Feel free to cozy up with your favorite beverage (if you're like me, then maybe it's an espresso over ice with a splash of cream, or a warm matcha latte if it's cold outside!) and stay awhile. This is my place to share not just beautiful weddings or sessions, but to share my life. My hope is through this, you'll get to know a bit more about me and all the beautiful people that make it worth living! 

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FROM MY HEART, Personal

January 21, 2015

I stepped on his toes but he swept me off my feet… || Becoming Mrs. M, pt. |

2014 – the year of refinement. If you would have told me 365 days ago that I would be sitting here at my desk planning my wedding, I wouldn’t have believed you. In fact, I probably would have laughed. As I sat down to write this, I opened up my palms to just pray. It’s my biggest prayer that this series of sharing my personal story transitioning from a photographer to a bride and a bride to his wife would be a testimony of grace and growth. So let’s just pretend we’re sitting across from each other in cozy chairs at a coffee shop sharing espresso over sweet love stories :)

Nathan. His name alone means gift from God, and that’s what he is to me. He’s everything and beyond what I ever prayed for in a future husband. God has redeemed and poured out blessing after blessing in this man. He is loyal and kind, Godly and patient. He pursues me and loves me and ahh…I could just gush all day about him, but really, you should know the story of how he became a part of my life.

I was going to condense this story, but I think it’s too awesome not to. You know, just because I love this story and it’s my favorite one to tell. On May 19th of the year 2014, I was in an intense time of prayer and quiet time just me and Jesus. We were really just having a conversation praying over my future. He had me in a position of just trusting and sanctification and healing. On that day, I prayed and actually wrote out some of my heart and prayer on paper (if there’s one thing I want to encourage, it’s to journal. Write it all out! It’s so special!). Looking back now, God was preparing my heart before I even noticed it. I prayed specifically for my future husband and ironically enough, for a man named Nathan. I prayed God would be preparing his heart to become a husband, and when I met him, that he would pursue Jesus immensely and pursue me faithfully.

On May 20th, my heart was so prompted to send a quick text to this guy named Nathan who I had “met” years prior casually when he was over for a “visit”…you know, since he was friends with my older brother. Yet, so many years had gone by that the thought of me reaching out via text to invite him to my brother’s rehearsal dinner seemed absolutely, completely irrational. But, I did it anyways.

The next four days went by so slow, I thought I was becoming the tortoise in the race. The hours drug on and on and I thought maybe, just maybe, I would hear back with an RSVP. A confirmation of some sort. But no. On May 24th, I woke up and got ready, pulled on a pink lace dress and went to my brother and sister-in-law’s rehearsal and it was the sweetest experience. My heart was filled with so much joy watching them prepare for their wedding day. That night, driving to the rehearsal dinner, I prayed just the most specific prayer that if Nathan was meant to be there, he would be. And if he was there, he’d be standing exactly in front of the restaurant, all alone. (You guys probably think I’m crazy!) When I pulled into the parking lot, if that’s what God wanted, I was going to just trust every step of the journey and trust His plan. (I mean, little did Nathan know I’d been praying for him faithfully. And not just him – but him becoming a husband.) 

He was standing there. The only one. I have the image of that moment so impressed in my memory I could probably sketch a picture of it. He was dressed to the nines in charcoal gray slacks and the most handsome blue plaid button up that looked like it was pulled out of an Express catalog. He looked so good. My jaw was probably on the ground and I probably made a fool of myself because God had just answered a prayer right before my very eyes. I was stunned.

Fast forward to the wedding day, and this man…he blew me away. Not only did he stay by my side and cater the entire wedding with me complete with a homemade bruschetta and tapas bar, but he pursued my heart and made me feel like the only woman in the world.

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He asked me to dance and I know I stepped on his toes probably a dozen times, but he didn’t seem to mind. I guess you could say it was love at first sight…but really, it was almost God’s way of saying, “Just trust me.”

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So we danced, and we laughed, we hugged goodbye and off he went. Six hours of driving back to his home in Vancouver, and I to Lake Chelan. I didn’t think anything would happen, but after phone calls every night the next week for a minimum of an hour and a half each call, I guess you could say we were becoming friends. He made me feel so treasured and so pursued, he challenged my heart and my faith. We’d stay up far too late and I’d sit out by our pool talking to him on the phone for hours upon hours…until the next Friday came along…and that’s where you’ll have to come back to hear what happened!! (Trust me, you’ll want to.) ;)

 

Xoxo!

  1. rachelle says:

    I could listen to this story over and over. I remember sitting in front of you listening to it at 2:00 in the morning in Rome, Georgia. So blessed to call you friend and I could not be more happy for you!!

  2. Stephanie says:

    What a sweet beginning to your story, Emily!! I just love how God was preparing your heart, and how everything so clearly was meant to be!

    I only sort of feel a bit like a stalker, but I LOVE this series and am excited to follow along as you tell more of your story!! :)

  3. Allie says:

    Love this so much! Can’t wait to hear more :)

  4. Megan says:

    I LOVE your blog post! God is so awesome! The specific ways He answered your prayers, gahhhh! I can’t even!