"Faithfulness is His Very Character"

"Faithfulness is your very character"

-Psalm 89:8

"But I will never stop loving him,

nor let my promise to you fail,

I will not break my covenant,

I will not take back a single word I said."

-Psalm 89:33-34

3 years ago I sat on my dorm room praying. I was praying that God would fix my brokenness. I was praying that I would stop wasting my time dating the wrong boy. I was praying that God would heal my broken attraction that kept attracting me to the wrong boy. Out of the blue, God said, "Ryan Price is your husband". Now I didn't hear an audible voice, I heard a voice in my soul that didn't sound like mine. It freaked me out. I didn't tell anyone for like 2 weeks. But the Holy Spirit kept gnawing at my heart. So I told my roommate. I still remember feeling so nervous to voice this thing that seemed CRAZY to me. I thought she would think I was a psycho. But she didn't. She said 4 words to me that carried me to July 17th, 2008.

"well, let's believe it."

So we did. We believed it and then on July 17th, 2008 Ryan Price asked me to be his wife. I couldn't be more excited to be his wife. I couldn't be more blessed to be engaged to this wonderful man of God.

But most of all, I feel so blessed that God used this entire relationship to teach me about how God speaks. God works. God moves. God is faithful to finish what he starts. Before I get to the exciting night of the proposal, I have to glorify the Father that brought us to this day.

If any of yall know Ryan and I's story, it is not full of easiness of trusting God that Ryan was my husband. I felt like a stupid girl a lot of times. I know a lot of girls think that the Lord has told them who their husband is...I always thought those girls were crazy.

But then God humbled me. He made me one of those girls. But God did this because my faith was so very weak and it needed to be strengthened.

I often wished that our story was that Ryan fell in love with me and I didn't have a clue and he had to woo me and get me to like him. I often hated that I had these crazy strong feelings for him. But now that I sit here 3 years later, looking back at the journey that God took me on, I am so thankful that it was exactly how it was.

So the quick version of Ryan and I is that about 4 months after I heard God tell me this, we started dating. We dated for 7 months, then broke up for 11 months, and then got back together...for good!

So our journey to engagement and soon marriage was needless to say a tough one for me. However, the sweetness of God healing both of our souls and reuniting us and bringing us to this point is so incredible.

There were a lot more details, but for now, I will get to the engagement.

One thing for sure, Ryan's proposal was worth waiting for.

At 3:00, on July 17th, I came home from a day of computer training at school and found a beautiful dress on my bed and a note that told me to put on this pretty dress and accompany Ryan to dinner that night at 6:30.

At this point, I was really excited.

So I got ready and he came to pick me up at 6:30. When I opened the door he was standing there with a dozen red roses!! It was like a dream.

So then he whisked me off to dinner at Maddens. We had a wonderful dinner! Then we walked around downtown for a bit, and I thought it was a very nice night, but apparently if you were in pants and a tie, it was rather hot! haha! (the one time it is nice to be a girl!)

Then we got in the car and Ryan just started driving. On a normal night, I would have probably asked a lot of questions, but I didn't want to ruin Ryan's surprise, so I just decided to do what I do best...just talk!

When we were getting close to a park that was very special to us, I started to get the hint. At that point I had to go to the bathroom and I knew I wouldn't be able to go at the park, so I told Ryan that I needed to stop. So on the night of my proposal I got to stop at a gas station in my nice dress and go pee! so great!

So then we got to the park and Ryan had a blanket and candles. He started a very nice speech and told me a lot of wonderful things. He also told me about how he wanted to see what I looked like when I got old. I love his humor!! Then he said the sentence I will never forget,

"Sara, I would be the happiest man in the world if you would marry me."

Of course I said yes!!

Then he showed me the amazing ring that he bought me! It was so beautiful and in a box that he had bough in Malawi for that purpose. The felt inside the box was from his mom's engagement ring, which was really special!

Then we sat and talked for a while. I shared with him the story of God's faithfulness in our relationship. I had never told him any of this. It was really special.

Then we came back to my apartment and a lot of people I love were there!! We had a great celebration and a time of prayer. It was really great.

So that is the story of God's hand in our relationship. It is such a sweet time of rejoicing and praising God for all that He has done.

Thank you for all of you who have walked through this with me. I couldn't have made it to this day without your faith!

Move Number 3...CHECK!

Yep, that's right, I just finished moved number 3. I have moved 3 times in the last year and a half. For those of you that hate to do math, that is once every six months. It is insane...but it just has to happen. For the first 18 years of my life I never moved. My parents bought the house I grew up in and moved in when I was 6 weeks old. I never had to pack a box or load all of my belongings in a car...

Then I moved to college. I was pretty stable for the first 4 years. I only moved twice. After college my life has been less predictable...thus the moving so often. Let's just say, after move three, I have more than made up for the stability I enjoyed the first 18 years of my life.

So move three went great.

The "CHECK" part of this title would not be there without a few amazing people. Without amazing people to help me, it would say, "move number three...in process...for eternity".

First of all, Ryan Price is one of the most amazing men I know. He borrowed a truck from these amazing people, the Hendricks. Seriously, who lets you borrow their truck for a whole day?!? The Hendricks. I love those people.

Ryan helped me load all of the stuff that the two of us could handle. He was so patient with me and carried all the heavy stuff. He knew how to secure furniture on a truck. He drove slow to keep all of my stuff protected, and he did it all with a happy smile.

Even when I got frustrated, he just happily put his muscles to work for me. He is the most amazing man I know.

But for some of the major stuff, we needed more help. I don't know if you have checked out my biceps lately, but they are whimpy. Ryan needed a man to help him move our extremely heavy couches and my bed. As soon as I voiced a need to Kaylene and Carlos Carpio, they agreed on the spot (well...after Kaylene checked her calendar, but that is a given with her ;)!)

Carlos and Ryan were AMAZING!! We have two hide-a-beds and one skinny entry way. They turned those couches every which way and got them in. THEY WERE SO HEAVY! But they are supermen.

Then they got both Blaire and I's beds up the skinniest stairway I have ever seen. They seriously spent 30 minutes just trying to figure out how the bed would fit. Then just like magic, they got it. INCREDIBLE!

Kaylene did not let her hands be idle one second. Kaylene is a superstar organizer. She knows where to put things and how to make snacks easy to grab. She likes to make labels and know where everything is. She rocks my world. Our whole kitchen is unpacked because of her!

Finally, Blaire's parents are some cleaning machines. They made the place we were leaving IMMACULATE! I have never seen it this clean. We would still be cleaning if it weren't for them.

It was such a beautiful day of watching God provide sweet servant hearts into my life. I love all of the wonderful people that helped move me.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!