[dropcap]I[\/dropcap]t was February, 2006 at a high school “fashion show” where he stood outside of a gymnasium waiting to speak to his crush for the first time. \u00a0Backed with his friends close by, Chris exchanged a casual “hello” with Lindsey, and further was invited to dinner with a group of her friends at a local TGIF. \u00a0All was going to plan, except his car failed him and was un-able to make it. \u00a0Frustrated, and embarrassed Chris waited two months<\/em> to make contact again. \u00a0It was back in the days of “Instant Messenger”, and Lindsey found herself glued to her computer screen as Chris finally made contact one night. \u00a0The three hour conversation ended with a request for him to call her. \u00a0He did, and Lindsey (with shaking hands) asked Chris to the Prom. \u00a0He was excited, and said yes! \u00a0 That same weekend, they went on their first date.. \u00a0and then the day after the Prom they sat together on the beach, and Chris asked Lindsey to be his girl. \u00a0She was so excited, she\u00a0said yes! That was May 7, 2006.<\/p>\n Fast forward, almost 10 years later..<\/p>\n Chris’s sister was moving to North Florida, and he decided it was a good time to get all the families together for a bit of a “going away party”. \u00a0So, Lindsey’s entire family was invited, and plans were made to have a large get together of both families to celebrate. \u00a0Funny enough, Lindsey had a thought.. well.. maybe more of a “fantasy” that this would “be it<\/em>” and Chris would ask her hand in marriage. \u00a0After all they had talked about it before, and it was something that they both thought they wanted. \u00a0So, it was safe to say this was in the back of Lindsey’s head. \u00a0However, in 10 years there have been many times where Lindsey had this feeling, and it did not pan out. \u00a0So.. \u00a0LOL.. \u00a0her hopes were not up too high. \u00a0 So, everyone sat for dinner, bowed heads and everyone prayed. \u00a0Lindsey, thinking this would be the perfect time.. was quickly disappointed when nothing happened. \u00a0 After dinner, all of the kids (6 out of the 8 nieces and nephews) were outside playing and Chris also went outdoors to play with the kids (Lindsey, watching and thinking what a wonderful dad Chris\u00a0will be one day). \u00a0The sun was setting, and the sky was beautiful. \u00a0Everyone wanted to take a “family photo” \u00a0So, after a few shots.. the family walked away and then a picture was taken of just Lindsey, and Chris. \u00a0 Then.. \u00a0it was weird, as everyone kept taking pictures of the two of them.. and Lindsey asked Chris “why is everyone taking pictures of us?”… as Lindsey contented to smile for pictures, to\u00a0keep the “ball rolling”, Chris looked over at Lindsey and said [perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”I don’t know. \u00a0My family is crazy. \u00a0How would you like to spend the rest of your life with my crazy family?”. [\/perfectpullquote]<\/p>\n –then– he got right down on one knee and the words that she had dreamed about for 10-years<\/span>, and the look on his face that was more beautiful then she ever could have imagined, now real and looking her right in the eye said.. [perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]\u00a0“will you marry me?”[\/perfectpullquote]<\/p>\n Lindsey did not even let him finish, and was yelling “YES, YES, YES!!!!”<\/p>\n It was one of the best nights of Lindsey’s life (and Chris too I am sure).<\/p>\n It’s incredible to hear stories like this, High School crushes that last a lifetime. \u00a0It will be such an amazing time when Chris, and Lindsey look back at their life together one day.. old, and accomplished. \u00a0Funny enough, during their church ceremony I remmeber father was speaking about how in this day in age people give up too soon, and that many people will jump from one relationship to the next.. only to live life bouncing from one relation to another and never truly being happy. \u00a0He spoke of the difference of that, and in what it means to truly build something. \u00a0To invest your time and effort in the right person, and to make something more meaningful, stronger and everlasting. \u00a0I of course, naturally thought about my own life, my wife (who I have been with for 8 years), and my 3yr old son Austin. \u00a0I reflected at their ceremony on my own life, what I am building, and how I would not trade that for anything else in the world. \u00a0I am so happy, and I am so happy for people like Lindsey and Chris. \u00a0I feels incredible to be apart of something solid, and to be with the right person.<\/p>\n Lindsey, Chris.. \u00a0it would sound so silly and so “plastic” to say how much I enjoyed working with you. \u00a0You both were so unique, and so un-like most people in this “day in age”. \u00a0From the moment we started planning out the engagement session, and you told me all about the things that you two do together I could tell that this was a very, very, meaningful, tender, and sensitive relationship. \u00a0One, in which I can relate with. \u00a0I would be lying if I did not say that this alone, motivated me to go the extra mile in anyway that I could to bring that “feeling” to a captured photograph. [perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]\u00a0I really wanted to tell your story, I wanted to plan the details, and I wanted to be apart of it. [\/perfectpullquote]<\/p>\n On some silly level, I saw some of my own relationship within yours and was oddly “at home” with you both right away. \u00a0This was perhaps, one of the best examples of a photographer “attracting the right clients” and I am grateful that our paths crossed, and I was free on your wedding date!<\/p>\n Thank you both so much, for giving me control, total freedom, and having me by your side on your wedding day. \u00a0I love you both so much, and am excited to see how life un-folds for you in the future with your new family.<\/p>\n Congratulations!<\/p>\n TH<\/p>\n