Valentine Letter

Below is the letter we sent out for Valentine's day this year:

O Obedient was the word that kept coming to mind as we started to think of ideas for this letter. What is obedience? Obedient can be defined as obeying or willing to obey; complying with or submissive to authority. You may be wondering why obedient? Steve and I have found ourselves in a place where we desire to live as obediently as we can, by God’s grace, in submission to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our desire as husband and wife is to honor the Lord with each and every decision we make. Not the type of obedience that is done out of ritual or for religious purposes, but rather, Biblical, God honoring obedience. In this we have found joy and great reward.

B Being the only girl growing up (Jenny of course), as well as the youngest; I was treated very special and always made to feel very important on Valentine’s Day! I want to tell you why Valentine’s Day is one of my absolute favorites! My parents tried their best to show me extra special love on Valentine’s Day. When I was little, my mom would lavish cute little Valentine gifts, cards and candy on me the morning of Valentine’s Day and my daddy would take his “little princess” out on a date, just the two of us…of course, never forgetting the rose beforehand! (And in college, he sent bouquets of flowers to my dorm. My mom, to this day, still sends Steve and I Valentine gifts!) I am grateful that my parents showed me this type of love as a child because it was one of the many ways I learned about the love of Christ and was able to truly see His love reflect through them. When I met Steven, I didn’t know his last name until about 3 weeks into our friendship; and when my family found out his last name, they just laughed and knew we were meant to be. He is my Valentine! He continues to model the love of Christ that my parents started showing me so long ago.

E Everyday, since we’ve been married, has been a wonderful blessing! We say this with sincerity of heart and a smile! It has been a joy to get to know the ins and outs of one another (the good and the bad) in our first year of marriage and we look forward to what the Lord has in store in the years to come.

D Decisions…We have been processing thoughts about Steve continuing his education in graduate school. Initially when he began looking at schools, he was looking for a graduate school that would offer an excellent counseling program. During that time, the Lord pressed on his heart to pursue seminary instead. When he started doing research about seminaries, it seemed a bit overwhelming and confusing and we weren’t sure where to look first. As he did his research, he came across Reformed Theological Seminary. They have a phenomenal counseling program and Steve was thoroughly impressed with everything that he read about RTS and what he heard from other individuals who were familiar with the school. We decided that we would visit the campus in hopes that the Lord would reveal his plan for us in this pursuit. During that weekend, God spoke to our hearts in a very clear and distinct way. After speaking with professors, school advisors, current students and the president of RTS, Steve felt lead to pursue, instead of counseling, his Masters in Divinity in order to work with church planters, missionaries and pastors. Although he’s felt like he should pursue seminary before, it always got pushed to the back burner. So now, in being obedient to what we feel the Lord has laid before us, we hope to move this upcoming summer for Steve to attend seminary in Oviedo, Florida.

I In the meantime, we continue to live life to the fullest. Steve is still teaching at Hardin Intermediate in Duncanville, TX. He moved from teaching 6th grade math to teaching 5th grade math and science this year. He enjoys teaching and does an excellent job! Jenny switched jobs shortly after we were married, and is working as an assistant to the Minister of Adult Education as well as the Minister of Missions at First Baptist Church Richardson. She enjoys it and is thankful for God opening up this opportunity.

E Exciting! We will celebrate our One year anniversary next month! We have been reflecting over the past few weeks about our first year as husband and wife and cannot believe how fast time has gone by and that March 8 is right around the corner!

N New Tradition-Just in case you’re wondering, we decided that since starting our lives together as a new family, that we would start a new tradition and send out a letter at Valentine’s Day instead of a Christmas letter/card. The purpose of our letter is to not only let you know of all the things God has been doing in our lives but that you may also be encouraged.

T Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. –Romans 5:1-5– This is one of our favorite truths in scripture and we pray that it brings you much joy on this Valentine’s Day! As you read this letter, we hope it finds you doing well and that this Valentine’s Day is one filled with much love.