One question we get more than any other is…
How did Orvil and you meet??!
It’s funny how it all happened, honestly. Some people have super romantic fairytale stories that just make you melt. Our story is a little like that but the beginning is a bit unexpected! We actually met online. We met on Bumble! I remember the evening when I swiped right to his sweet face. His pictures were so him! There were pictures of him hiking in Redwood National Park, hiking in Alaska, boating in the rivers of Savannah with his son and driving in the Swiss Alps. I was like, OMG this guy is a DREAAAAAM! haha!
A little back story, I got my heart broken and promised to not date again for a while! It had been 8 months or so before I got back to dating again. On Bumble the girl has to talk first, which can be awkward as hell! LOL! The first thing I said to him was, “I don’t know what I like more, your caption or your beard!”
After that, we talked about our love for Game of Thrones and traveling! Literally we talked every day of our entire relationship. It was unreal. We just clicked and knew we had to find a way to be together FOREVER. We were head over heels before we even met. So crazy! We talked for hours and hours and FaceTimed every day for 30 days until we met in December 9th 2017!!
He was so stinking cute. Like he pulled up all the way from Savannah in his big truck and just stared at me. He didn’t know what to do with his hands, he was so nervous. It was adorable. He kept saying you look like your pictures! haha! We became best friends those 30 days and had so many similarities.
Orvil came from a loving family, parents that were still married and so in love. He had his heart broken and went through a pretty tough, painful divorce, just like me. We had the same stories about how we almost gave up on love again. We had been taken advantage of and just hurt but it didn’t stop us from finding true happiness everyday and LOVING the hell out of life. I never knew a man that had so much love and zest for living life to the fullest. He is seriously one of the best Fathers I have ever known, too. Wait, and there was this…our children were even the same age!! They are seven weeks apart. It was as if God truly made us for each other. I believe he did. We have seen so many miracles since we have been together.
Since we started dating, we have had a very long distance relationship, living exactly five hours and 45 minutes away. Orvil and I have FaceTimed more times than you could ever imagined and talked for more hours than probably anyone can count. We saw each other every other weekend when we didn’t have our kids at first and then started seeing each other with our kids as much as possible too. We fought so hard behind the scenes to be together, that we haven’t really been able to talk to you all about but God had a plan. Honestly, we have been through so much it is unreal in the last 2 years and 3 months.
We got married September 7th and then we found out the beginning of November we were pregnant! I didn’t even know it was possible!! God was so good to us and still kept blessing us through all the storms and our love got stronger and our faith, even stronger!! We cannot imagine life without him and Blake!!
Some more questions y’all have been asking…
Is Orvil moving to your farmhouse in Tennessee? Yes, he is! He is moving in a couple weeks. He actually just worked his last day at Gulfstream yesterday! I am so dang proud of him.
What will Orvil do for work? Actually, Orvil is going to work with me! He is also going to work on some jets occasionally here in East Tennessee area. We are so excited about this new business adventure and have lots of DIY surprises in store for you all!
Will you all be adding on to the farmhouse? Yes! We are waiting for more drawings from our architect and contractor. We have to make more room for the baby and all our kids! 🙂 Still cannot believe I get to say this!! It’s all so surreal and incredibly miraculous.
Will you be doing anything else to the house? We are adding on a large garage, where we will store our vintage boat Orvil is refinishing. It is amazing and I can’t wait for you all to see it. We will also be adding an office in the garage where we can work out of it. It is really important to us to be able to distance ourselves somewhat from work life and home life.
Let us know if you have anymore questions in the comments and we will do our best to answer in another post.
We are just so excited to share with you all. You are our friends and we get to celebrate through the hard times and good with you and for that, we are forever grateful!!
Julie Gaffey
Oh my gosh, you two make such a beautiful couple. Love the story of how you both met and your two adorable kiddos. Love that you have beautiful baby on the way and can’t wait to see what the future holds for you and your amazing family.
Sarah Hollingshead Ray
Julie GaffeyThank you Julie! It’s such a miracle! We are so excited! Wish I could hug your neck 🤗🤗🤗
Catrina
Julie GaffeyY’all are just too adorable and I love your story, just keeps getting better ! So happy for you and excited for your baby girl 💕
Berenice Rush
So precious and so sweet! It is so evident that God is in the midst of your love story! God is so gracious and merciful! I’ve loved following you and following along as you found love again! Can’t wait to see you become a family of 5! 😍
Sarah Hollingshead Ray
Berenice RushThank you! It really is!! Honestly, we couldn’t have made it this far if it wasn’t for God!! Thank you for all your kindness and support!!!
Terry Baum
I don’t have a question but would like to wish your family a lifetime of love and happiness. God Bless you all.
