Monday, October 3, 2011

The Proposal

You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart 
with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. 
How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! 
How much more pleasing is your love than wine, 
and the fragrance of your perfume than any spice! 
Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; 
milk and honey are under your tongue. 
The fragrance of your garments is like that of Lebanon. 
You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain. 
Song of Solomon 4:9-12

The Lord has done a beautiful thing in my heart over the past couple of years. 
He can take a heart that's been burned to the ashes
A heart that is broken, fearful, and hopeless
& can restore and renew.

& call you HIS.

Beautiful. Just Beautiful
My love is. 

Christ is not JUST my savior, He is not JUST my Lord, He is not JUST my King
He is...
My romance
My beloved
My love
My desire
the very being of the passion within my heart
the very person who completes me
the ONE I can not live without.

My love has been so good to me. He has loved me regardless of how unworthy I am to receive His love. He has shown me his love through scripture, through heartache, & through joy. 

He's taking me one a new journey to discover even more of the depths of His love for me.

Through the heart of Dustin Joseph Joplin

A man after God's own heart. 

Dusty had planned to take me on a "birthday date" Friday night. I turned 21 on September 27th the Tuesday before. Leading up to all of this, Dusty would always talk to me about getting married and what our wedding would be like. I politely asked him to stop discussing it until he asked me to be his bride.

That was a mistake
When he quit talking, I started freaking out
I want details
I want to know
What is he thinking
Is he really going to wait that long
Why?
When?

I'm Silly
Indecisive? Yes.

Anyways...

As I was getting ready for our date friday I woke up from a nap with this deep longing to be able to move forward and prepare to marry this man the Lord had placed in my life.

This man that I am madly in love with. 
This man that engulfs me in Christ's love as it overflows from His own heart for our King. 

As if you were there:

Heart heavy.
Longing to be asked
THE question.

A ring
Romance
& a confident YES!

My heart wanted what I was convinced wouldn't happen until spring. 
So what do you do? Suffer in anticipation or wait in a state of surrender?

Surrender sounded best.
Surrender is sweet.

With my white flag waving, I gave my longing to the Lord & asked His love to be present in our date. I told myself I wouldn't get my hopes up and not allow myself to think tonight may be "the night."

Dusty picks me up and as we are driving in the car I had to let him know:

1. I don't need real teeth to be married
2. It's great with me if were engaged before spring
3. My Dad is not scary, so get on with it and ask! ;)

He lets me know:

1. He's done talking with me about it
2. Be patient
3. He still has to talk to my dad

We laugh, and then the conversation ends.

Who knows what he talked about next:
Random things that hold no interest to me
Boston vs. Yankees
Football games I am clueless about
Gnats? Yeah, random.

He drives me out to Ransom Canyon...

Side note: I always go out to Ransom to meet with the Lord. I love nature and I love bodies of water. I have had some of the most intimate and sweetest times with the Lord at the little chapel on a hill in good ole' Ransom canyon.

Answered prayer: "Lord, let your love be present in our date tonight" 
It made me so excited that we were actually going to the place where I feel head under, engulfed in God's love for me. My heart was happy to say the least and I was smiling from ear to ear. "Too bad this isn't where he's going to propose," I thought to myself. 

He passes the chapel I always go to & took me to the Wentz's beautiful home that overlooks the lake. He walks me to the back yard and under their covered outdoor patio is dinner for two, candles, roses, music, and a bottle of wine to celebrate me turning 21. 

First he asked if I could sit in a chair on the other side of the table. 
A bowl of warm water, soap, and a towel lay waiting.
He takes off my shoes.
kneels on one knee
& begins to wash my feet.

"I will not always love you like Christ loves the Church, but I will always strive to do so"

He said a few other things and prayed over me.

Thankfulness filled the room
Love was thick
Joy was overflowing

"Dang, Dusty is pulling all of His cards tonight. I wonder what he is going to do when he proposes?" went through my mind. 

We sit down and eat a meal from Carino's
& he plays another romantic playlist among many
We enjoy each other's company and the beautiful night sky that was growing dark.

If you can picture what dates are like on the Bachelor, that's what it looked/felt like.
Beautiful.
Romantic.
Perfect.







"Can I play you a song?" Dusty asked. 
I am a lucky girl. 
This happens on a regular basis...

