shortly rented a house; we’ve stayed with quite a few families; we’ve stayed in a mission house; and stayed in a few hotels. But this apartment has me so excited. I’ve actually unpacked my things for the first time in 9 months! I know we’ll only be here for a few weeks, but I feel like this is somewhere I can completely relax and settle for a little while. The atmosphere helps make this apartment nice, too. We’re surrounded by young families who are studying in the seminary and by other missionaries doing exactly what we are. And it’s nice for a Florida girl to see some rolling hills and trees other than oak.

Jared and I have been doing well. We focus on staying healthy and happy- probably what everyone should do in life. Living on the road we have been eating a LOT of fast food. So we are trying to exercise some more (and eat more Subway!) and make sure we are getting plenty of sleep. To stay happy we make sure to watch funny movies often and try to do some sightseeing during the week. Please keep us in your prayers for safety and that we will reach the support amount needed so we can prepare to move!