Kathryn and Bradlee's Engagement Images, Love Story

Kathryn and Bradlee's engagement session was soooooo much fun!! They are such a sweet couple- stay tuned for their love story (Kathryn is going to send it soon.) We shot at Peterson and Grinstead, taking advantage of the cool brick street and the area around Barrett Middle School.

This session did, however, remind me of the reason I am not scheduling any sessions in June. Pregnancy is tough and it wears you out!! I was huffing and puffing by the end of the session, but it was well worth it- look how adorable they are!!

Here is their love story, as written by Kathryn: I think that it is so amazing to hear the stories of love at first sight. This however, is not how our story begins.

I suppose you could say that Bradlee and I met for the first time in second grade when we were placed in the very same classroom. Interestingly enough, neither he nor I remember each other at all. It was when we first began dating that his mother tried to embarrass him by showing off some baby pictures. My laughs and giggles were quickly silenced when I looked down in shock and saw myself standing in the front row of his class picture. Though our memory of that time together has slipped our mind I am afraid that the class picture will survive a lot longer. I am sure my mother had no idea that morning when she dressed me in a terrible little plaid outfit that it would be the first picture recording the life of myself and my future husband. Later in Elementary Bradlee moved away and he wouldn't return again until sophomore year.
Life went on for both of us and neither of us knew the other even existed. It is hard for me to describe to any of you who don't know, exactly how small Eastern High School really is. This truly is a school where everyone knows everyone and yet all of sophomore year our paths never crossed.

As I sit here and write this story I remember a time in my life that I wondered why we spent so much time in close proximity to each other before God allowed our lives to merge. As we have grown up together I think that I finally have a better understanding of why God might have used this timing. I think that God gave us some time to live our lives separately before He united us. I trust that the timing was right because each of us were able to have a good idea of who we were as individuals before we had to learn who we were as a couple. God knew what was best for us and I thank Him for his wisdom.

Ok, so back to our story. It wasn't until the first day of junior year that I met Bradlee. It was in Mrs. Gulley's sociology/psychology class that I first saw him in passing. I sat in the chair in front of him and barely noticed he was there for the first few weeks. Then, group projects required us to work with the people around us. We began "working together" on projects that I would do and Bradlee's name would go on. I didn't really mind though because life with this new friend was interesting. Bradlee was unlike the other people that I shared my time with. He had this little way of teasing and joking with anyone and everyone around him. Though he sometimes made me mad he usually made me smile and I always looked forward to seeing what the next day’s class would bring. One day, I jokingly asked him why he was always picking on me and from then on he would go out of his way to pretend to be nice to me, asking how my day was and what my weekend plans were. Little did he know that this was one of my favorite parts of the day. Through a series of little encounters here and there he won my eye, and my heart soon followed.

We began dating at the very end of junior year and originally thought it would be nothing serious. I guess that God had other plans for our life. Yes there have been some bumps in the road and sometimes we have veered a little bit off our original path but Bradlee is the love of my life and I am so happy to be apart of this journey forever.

A few months ago our relationship began yet another transition. Bradlee has always loved treating me like a princess so where did he want to take me on vacation? Disney World of course. His love for me is evident in every act he performs. Two days short of our three year anniversary we were walking through Disney at night and he asked me if we could go and get a picture in front of the castle. I said of course but instead of standing with his arms around me he hit one knee. With the Cinderella’s castle glowing pink and blue in the background and a crowd of people watching and cheering he said, “This is the place where dreams come true, so please make all of my dreams come true and marry me.” As tears poured down my face I said yes and kissed my prince. It was the most magical moment of my life. I will say it again and again, I am so blessed!
Before we transition from being engaged to being permanently joined as husband and wife, we will face one more big challenge. Bradlee will be leaving June 24th of this year to join the Navy. When he leaves I am going to have to say goodbye to my fiancé and my best friend for a while. Though the thought of him leaving is sometimes overwhelming we have faith. God has delivered us time and time again and with each lesson He has reminded us to look up and look to Him. That is exactly what we are going to do. In the summer of 2010 Bradlee and I will make the final transition to husband and wife but that will never mean that we are done growing together. I love him more than words can describe and somehow I am lucky enough that he feels the same. I want to thank you for allowing me to share our story with you and I ask you join me in praying for his safety and that God’s will be done in our lives as he leaves to join our military. Thanks again, and I hope you have a blessed day!