in case you did not realize...

Since this week is known to many around the world as "the week of love", and since I am a newly engaged (eeeek I love saying that) person, I thought that I would share the story of Chase and I and then some insights I have learned from my engagement infancy. I could probably write 6 different posts about the past five and half years that Chase and I have been together. However I will spare you the torture and just keep it to this one short post.

Chase and I are high school sweethearts. We met for the first time at the end of our sophomore year of high school volunteering after school for an event. Over the next year or so we got to know each other a little bit more and the conversations that we had with each other were always uplifting and fun. He was such a sweet boy and I loved being in his company. Those conversations soon turned into group outings, many hours of tennis and disc golf together, and time spent getting to know each others' families.

Going into our senior year of high school I did not think that I wanted to enter into a dating relationship. I was taking a heavy load of schoolwork, applying to different colleges, and the thought of having to possibly end a relationship with a person who I had come to enjoy and respect because of distance and growing apart was not something I was ready and willing to do. At the same time Chase and I really had grown close and during our senior year we decided to take the plunge and begin to tread the dating pool waters.

High School Days

I decided to go to NC State for my undergrad career. Chase was torn between VT, Charlotte, and NC State for engineering. He ended up (to my relief) choosing to go to NC State. He said while we were in high school that it was because it was the best engineering school in the state. Later on he would confess that it was also because he could not imagine not following the girl he was slowly falling in love with. College was an amazing period of our lives where we grew up, grew our relationship together, and made tons of amazing memories. It was really hard sometimes, but we took the bad times in stride and worked through different things and learned to love each other through our faults. Before we knew it graduation was upon us.

College Days

Well my graduation that is. Chase decided to take an extra semester to graduate in order to take time to focus on his classes and learn the most that he could to be the best employee he could be after graduation. With my undergrad career over and my vocational calling leading me away from Raleigh to go to graduate school, our close relationship of the past four and a half years quickly turned into a long distance relationship full of commutes, emails, phone calls, and FaceTime.

Graduation

It was stretching time, but one that I would not have traded for the world. It was in this time that we sat down and had a long discussion about life, goals, and ambitions. This discussion led us to the decision to pursue a marriage relationship. After many prayers and long days Chase finally got a job with an amazing engineering firm which had an office in the same city where I am finishing graduate school. About a month after Chase made the big move, after we both settled back into this new routine of living in the same city, and after some time to get used to new jobs, Chase asked me to marry him.

Reunited Again

It was the perfect proposal for us. I had always thought I would have liked a more public proposal. However after having an intimate dinner just with the two of us talking about life, and hearing Chase take his time telling me how much he loved and cared about me before proposing, I realized that I was wrong and that having this as something we shared together was perfect.

Newly Engaged 

We both have loved where these past five and a half years have taken us on our relationship journey and are excited about this next step in life. Everything is still so new and we have enjoyed this past week sharing the news with family and friends. I am sure there are so many more things we will learn as our years tick by together. For now though I thought I would share a few lessons we have learned about deciding to be engaged "young" as some people have termed it. Some things are funny, others are serious, but all have taught us to take life with a smile and just enjoy the moment that we are living in!

- School and work still goes on even if time stops in your mind -

- People will want to see the ring more often than wanting to ask about you and your fiancé -

- Take all the vendor recommendations that you can because wedding planning is crazy -

- Lean on your friends and family and let them share in the joy with you - 

- Start thinking in terms of we and not me -

- Yes it is possible be married and in grad school -

- Enjoy your engagement and don't forget that this is a fun time to prepare your souls for a lifetime together - 

Happy Valentines week to everybody. Remember that this week does not have to be about being in a relationship. Take time to pamper yourself, your friends, and your family. EVERYBODY deserves to be shown love, not just your significant other :)

Have a Blessed Journey!

-S

i am one of "those" people now

I was born to love science. Ever since I could remember I was always outside in the woods or playing in the dirt or catching fireflies on sticky summer nights. It just made complete and logical sense that when it came time to go to college that I would major in something to do with science. And so I did. I am proud to say that I received a Bachelor of Science degree from NC State University in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. I loved every single solitary second of it, and was glad that I chose the science route.

My friends and I used to always joke around (okay so maybe most of the time we were being serious) that we [the science kids] were the ones that were doing all of the work. Unlike the people in the humanities department who just had to read and write papers, we were the ones slaving away in the chem labs or over hundreds of notecards with complicated formulas and proteins on them. We were glad we were not "those" people since they would have no chance of a job upon graduation. Where was reading and writing going to get them anyways we said to ourselves as we flipped through flashcards of muscles and ligaments.

