Sweet Online Magazine

Hey friends! I wanted to let you know about a totally free online magazine that is amazing. It is titled Serious Life. This magazine features bloggers stories, humor, encouragement, money, family and a host of other articles about all aspects of life. Their link is http://www.seriouslifemagazine.com/default.asp Their new April issue was just released yesterday so don’t forget to check it out.

Life is still crazy with school work and tying up loose ends at my job. I will update after Easter and will share pictures of my family being here. The past three years I have not spent Easter with them as I have been on missions trips or spending the holiday with my hubby’s family. Have a great few days and see you next week:)

Stepping out in FAITH

One of the main reasons this blog has been quiet is because Sweetheart and I have been preoccupied with seeking the Lord for our future plans directly related to seminary and thereafter. Well today is the day I can announce our big news. No- we are NOT pregnant…don’t worry we will be super excited to share that, but today’s news is very exciting as well as nerve wracking at the same time. Are you ready to hear what Sweetheart and I have been praying about earnestly for the past six months???

WE ARE MOVING TO SOUTHEASTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN WAKE FOREST, NC!!!

To make such a long story short last fall Sweetheart approached me one night when I was about to drift off to zzz’s and said I really feel like we should apply to SE for seminary and just see what God does. I was like okay I think I can do that never dreaming we would actually be moving eight months later. As always God is faithful and has grown my faith these past six months as trial after trial has entered our life and we have had to wholeheartedly trust in His goodness.

Today I told my boss who I dearly love and respect that May would be my last month to work for him. Needless to say he was sad yet excited to see what God would do in our lives. I shared the journey of faith we have been on and thanked him for the opportunity to work under him. Now that the news is official I wanted to share with each of you what our plans are and where we are headed.

This summer, beginning of June, we will be leaving VA where Sweetheart and I met, dated, were engaged, lived in our first home, worked our first full-time jobs etc. We are leaving almost everything we know and love to pursue something we love more and want to know more! Sweetheart will be pursuing a Master of Divinity in International Church Planting. This program involves a 2-year commitment to serve as an international church planter somewhere around the world. We are so excited about this new development and would covet your prayers as we seek to learn more and prepare for international missions. We will most likely be in NC for 2 years and then head overseas after that.

God has been working in BIG ways in our lives as the idea for missions was first birthed in my hubby’s heart and then confirmed in mine. We know the road will not be easy, but we appreciate the support of our family and friends. As we seek to love God more and His people we want to know Him more intimately and pursue His calling on our lives most passionately. We will keep you all updated as we learn and grow more. Thanks for keeping up with us and we wil update soon…sorry for no pictures but I think the news will be enough for today!!!

All in the same week

On Sunday evening in the beginning of March we arrived home from the grocery store and could not make it up our steep driveway because there was already a few inches of snow on the ground.

By time we woke up Monday morning there was a foot of snow in our yard and school/work was canceled! Here are a few pictures of how we spent our first snow day together as a married couple.

The snow was so fluffy and we went out early in the morning so here is our version of a snowman. We affectionately named our snow blob Bob.

I love this picture of Sweetheart throwing up the snow and it falling right back down.

Here is my attempt at creating a snow angel.And the happy couple enjoying a day to spend together without the pressure of homework or work assignments to be completed. We are hoping for many  more fun snow memories to be made in the future years.

Then I kid you not on Saturday it was 75 degrees outside and we enjoyed a friendly game of Doodle-Dice outside on our picnic blanket. I might add that I won and here is a picture of Jason sad from defeat.

I love SPRING and cannot wait for the weather to get warm.

Valentine’s Day Getaway

I know it is March, but February seems to be a distant blur in my mind and I don’t want to forget the special first Valentine’s Day we celebrated as husband and wife. Sweetheart’s boss and her husband own a B&B in Burlington, NC. They were gracious to offer a FREE night to all married couples in the office. You better believe as a married couple that we took them up on it and had an absolute blast at our first real getaway since our honeymoon (not counting family trips or holidays).

