Photographing Kennedy and Jordan’s engagement session was unique for me because Kennedy is a friend, and I’ve seen her strength as she trusted the Lord after unexpectedly finding herself navigating life as a single Mom.

I remember her telling me about Jordan for the first time at a photography session I did for her and her little one in Lafayette Park as the amber leaves floated by us. I particularly remember her giddy laugh as as she wore a silky pink dress and she told me Jordan had started playing tennis with her Mom each week (how cute is that?!).

After that, I prayed, and prayed. Prayed that the Lord to work in Jordan’s heart so that he would love Him above all else. Prayed that Kennedy would find her joy in closeness with the God who was sovereign over her circumstances.

I feel such joy when I think about the redemptive arch God has weaved into their love story.

Kennedy said it well as she reminisced on that fall photography session I did with her just after she’d met Jordan last fall, while comparing them to these engagement pictures we took in the spring…

“These pictures were taken just a couple months after Jordan and I started dating. (In fact, swipe all the way to see the pics @mrs.chelseynelson snapped when Jordan came up in conversation… 🤭🤭) Little did I know that it was the beginning of the end for mine and A*** J***’s pink era. 💞 I am SO excited to marry Jordan and am so thrilled that A*** J*** will have a strong, loving man in her life. I am so thankful that God brought us together when He did - A*** J*** won’t remember a day without Jordan. 🥹 As we get closer to our wedding day, I can’t help but look back on the time that was just me and A*** J***. Getting through each day. Wondering what the Lord had in store for us. Thankful for His rescue and provision. Enamored by A*** J***’s life and in awe of God’s sovereignty.

Although A*** J***s first 18 months of life were some of the most tragic and brokenhearted, I will look back on them with a smile on my face because it created a beautiful bond with my daughter and showed me more of Jesus as promise-keeper and trusted friend.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” Psalms‬ ‭40:1-3‬”