As fate and the good Lord would have it, just a year later I am now one of "those" people. In my decision to come to divinity school here at Wake Forest University I have made the complete 180 degree turn from the science world into the world of humanities. Believe me, it was a bit of a culture shock. I am slowly learning however just what it means to be a student of the humanities.

On any given day you can find me curled up in my recliner, or wedged in the back of a busy coffee shop reading for hours on end. My pile of colorful highlighters and pens sit by my side at the ready to make sure I have all the necessary passages at my fingertips. If I am not reading, then I will most likely be writing. My nose deep into my macbook pro, my eyes bulging from staring at the screen a little bit too long, and my fingers beginning to cramp. From reading reflections, to research papers, to defending a thesis there is never a dull moment nor lack of work to be done. However life is just not about work. I have found great delight in sharing community meals with my classmates, participating in intramural sports, and joining together in good secular fun to shake off the stress of the semester. Being one of "those" people is actually quite exhilarating for both my mind and my spirit.

I can say with much confidence and pride that I am now one of "those" people. I would not trade the change for anything in the world however. For when I am done with this chapter of my life I will not only be a woman of science who has knowledge of atoms and anatomy and genetics; but I will also be a woman of ministry who has the knowledge of theology and ethics and pastoral care under her belt. I will no longer be one of "those" people, but rather my own person. I will simply be Sara, the girl who has a interest in science, a passion for ministry, a love for baseball and the outdoors, and a girl who enjoys the company of her peers.

So for those of you who look down upon or judge the others across the hall or in the building next door, I challenge you to take a peek into their world. You never know, you just might fall madly in love and make it part of your life's journey. It is amazing what can happen when you just open up your heart and your mind.

Have a Blessed Journey Y'all

-S

fun in the sun...

For most people in high school and maybe even some colleges, this past week has been their spring break. However, for us NCSU students, our spring break was way back at the beginning of March when it was still the middle of winter in NC. When I arrived home from school there was snow on the ground, and the weather outlook did not look promising for the rest of the week. So what is a girl to do? Go to the beach of course!!!! A bunch of us loaded up in a little car with swim suits, sunscreen, board games, magazines, and fishing gear and went to Cocoa Beach Florida for a few days of fun in the sun. The weather was still a little bit chilly, but compared to home, it was sunny and perfect for some lazy days on the beach.

While at the beach there was plenty of catching rays on the sea shore, long walks on the beach, great dinners, ice cream adventures, board game competitions, putt-putt games, shopping, and long life chats. I am very thankful to have a good friends and guy by my side that I can just pack up and go have fun with and that help me grow not only in life, but also in my faith in the Lord.

Sometimes the best therapy is a little beach therapy. Relaxation from school at its fineist.

So glad C could join in the fun. Love this kid.

I loved spending a week with this girl. She is such an amazing person and I am so lucky to know her. Life chats and funny stories with her make my day!

The boys doing what they do best...fishing!! I don't think they could get enough of it. 

One of the many plates of yummy food we ate on the trip at local eateries. Homemade Italian was one of the best.

More fishing. This fish was particularly cute. 

A cold night of putt-putt with the boyfriend. It was a lot of fun though and I actually did not play as horrible as I normally do. Those golf lessons must be paying off!

The week that was spent in Cocoa Beach was one of the best weeks so far this year. School is absolutely crazy as graduation ticks closer and closer and so having time just to get away and have some fun was essential. I hope that one day soon, we can make trips like this together with friends a tradition! However, for now it is back to reality and preparing myself for graduation in a about a month, program directors meeting this upcoming weekend for Passport camp this summer, and preparing everything for Divinity School this fall. I hope that everybody's spring break, whenever it may have been was relaxing and rejuvenating. And I also pray that your journey is blessed!

-Sara

run run as fast as you can...

I am still alive! Just in case you were wondering. Blog had to take a backseat for a little while so my focus could be on a couple of things that were a little bit more important. But anyways, I am back and will be doing my best to catch everybody up on the happenings on what has been going on in the world of Sara. 

This past February, Chase and I ran in the Krispy Kreme Challenge. For those of you that are not local or that have never heard of the KKC, let me explain. This is a race that has been occurring at NCSU for a while now to benefit the NC Children's Hospital. The basis of the race is the run 2.5 miles from the bell tower to the local Krispy Kreme, eat a dozen doughnuts, and then run 2.5 miles back to the bell tower. They have modified the race over the years and have recently added the "casual runner" category for the wimps like me who do not want to eat 12 doughnuts before running back. Something about that just does not seem appealing to me. I have participated in this race for the past 2 years, so of course I was all in again this year, and Chase decided to join me! 