We arrived Friday evening and had a lovely evening relaxing in our room, enjoying the jacuzzi, and just loving being with our best friend! Here are a few pictures from the beautiful Burke Manor Inn. It is a quaint B&B that is reasonably priced, offers delicious breakfast, amazing rooms, and exceptional service. Okay enough of my sales pitch but even if we had to pay it would have been worth every penny.

Here we are Saturday morning standing outside the B&B with big smiles from our relaxing weekend.

Our super comfy bed that was gorgeous in the wood work and design.

OOOO-LALALA:) Hey a girl needs a good bubble bath every once in a while.

Their robes were amazing and my babe looks amazing as well!

Huge moment of stepping out in faith that will be documented  soon enough.

I could watch Sweetheart read his Bible all day long knowing I am blessed having a spiritual leader in my husband.

It was the best breakfast that we had eaten in a long time!!!

Of course we had to take a picture with the heart- it was Valentine’s Day!

I love my husband and am so grateful he planned a special weekend for us to escape school, work, church, and just focus on our marriage and spend time earnestly seeking the Lord for our future plans.

Christmas in March anyone?

It has been over a month since I have last found time to blog. In the mean time I have finished another DLP class through Liberty, am currently taking 9 credits which is 8 to many:), working and trying to keep up with our home. I realized that I never wrote about Christmas so here is my spin on my first “real” holiday away from my family!

Christmas was spent with Sweetheart’s family in Augusta, Georgia. We drove to Fayetteville, NC to see a high school buddy of ours on the way before continuing past the numerous cop cars waiting to pull over speeders regardless of how much they were driving over the speed limit. For those of you who know me- I am the speed demon and Sweetheart is the Granny driver. The deal is I will drive in Virginia and NC and he has to drive in SC and GA so we don’t get pulled over.

There were not too many pictures taken, but Sweetheart’s cousin and his wife had a baby in July so most of the pictures have him in them. All in all it was a good time and even though I was missing my family on Christmas day I survived and even made new, fun traditions such as Christmas Eve bingo.

This is my mother-in-law C with Sweetheart and the apple of everyone’s eye- Baby P!

Does Sweetheart look like he will be a great daddy or what???

One of my family traditions was to make gingerbread houses each year and then eat them throughout the New Year. This year Sweetheart and I made them with my family when they came to VA to celebrate early with us.

I love Christmas and am grateful that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin and came to earth to save us. Merry Christmas all even in March:)!!!

The day I had waited all my life for…

On June 14, 2008 I woke up and was so excited yet calm at the same time.  In just a few hours I would be pledging my love to my best friend forever no matter what lay ahead in our future together. I was amazed at how the Lord had brought Sweetheart into my life at the exact time I needed him, and I am amazed today as I wrote this post that He is still the one writing our story together.

This day would not have been possible without the tremendous sacrificial giving of both sets of our parents. We love you Mom and Dad!

Each member of our bridal party were such special members of our family and closest friends. We were honored that they chose to celebrate our special day with us!

Everything about our ceremony was perfect from the worship time, lighting of the unity candle, reciting our vows that we had written, partaking in our first communion, and the exchange of rings. Our goal was to honor God and make great memories.

Our reception was a blast even though it was a blur and we were excited to begin our new lives as Mr. and Mrs. Jason Purdy!

Snapshot of Engagement Photos

Here are a few pictures that my Resident Assistant (RA) and roommate took last year while Sweetheart and I were engaged. They are all taken in Lynchburg, VA on a nice fall afternoon.

This was at the prayer garden at Liberty…Sweetheart is the biggest answer to my prayers!

At a park downtown on a stonewall…Sweetheart is my stonewall protecting me from the evils of this world:)

Save the Date card…Is he not precious or what?

A little black and white shot as Sweetheart holds me close.

The beautiful Engagement ring sparkling in the sun!

My lover and me hanging out.

We love having fun with each other:)

Artistic rendition of one of our first dates as a new couple

I love my best friend and now husband!!!

One last B&W to end the post

We are blessed to have these photos to remember our time of engagement…but are glad that season is over and now we are loving married life!!!