"...I have found him, the one my soul loveth..." Song of Solomon 3:4

Haven't blogged in several months, so there is much to update on! For now, it will be a brief overview about the man of my dreams!

 

I met Logan at the end of July (who lived in Seagoville, 3 hours away from me) and we began to talk on the phone and via computer, and get to know each other that way and build a foundation of friendship. We realized we had much in common and how small of a world it really is! We had both worked at a local church camp a few years ago, had many mutual friends, and our grandparents both lived in Haskell, TX, just a few houses down from each other! He came to Abilene, (where I lived and worked and also was in Cosmetology school)  to stay at my parents house for the weekend and to spend time with and get to know me. After our first "date" and getting to know each other more, we told our parents and it was "official" on September 1, 2012 that we were a couple, courting and dating! I met his parents that next weekend and they welcomed me with open hearts and open arms. I knew deep in my soul that God had brought Logan into my life forever, not just for a season. He was everything I had ever dreamed of and prayed for. He was my God-send and I knew that I wanted to someday be Mrs. Logan Taylor White. From the beginning, Logan and I promised each other that we would strive and work together to keep God at the center of our relationship and get to know each other better daily, with the intention of being God-honoring. Because of the good leader he is in our relationship, Logan prayed over me and over our relationship every night as we said good-bye after hours and hours of phone conversations. Time passed and all he and I could really do because of the long-distance relationship, was talk, talk, and then talk some more. We really got to know each other and were able to discuss things, bear our souls, and pray about things of all sorts! We  DEFINITELY got to know each other well this way. We took turns going to visit each other and enjoyed what time we got to spend together... September passed, October came and went, November came and I was able to spend Thanksgiving with his family, which was wonderful! The way I feel when I'm around them is so wonderful! They are the most welcoming, humble, and selfless family you'll ever meet. Logan took me to look at engagement rings one weekend when he came to Abilene to see me! It was a wonderful, fun day of shopping, talking, looking at rings, and discussing/planning our future. December came and I got super sick and was in the hospital with severe dehydration. It was a scary time for me, Logan, and our families, but God healed me and I was able to return home rather quickly, to recouperate. Because of this, I had to withdraw from Cosmetology school and only work for a while instead of doing both, because the Doctor said 80 hours/week was too much on my body. I rested for a week before returning to work and we celebrated Christmas early with Logan's family, which was amazing, as our time always is together. We had talked with each other and our families about getting married and had even openly discussed a wedding date in the Spring or Summer, but had not talked much about it past that. Logan had made the last 4 trips to see me, so it was definitely my turn to return to Seagoville! Saturday after work, I headed that way! Sunday morning church was great, as always... an amazing lesson in youth Sunday School given by Logan, a great sermon by Pastor Chris, wonderful music by Logan and the rest of the praise band, a good invitation and prayer time.... then it was time for announcements. Logan got up to the podium to give announcements of upcoming events at the church and then started talking about ME! He began to tell the congregation about me and mentioned that most of them knew who I was, but just in case there were any that didn't, he asked me to come up to the front and stand by him. I did just that and he held my hand in front of everyone, said super sweet things, almost started crying, which made me choke up a little bit and get tears in my eyes, then he got down on one knee, held out the most beautiful ring I have ever seen in my whole life, and asked me if I'd marry him. I told him I would and he wrapped me in his perfect embrace! He is the best hugger in the world, after all! It was special, intimate, perfect, and beyond any proposeal I'd ever dreamed of. We enjoyed lunch with Pastor Chris and his family, along with some other good friends of ours that are part of the church staff. Then, we spent the day telling family and friends and enjoying what time we were able to spend together! That night at church, Logan and I prayed together at the alter and gave our relationship once again to God and asked that He bless our engagment and wedding-planning. Our wedding will be on April 13th in Stephenville, TX at Victory Baptist Church, where Logan's dad is the Pastor and will officiate our special ceremony. We will live in Seagoville following the wedding, where Logan already lives and serves as Youth Pastor at Victory Baptist Church (same name, yes. haha) in Seagoville, which is just south of Dallas.

Opportunities...