The weather for the race was super cold, and by the time we had finished I could barely feel my fingers and toes. However, we both survived and had a blast once again helping out a good cause and getting in a good workout at the same time. I am looking forward to coming back to Raleigh next year as an alumni and rocking the KKC once again. Maybe even and S&C tradition in the works? Who knows. Only time will tell!!! Below are some pictures for everyone to enjoy. 

I ran the race as a casual runner. That meant that I ran the 5 miles, but instead of having to eat the doughnuts, I could bring them home with me and enjoy them on my own time. 

Chase and I the morning of the race. Did I mention that it was cold? Look like a swimmer with my running cap on, but it was totally worth it to keep my ears warm.

Good tunes are a must while running 5 miles. My old-school ipod and I are starting to become good buddies :)

The golden reward!!! It was totally worth the run to get these little gems. The sweet taste of victory.

We ended up running the entire race from start to finish in 57 minutes. That included waiting in line to get our doughnuts. For not that much training I felt pretty accomplished.

In other news, I am still working hard to finish out this last semester of undergrad and preparing myself for the next three years at WFU Divinity School. I have a busy summer of camp planned again, so that will be good to keep me busy, but also to prepare my heart for ministry. I would ask for some prayer requests though. Not for me but for a close friend. Everybody goes through crazy times in their lives when it seems as if you are being pelted with nothing but bad news, and a good prayer community is always helpful. So a prayer for peace, courage, and wisdom would be most appreciated! As always I hope that this day finds you well and that your journey is blessed.

-Sara 

five weeks in...

Now that I am starting my fifth week of the semester, I have nearly finished my first round of tests, and have pretty much gotten aquatinted with how my schedule is going to go this semester with school and work, I can take a step back and breathe. In case you were wondering, this is my last semester of undergrad!!! I am sad that my journey here at school will soon be over; but I am more than excited to know that I will be spending my next three years in a place where I can grow and learn not only academically but spiritually as well.
So what does a girl do her last semester of undergrad? Well for this kid I have been soaking up the athletic events, spending quality time with friends and loved ones, and taking all the random classes that I have been wanting to take for a while, but just did not have time in my schedule for. This semester I am taking 2 science classes and a lab to finish up my degree. They are Cellular Biology, Developmental Anatomy of the Vertebrates, and Biochemistry Lab. They are not the most amazing classes I have ever taken but they are interesting and they were a must have this semester if I wanted to graduate in May! I am also taking 2 random classes and a PE. Those random classes are Introduction to the Study of Religion and Women's Health Issues. The Religion class is work, but fun work. A nice change of pace from cellular mechanisms and pathways if you ask me. I really enjoy Women's Health Issues. It is an online class so I can kind of learn it at my own pace, which is super fun. I really am learning a ton of facts in that class. My PE is golf class. I am taking it with Chase. I originally wanted to take Social Dance class, but somehow over the course of class planning, I ended up taking golf instead.  Clearly he now owes me dance lessons since I am learning the pastime of golf (which after playing softball all my life isn't going super great).  However it is a challenge that I am tackling head on and I am determined to walk away from it with a few new skills learned!
Speaking of tackling! (like how I did that there?) tonight is the Super Bowl!!!!! Us girls and guys here don't have anything really planned for the big event. Probably just gather around the tv with chips and desserts and settle in for the night. There also will probably be some homework involved. We all have tests coming up this week. I know we are such nerds sometimes. I do not really have a favorite to win. Probably going to go with the 49ers just because I like their jerseys better (yes that is how I pick football players and teams for fantasy too, and it works most of the time). To be quite honest, the SuperBowl is my favorite football game because it means that the season is over and it is time for Baseball season to start soon!!!!! Ah I cannot wait for opening day!! Well enough my my rambling and confessions for the time being. I will leave everybody with a couple of pictures of what has been going on this semester. Everybody be safe and warm! And of course I pray that your journey is blessed!

-Sara

 At college gameday!!! It was long, but worth it.

All of us trying to get to college gameday. It had iced and snowed the day before so the parking lots were still frozen solid. I can now say that I have "slid" into the basketball arena.

Date night with my handsome fella. Chase received a bow-tie for Christmas so we used it as an excuse to dress up and go out on the town. It is so nice to be able to get away from the hustle and bustle of life for a few hours and hang out with him. 

silence...

