A love story:

Sometimes we think we know what we want.

Sometimes God gives us what we want.

But, sometimes God says,

 Wait, I have something far better 

than you could have ever imagined...

Trust me.

Trust has been something I have always struggled with but,

with God's grace I have learned to be more trusting of Him and His timing.

Every girl wants to date and be swept off her feet.

I was no different.

I waited and waited and wondered if perhaps  my standards were

too high.  But, then I would remind myself that dating is a serious

matter and I only wanted to date someone that God had clearly brought into my life.

In November of 2010, through a friend's blog roll I came across a certain

photographer, Jack McDonnell.

I enjoyed his photography and the style he shot.

I was getting ready to shoot my first wedding and had some questions.

I commented on his blog and he replied

with his email so that I could further ask any more questions.

And that's what it was - strictly photography related emails.

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months.

I enjoyed looking through this young man's photography work

and even more enjoyed his family blog.

Through his writings I discovered that we had so many things in common,

the most important thing was his evident love for his family and church. 

The emails continued and gradually became more personal. 

We soon realized that we had some connections through our churches

 and I learned that he didn't live but two hours from me...

Then through a series of emails in March of 2011

we discovered the even larger connection we had... 

Our mothers had grew up in the same town and attended the

same Christian academy.  What a small world!

By this time the emails were becoming a little more frequent,

more personal, and less about photography. 

In April of that same year, we were able to meet for the

first time at a photography workshop in Chicago.

Now, I knew that he was just as sincere, polite, and gentlemanly

in person as he was in email.

The emails continued throughout the summer and I found

myself constanly checking my inbox for mail from Jack.

I knew that his emails were becoming the highlight of my day.

I wondered if this casual emailing would develop into anything.

And so I did the only thing I knew how to do. 

I prayed and asked God to make it evident to both Jack and I

if this relationship should turn into dating. 

I prayed that if Jack was not to be a part of my life that God would take him out,

but if he was that God would make it evident that Jack felt that way about me.

And then it happened...

Jack spoke to my Dad on November 2, 2011 and asked him

for his permission to get to know me better.

I was so thrilled that I cried.

Six months to the day have passed since that day

and they have been the best months of my life!

I cannot believe how much has transpired and

how very much in love with him I am.

We love our story.
We love sharing it.
We love that is unique.
We love knowing that it
was clearly written by God.

{To read Jack's version of our love story click here.}

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.