Sarah Hollingshead Ray
Terry BaumThank you! God bless you ♥️♥️😘
Barb
Is Blake moving in with you all too?
Sarah Hollingshead
BarbHe will be here every other weekend and all summer and holidays. xx
Michelle
Beautiful story of trusting God and your patience while He fulfilled your story! Happiest of blessings to you and your sweet family.
Ashley
MichelleSo so so happy for y’all!!!
Robin
I did wonder why you didn’t move to Savannah? Warmer weather..lol I’m a Tennessee girl myself but also thought or assumed that is where his son lived and I’m sure he wants to go to school functions, games, plays and such.
Congratulations of finding love again and a new 👶 that is so awesome
Nancy Buck
RobinYou two are a Precious couple! Praise the LORD for all the blessings! Such a sweet love story! My question is, how did Harper react to Orville and Blake to you?
Do the kids get along well with each other?
Asking God to bless you with this precious new little girl! HAPPY FAMILY!! 💜✝️🙏
Leandra
I loved this! I love following along and have been for a long long time! I feel like it was yesterday that you and Harper were settling into the farmhouse! I am so happy for you, and I can’t wait to see your new baby girl and the boat, and DIY’s and all the projects. But to be perfectly honest, I love the glow you have in your eyes these last couple year! I believe in true love and soulmates and I can just tell how much you two are in love, which is amazing ❤️
Elaine
Sounds like a wonderful love story, so happy for both of you! No questions really.. it’s just so nice to hear happy things. , we know life isn’t alway perfect but God is in control. seems like He has great plans for you both.
Sarah Hollingshead Ray
ElaineAbsolutely friend! Thank you!! We can’t believe all he has done so far for us. xoxo
Brandi McMillan
Awww I love this story, how sweet and how wonderful God truly is. I’m so very happy for you all, and I don’t really even know you. I’m so glad I found your account I just love following your journey. You can tell you both have huge hearts and are so kind. I can’t wait till you can all be together long distant can be so hard. Thanks for sharing your journey. ♥️
Sarah Hollingshead Ray
Brandi McMillanThank you, Brandi! You are so right. God truly is wonderful. There were times I almost lost faith because it was so hard but he never gave up on me. That means everything to us. We cannot wait. He will be here very soon and so will the baby :))
Susie Robb
I just love you guys so much. You give me great hope!
Sarah Hollingshead Ray
Susie RobbWe love you so much! Thank you Susie. You deserve the world.
Laura
Absolutely L🥰VE your story! You all are just ADORABLE!!
Sarah Hollingshead Ray
LauraThank you Laura!! ♥️♥️😘
La Donna Sullivan
I am so excited for you & family! I can understand why he loves you! He’s a keeper. Yall are precious. Many well wishes for your happiness with Orville & all your family & renovations! I hope you have a quick delivery & healthy baby. Prayers for all of you! Most of all I love to see couples very happy & in love! ❤ ❤
LillianSmith
An amazing Love story ❤️I am so happy for you both and your two beautiful kids ! God has blessed you all and can’t wait to see your new baby ❤️Thank you for sharing !
Surzi
What an awesome love story! Congratulations! Can’t wait to see all your new DIY projects!
Sarah Hollingshead Ray
SurziThank you so much friend!! We cannot wait for you to see it all!
Kelly
My husband and I met online and are still going strong 12 years later! Best wishes to you and your beautiful family!!
Michele
God has blessed you all and will continue to do so. So important to get to know each other, before jumping into a full on relationship. I wish you every happiness and look forward to keep following your beautiful family.
Lynsey
This story is so beautiful. I am truly so excited for you and your family.
Pam
Thank u so much for sharing with us! You are truly an inspiration🥰
Summer
Oh. My. Word. I totally read this with the exact same excitement it was written with! Thank you for sharing. So beautiful, perfect, & sweet! God is so so good. ♥️♥️♥️
Cathleen
Thank you for sharing your sweet story 💕. You give me hope and inspiration that true love really does exist. You are truly blessed with a beautiful family.
I am so excited to see what comes next! It just keeps getting better 🥰. Love and Blessings to all of you🙏🏻💕✨
Kathy Wheeler
Your story is so stinking cute. God always has a plan and you were both patient enough to wait for it. Blessings to you and Orville and your family.
Lana
One thing I have noticed about Orvil is his kind eyes. “What’s desired in a man is kindness”
Shannon
God is GOOD. I looooovvee this online community you’ve created. I feel so at home here. Thank you for that, Sarah, and family!
ALICE
Thank you for sharing your story with us. I have been following you since pretty much the beginning. You and Harper stole my heart a long time ago. You all deserve this wonderful life. Thank you for raising your daughter in such a precious way and showing her the love of Jesus. May God gift you with many many blessings in your new life. 🙂