They say that silence is golden. I don't always agree with that statement, however over the past week or so I have come to realize that a little bit of silence can actually be a good thing. Well, Internet silence that is. For you see, because of a few certain events I have been without a computer, and therefore without all of the comforts that I have become used to. No Facebook, twitter, blog reading, or picture uploading. Tough right? Actually not really. I really enjoyed not being tied to the piece of metal that was always at my side during the semester at school. Instead I had time to focus and be with my family and recharge before the new semester kicks into gear in the next little bit. I have to keep telling myself in the future when things start to get hectic, "silence is golden, silence is golden, silence is golden." 

So what has been going on since the semester has ended. Well let me play a little bit of catch up and tell a little story...

My break started off with the meeting of this little girl. Meet the new addition to our family. Her name is Sadie and mom and dad adopted her from the local humane society. She is all puppy at the moment and she sure has brought a new level of energy into the house. She does something new and funny every single day. One of those new things happened to be that she realized that she liked to chew on power cords. My computer power cord to be exact. It was totally my fault for leaving it in a place where she could reach it, but it was still a little horrifying to realize that your cord is now in two pieces instead of one. Thank goodness for Amazon. 

The next big thing that occurred was that I decided that Wake Forest Divinity School was the school that was the best fit for me. I cannot put into words the excitement that I am feeling in my heart right now. These next three years are going to be a new adventure in my life, but I have a feeling that they are going to hold some of the best memories of my life so far.

I also was able to spend some quality aunt time with these two special kiddos. They bring such joy to all of our lives. They can be crazy at times, but I would not trade a minute of them for the whole entire world. Getting to spend a few days with them was certainly a highlight of my break. I look forward to getting to spend some more time with them this semester. i have a more flexible class schedule so I fortunately will get to watch some of their basketball games and dance recitals. Did I mention that I was one proud aunt?

 Christmas time came and went so fast in the Bumgarner household. Seriously, it flew by. By the time everything settled down it was the 29th and everything was a blur. I received some special and sweet gifts this year from family and friends. I am such a blessed woman. I cannot begin to thank and express the love i have towards all of the people in my life.

Finally, the family was able to kick back and relax a little bit after the swirl of the holidays came and went. Some long time family friends came up from the east coast and we all went to their cabin. Us kids enjoyed the winter weather activities while the moms went shopping and the dads cheered on some of their favorite football teams. It has been a while since I had been tubing and ice skating. I am not the biggest fan of cold weather. However I had a blast out there in the pouring snow and enjoyed the quality time I was able to spend with everybody. I hope that we can make this a yearly tradition.

As the new year begins I am looking forward to all that is to come. This year holds a lot of unknowns, but I know that I will be on the path that is right for me in the moment b following the faith that I have deep in my heart. New chapters and adventures await me. Bring it on 2013. I am ready for you. I hope that everybody has had a great holiday season, and as always I pray that your journey is ever blessed.

-Sara

a little yummy in your tummy...

What?!?! Two blog posts in three days? Yeah I know, crazy right? I just decided that sometimes you have to choose yourself and your sanity over school, life, and all the craziness that comes with it. Hence, I blog. Blogging makes me happy, and happy girls don't lose their minds and go loopy (if you got that reference then good for you :) ). 

If you follow me on Instagram, you have already seen this picture, but I wanted to share it with a broader audience. I love to cook and I feel at home in the kitchen. So when I find a recipe that is yummy in my tummy, and semi-good for me (yes just semi good) I tend to make it a lot and take pictures of it. So I shall share this little bit of love with everybody and the recipe for if you want to try it out yourself. It is called Poppy Seed Chicken and it is a recipe that was given to our apartment by my roommate Michele's mother. It is quite simple to make and your taste buds will enjoy every bite of it. If you try it out and like it feel free to share the love with your other friends, and also be sure to tell me how it turned out for you. Like I said I love my food!

Poppy Seed Chicken Recipe 

- 2 cups sour cream

- 1 can cream of chicken soup

- 2 teaspoons of poppy seeds

- 3 cups of cooked and chopped chicken

- 2 cups crushed Ritz crackers

- 1/2 cup butter

Mix sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and poppy seeds. 

Add chicken and place in greased 9x11 dish.

Combine crushed crackers and butter in small bowl.

Sprinkle over the chicken mixture.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Enjoy and Love!!!!

Praying for everybody to have a wonderful week. It is going to be a crazy one for us here at State. Get out and enjoy this rare warm weather that is going on in NC. And as always I hope that your journeys are ever blessed!

-Sara