"Of course" I said with excitement. I asked if I could record it because I love having his songs on my phone. The entire time he sang, I was talking myself out of wishing he was proposing. Little did I know, that's exactly what he was doing.

This is the proposal:



My joy reached a whole new level that night.
That's a pretty high level, I must say. I'm a pretty joyful person

We go to the car, drive out to this private strip of land by the lake & get out of the car.
He presses play.
Takes my hand.
& we dance


This is a song by Erick Baker called, "My two left feet". The very first CD Dusty ever made me was titled "The Best CD Ever" & I still have to agree to this day. The very first song on the CD is My Two Left Feet. It always makes me think of Dusty and the first time I ever heard him sing (other than worship) at Sugar Browns Coffee shop on 50th street. 

He knows what sweeps me off my feet. 

We dance
We laugh
We enjoy

We pray and thank the Lord for his faithfulness, love and goodness. For knowing our hearts and knowing exactly the person he wanted us to partner in furthering His kingdom with.

Dusty is perfect for me.
He balances me out & is strong in my weakest areas
He doesn't complete me & never will.
He will never fulfill me or make me whole
But he is mine to love.
He is mine to walk in life with.
He is the one the Lord has for me.

& I couldn't be more thankful for the man I have been given.
It's amazing what the Lord has in store for you when you surrender to His plan and allow Him to do work in your life for His glory.
His glory alone.

My prayer is that the Lord is glorified through this engagement.
Through this marriage.
& that the sole purpose of our love is founded on the one who loved us first.
The one who makes us whole. 
Who enables us to love wholly, fully, and purely. 

I am my lover’s and my lover is mine <3
Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.

Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away. 
If one were to give 
all the wealth of his house for love, 
it would be utterly scorned.
-Song of Solomon 8:6-7

Yes, we're young. Yes, we're poor.
But we are the richest and the wisest in the one who's guiding our steps
In Him &; His love, all things endure.
In Him our love is made complete.

I am so excited to grow in this season with the Lord and with Dusty as we follow the Lord in Faith to this new chapter in life. Im excited for the good that we can dance and laugh in & I'm excited for the bad that we can be thankful for and grow together in. In all things, God works for the GOOD of those who LOVE Him and are called according to His purposes. 

Bring it on! :)

For all of you single ladies who are longing for "The One"
I want to leave you with this:

Its not about...

finding the right man,
but becoming the right woman.

The Lady in Waiting
recklessly abandons herself
to the Lordship of Christ,
diligently uses her single days,
trusts God with unwavering faith,
demonstrates virtue in daily life,
loves God with undistracted devotion,
stands for physical and emotional purity,
lives in security,
responds to life in contentment,
makes choices based on her convictions,
and waits patiently for God to meet her needs.

Love the Lord FIRST. With ALL that you have and all that you are. In that time, when you are not focused on the guy that will complete you but the GOD that makes you whole the Lord will begin to work in your heart and bless you in ways you'd never dream up on your own. He can restore the broken, heal the hurting, and renew what's been taken or given away. You are His. His love, His bride, His beloved. & all He want's is for you to come and let Him love you. It's free and it's waiting for you. 





Thursday, September 15, 2011

Lindsie & Cameron | Engagements

I was SO excited to take Cameron and Lindsie's engagement pictures!! Lindsie and I are pledge sisters in Pi Beta Phi at Texas Tech and I have loved getting to know her over the past two years. It was so special to me that she asked me to photograph her wedding and all that it entails. I am just thrilled! One of my favorite things is getting to capture some of the most precious moments for people who are precious to me :). In that case, I am very blessed. These two are sweet, fun, silly, yet all the while very mature and driven. Not only is this couple HOT they are really a beautiful couple inside and out. What a blessing you two are! I can't wait for March 10, 2012!














































Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Jacqueline Kahlich Romero | Bridals

I have been so anxious to share images of this STUNNING bride! Jacqueline became Mrs. Romero this past Saturday the 10th! The wedding was beautiful and Jacqueline made for a jaw dropping bride. She has been so great to work with and a blessing to get to know. Enjoy and keep your eyes peeled for images from the wedding!






















Jacqueline had this image blown up into an 20x30 canvas on matboard and framed it in a beautiful deep brown frame. It was displayed in the church after the ceremony and at the church hall for the reception! 

 If you are interested in wall art from a past session with me, or from a session in the future, ask me about my wall art products and prices!