Another reason why I was looking forward to this trip was to meet Amanda for the first time, some of you know her from her BLOG .

It felt very much like a blind "date" and I was thinking about that question "Would I like myself if I were to meet me?" and the answer was "no"...I was so distracted with thinking about my camera equipment, the weather forecast for the day of the wedding, locations for my shoots and logistics, that I had nothing to give.  It was the day before the wedding, and my mind was hyper-focused--I knew I wouldn't be much of a conversationalist, and yet, I was SO looking forward to finally meeting Amanda.  Steve and I had been talking about this meeting for months. 

Amanda has an uncommon grace.

"Grace as behavior is rare, and it's getting rarer"  - May Sarton 

 Just her smile calmed me right away, her soft kind manners were a gift. She is just soft, her voice is soft, her smile is soft, her heart is soft, and in the end I walked away knowing that she is indeed very strong, because most of us are not brave enough to be that soft, it is a vulnerable thing really.  She was truly natural.  I was struck by how generous she was, and how much she loves Jesus, truly loves Him in a personal way.

In some ways she reminds me of my sister Julie because she is loyal, and encouraging.  She loves hard and fully. Talking with her refreshed me. Both her and Angela (the bride) are life enhancing personalities.

I was telling Steve how much I liked photographing her because she looks like a fairy, a dainty fairy.

Here she is with Miss Lucy her daughter.

"A single gesture often brings us a moment of grace"  -May Sarton

"...The day

Of little things, that grow not less.

Our moments fly-enough if on their way

You lent them loveliness."   -May Sarton

*Here we are together slightly distorted because I am taking the photo with my outstretched arm.