New Grandson-in-law!

By now you all know that Heather is getting married to a young man named Cole Harper, so I emailed them, asking for a little elaboration on the subject. I hit the jackpot! Cole wrote back! Need I say he is very articulate and personable. Now I'm dying to hear him preach. Read on and learn about the romance of Heather Seagle and Cole Harper.

We are getting married October 24th (a Saturday) of this year. We were actually looking at invitations just today. There is a chapel on the campus here at SBTS that is breathtaking that we'll be getting married in. I'm not usually one to go "gaga" over aesthetics. I'm simply excited to marry your granddaughter :) But the chapel in which we are getting married is simply breathtaking. On campus, it’s known as Broadus Chapel and is true to its southern heritage. Built in 19th century Georgian architecture it really is loaded with southern charm (we figured we might as well milk it for all its worth, that is the whole "south of the Mason Dixon Line" feel!")

Concerning our plans for the future, our first goal after getting married will be to get Heather graduated with her Bachelor's degree. She has about 2-3 semesters left (or roughly a year and a half). Other than that, we are both anxious and excited to serve the Lord in the church setting. I've already been applying for jobs as a youth pastor, and an associate pastor, but those inquiries have thus far not yielded a call back or anything of that nature. As I type this I have yet another cover letter on my task bar that I need to proof read :) (But then again I've only been applying within the state.) Heather and I are kind of expecting not to land the first real ministerial job until after she graduates, so we can look nationwide for a church that really needs a couple to get their hands dirty so to speak, and dig in to discipling believers, sharing the gospel and all that fun stuff. (Heather has an incredible ability to provide counseling to people who are struggling in their walk with God - and has a truly supernatural gifting to memorize large passages of scripture and provide untold amounts of healing to people whose lives are just broken, and in desperate need of the power of the Gospel.

I myself enjoy preaching probably more than anything in the world. I do so whenever an opportunity opens up. I almost can't get enough of it. Heather is extremely encouraging to me in this area as well. I'm also a bit of a nerd and enjoy meteorology almost as much. I grew up in North Central Indiana, where we had frequent severe thunderstorms and to this day they make me act like a little kid! When I was finally old enough to have my license before I moved to Louisville, (still in Kokomo IN) I actually tried to do some tornado chasing, though I never really did get that close to one. Trees were always a bit of a problem! I grew up obsessed with thunderstorms and the like.

My decision to attend seminary and Bible College was somewhat gradual. I perceived a call on my life to preach the gospel and pastor when I was around 17. I always enjoyed preaching and teaching to help out my youth pastor but I wrestled with it for a while. I had other dreams in mind at that time. I had my heart set on being a type News correspondent that did reporting from the Middle East and weird stuff like that. But I had this overwhelming desire to devote my life, and even my vocation to winning people to Christ and discipling believers to maturity. This propensity within me was pointed out to me by pastors and other Christians I was serving with at the time as well. I finally realized that I would have to make a choice and reconcile myself to the fact that the desire God gave me to teach, preach, do hospital visitation, etc. was indicative of a call to pastor. (Although to this day, I still am a news junkie and, sorry to say, still plan on devoting 2 weeks out of the year in 2011 to doing some SERIOUS storm chasing with my twin brother....old habits die hard I suppose...especially the dorky ones.)

Meeting Heather was like a breath of fresh air.
She had a way about her from the beginning that was so curious and so pleasant that she could lighten the atmosphere of any room and not even know it. She was also a very honest person - though when I first met her I was pursuing another relationship and was content to be "just friends." I had been pursuing the same woman for years, and was in the beginning completely blind to what God in his ironic, grace had set right in front of me. Eventually the woman I was dating at the time decided to end our relationship and once again, I was single. HEATHER.... bless her heart. She was very patient with me. I can't even begin to express how much I would trip over my words and make an utter fool of myself. I'm one of those fellows that get really nervous and will accidentially spit when I talk....a LOT. So I spent the first 3 months fumbling over my words and saying stupid things that didn't make sense: all that jazz. Thank goodness Heather could see past my awkward shyness.


Anyway, I hope that gives you a little bit to work with in terms of getting to know me until we meet.
I too, am very curious to find out about you guys! Where did you grow up? How did you and your husband meet?
What was Heather's father like as a kid? (I couldn't resist.) I've heard you travel frequently. And favorite places? Wild stories to match? I'm all ears if you have any.

I think you can see your new cousin has some very inspiring, dare I say stimulating, characteristics. I suspect there will be no boredom in this marriage.

Mark that date: October 24, 2009 in Louisville, KY. I think I am as eager for the time to come as Cole is.

Love you all, Grandma for Grandpa and me