never-to-be-forgotten: personal || dallas, tx & wedding photographer

Summertime has officially slipped away.  There's a little ache in my heart as I let that thought sink in.  Looking back over the past 4 months I can't believe how much has happened, and how much living/doing/seeing/loving has been crammed into them.  This summer.  Ohmyohmy.  It was the Summer that my heart has dreamed of for years, without knowing specifically what I was dreaming about.  Because yes, it is possible to look forward to something without knowing what that "something" is.  And then when the "something" finally happens there's this sudden flash of light and you realized... this is it--this is the summer that my sentimental heart has been waiting for for years.  You no longer have to use your imagination, or wonder what it will feel or look like, because you are living it.

From a ring on my finger and The Boy asking me for forever, a 3 week road trip of a lifetime with my favorite people in the world, and vacations with friends, to planning a wedding and starting the transition from one life to the next, this truly has been a never-to-be-forgotten summer.  As I went through all the pictures from the last few months, whittling them down to my absolute favorites, I couldn't help but smile and revel in the goodness of God in my life.

The girl with crazy curly hair in so many of those pictures is me.  Those memories and experiences are mine to keep forever, and though not untainted with the normal amount of pain or difficulty, they are precious to me, because they were all gifts given straight from the hand of a very good God.  "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which you have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!"  (ps.31:19) For 2 years now this verse has been my anthem, especially during the times that His goodness wasn't as easily apparent to my human eyes.  I'm a little bit sad to see this summer slip away... but this fall?  This fall is shaping up to be rather lovely as well ;)

"...the mercies of God cannot and will not fail and His faithfulness is not merely great- it is unwavering."

Much Love,
Jessica Shae

last thoughts of summer. {dallas, tx engagement & wedding photographer}

It's 66 degrees outside.  My window is pushed open as wide as it will go and I'm sitting cross legged on my bedroom floor with my toes tucked up under me to stay warm.  I'm listening to the sound of my jon schmidt pandora station mingled with the sound of the lawnmower and enjoying the smell of fresh cut grass + my pumpkin spice candle.

I absolutely adore the changing of the seasons.  I was told the other day that you can't call it fall in texas, since the leaves don't actually turn colors and fall, they all just die--apparently autumn is the correct term.  And the slow quiet slip from summer into autumn is my favorite.  Not because I love autumn so much that I can't wait to see summer go...anyone who knows me at all knows that's not true.  But summer obsession aside, autumn is definitely my second favorite time of the year, and I'm happy to see that it's here.

This summer has been particularly sweet.  Not in a my-life-is-perfect sort of way.  But in a my-God-is-gracious kind of way.  These past few months have been the richest, happiest months of my life. This summer has been an adventure, it's been full of new experiences, of stretching scary moments--it's been full of growing up.  Something that has been a little bittersweet, but that I'm mostly ok with :)  I know, I'm 22 years old, surely I've gotten used to the idea of being grown up by now?  But quite honestly, I haven't.  There's a large part of me that still likes to pretend amidst running my own business, traveling all over, and paying bills, that I'm still just a kid.  I do cartwheels in the street sometimes, I shop in the little girls section, (the clothes are so much cheaper!) and I wear ribbons in my hair.

But despite the ribbons and cartwheels, a lot of growing up has happened this summer.  I've made some big decisions.  I've worked on being authentic (being the original person that I was made to be with a unique design and purpose given by the one true Author) and through that I've been stretched thin, scared, and been able to see God's power shine through my weaknesses.  I've seen some friendships come to an end, and new ones begin.  I've been blessed with the greatest (no really, the absolute best of the best) boy in the whole world as my best friend + boy friend, and been grateful a thousand times over for my family and their love.

I've heard it said that Grace is: getting something you don't deserve.  And this summer my full of grace God has given blessing upon blessing...I can't wait to see what this next season will hold.

Happy Autumn!

Much Love,
Jessica Shae