Well...if I've learned one thing these last few weeks, it's that I sure don't have to understand God's will for my life in order to participate in it! Recently, I was asked by my good friends (the youth pastor and his wife) to serve in our church by teaching the Jr. High girls in the Youth on Sunday mornings. My first reaction was a combination of emotions.... I have been praying for God to show me where all He wanted to use me in our church and He has opened some doors along the way and has allowed me to get plugged in with our church family. So of course I was honored and excited about this opportunity to teach! But, I also am very involved in my current adult Sunday School class and have been for a while, so I was a little sad at the thought of being away from them on Sunday mornings because through the hardest time in my life, they have become my sounding board, accountability partners, encouragers, friends, and my family. After much prayer and discussion with a few trusted friends, I do feel called to teach in the Youth, so this coming Sunday will be my first morning to teach! I get to meet and love on all of my new girls on Saturday night and get the privelege of leading them in God's word on Sunday! Praise the Lord for this opportunity I have! Pray with me that God gives me the words to speak and that anything that is said or done in that classroom may be used ONLY for His glory. Pray for open hearts for myself and for the girls. Pray for this to be the beginning of a big BLESSING in all of our lives.

 

 

Another thing... I have heard of people going on a "Walk To Emmaus" before, from both of my parents, to my best friend, to several people I have known my whole life. I used to work at a church camp for a few years and was very familiar with the "Walks".... through all of this, though, I have never personally gone. One of my friends is on one this weekend and since hearing of him going, I committed to praying for him while he's there. Two weeks ago, THREE different women came up to me at church and asked me if I had ever gone on one and what I was waiting for! I felt convicted about it the more and more I thought about it and so I talked to my good friend from church and told her I was interested. She sent me the paperwork and I got it signed by our pastor the next day. She sent it in and told me there were only THREE open spots left for the Walk coming up at the end of September. We both (along with a few others) agreed in prayer that it was God's timing and that it all was in His hands and that I would be accepted on the Walk that He had for me. Last night, I got a message that it was official and that I am going September 27th-30th! Praise the Lord for sweet women in my life that show an interest in me! Praise the Lord for His PERFECT timing! Praise the Lord for providing me with opportunities to grow in my walk and to strengthen my faith in Him!

Meet Me

My most recent prayer has been a cry out to know God and not to merely know about Him. I desire to know Him intimately and to grow stronger in my faith, to meet Him every morning in my quiet time and to spend time in prayer with Him. This morning, as I do every day, I read the devotional for today's date and this is what I read...

 

"Meet me in my early morning splendor. I eagerly await you here. In the stillness of this holy time with Me, I renew your strength and saturate you with Peace. While others turn over for extra sleep or anxiously tune in to the latest news, you commune with the Creator of the universe. I have awakened in your heart strong desire to know Me. This longing originated in Me, though it now burns brightly in you. When you seek my face in reponse to My love call, both of us are blessed. This is a deep mystery, designed more for your enjoyment than for your understanding. I am not a dour God who discourages pleasure. I delight in your enjoyment of everything that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable. Think on these things and My light in you will shine brighter day by day."

 

I was told about 'Jesus Calling' by a wonderful woman in my church that I met in a Beth Moore Bible Study entitled "Get Out Of That Pit". She told me that I would be blessed by this devotional and that I just had to get it! This was a year and a half ago...in what turned out to be the deepest, darkest, most vulnerable time in my life. I chose not to get the book at this time. It wasn't until January of this year that I picked up the book and started reading it. (This was after I had gone through a divorce, lost my 3 foster children who went back to live with their mothers, had a bad wreck totalling my vehicle and going without one for a while, moving from the house I had worked so hard to make a home, paying off debt that someone else had incurred in my name, and the list goes on!) It shouldn't surprise me at this point just how good God is or how He speaks to me because EVERY SINGLE DAY since I started reading this particular devotional book ("Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young), the Lord has touched my heart and renewed my spirit, He has grown me and strengthened me, He has prepared and protected me, He has saved me and given me redeeming love. I still am human and will be the first to say that I am far from perfect! I go through valleys and still have to learn some things the hard way, but now I know that He is reaching out with His strong and mighty hand when I slip into the pits of life and oh how He has proven to me that where He guides, He will provide and where He leads, He will feed! How great is our God! And sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art!