“In the hunt for a husband that every girl goes on in life, you always imagine seeing a dirty cowboy hat and falling instantly in love with the man who gazes up from it. For us, that wasn’t exactly the story.
We met in college and fell into the same group of friends while we went on our first few dates. However, with a girl as stubborn as I am, and a guy as kind as Nick is, we didn’t quite hit it off. No matter how many dates I declined Nick on, he always met me at Church (that’s when I knew I was in trouble.) After a rocky road of just under a year, Nick and I were sitting in a tiny Cowboy Church before a rodeo in rural Oregon. I glanced at the Cowboy speaking and his wife sitting off to the side and began to daydream about what it would be like to find a husband who had the faith of the cowboy speaking and was as handy as him too. As clear as day I felt the Holy Spirit push my cheek to fix my focus on Nick holding my hand in church and I heard the words “Look what I have given you” I began to sob knowing that God had given me exactly what I had always wanted and so much more in the man sitting right beside me. After sharing this experience with Nick and apologizing for not realizing it sooner, his only question to me was, “Sage, do you love me?” Of course I replied “yes” and his response was, “Good, ‘cuz I love you too and that’s all that matters now.” When I felt Nick’s genuine love, selflessness, and forgiveness through this conversation I knew I would spend the rest of my life loving him and that he would always love me the way Jesus calls us to.”

Photographer: Vanpelt Photography
Hat: American Hat Company

Location: Juntura, Oregan