I was very fortunate to grow up in a wonderful Christian home with two parents who loved each other (and still do). They both mean the world to me and I thank them so much for their dedication and faithfulness in raising me & my siblings. We grew up as a very close family, and still are to this day. I thank God for giving me such a special family! I love them all very much.
I became a Believer in Christ when I was 10 years old. I was in “Something Special Singers” at the Bible Church in Fillmore, and we were learning a song called “COME INTO MY HEART”. After practice one night I came home and asked my mom a few questions about the Lord & Heaven. That night I realized my need for a Savior, I asked Jesus to come into my life and be my Savior! In Jr. High Summer camp, I rededicated my life to Christ. The Lord changed my life a lot through my Jr. High years.
I graduated and attended Ventura College in the Fall of ’96. Just taking General Ed. Eventually hoping to be a teacher in a public school. I was very “IN CONTROL” of my life. I didn’t let God have all of me. All through my life I always told myself I WAS NEVER going to marry or have children. For what reason, I don’t know. I even had a bet going with a family friend that I would never marry; we even had money in on the bet with signed documents!I had MY PLANS for what my life was going to be after college, and I stuck to them for years. I started leading a group of Jr. High kids through Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God. The Lord really used that study to make me realize that God was not in control of my life. Shortly thereafter, I was driving, and while I was doing so I was praying to the Lord (with my eyes open of course). I was asking him to change my heart and my attitude. I desired a change in my life and I wanted God to take full control. What change, I didn’t know. I just wanted to give everything over to God. Right after I was done praying I got in a car accident. That was the not the change I was hoping for!! That was the point in my life where I realized that I needed to LET GO AND LET GOD. That all happened in the Spring & Summer of ’98.
In the fall semester of ’98 I took a speech class.
Brian was also taking that class. He sat in front of me. Our first assignment in that class was to do an introduction speech with a partner. Brian asked me to be his partner. At the time I had no idea that it would be a partner for life!! One night on the phone Brian asked me to go out with him on a date. I thought for a moment, and then realized this is what God wants so I accepted.
It was a huge deal in my family that I was going on a date! For, I was Spring Holladay… the one that was NEVER GETIING MARRIED, NEVER DATING, NEVER HAVING KIDS. I was 20 years old, and this was my first date ever. The start of me letting go and letting God! We dated for six months. In April ’99 Brian proposed and I accepted. Six months later we got married (to be exact it was One year, and a day after our FIRST DATE). Obviously I lost that bet with the family friend However, it was worth it! (click here to see a video clip of info on that bet)
God is so good!! He has blessed me with the sweetest husband in the world. I love him so much, and am so thankful to the Lord for changing my heart so that I could realize He had a much better plan for my life than I did! As I look back on my life I realize that God knows best and He deserves all the glory!
My life continues to reflect how the Lord works in one who would always say NEVER to certain things. I was NEVER going to go to church out of town, never going to drive a mini van, never going to homeschool. All of those have actually come about and are happening! I don’t think I will use the WORD NEVER anymore! HA.
He continues to amaze me in how HIS PLANS are way better than what we think are right. God is good! All the time God is good!
