love and art...makes me happy!

I remember it clearly...my hands shook just a little as I filled out the form. I had been attending LifeChurch.tv for awhile, at least a year or more, but at that time, I still wasn't really involved. It was a new campus, one closer to my home. I had no excuses for not volunteering. The pastor had preached about being involved in the church, in helping with the ministry, and quite simply, I was convicted. So I filled out the form saying I wanted to start volunteering. Someone from the church called me. I explained that my weekends were usually pretty full, and asked if they needed any help during the week. The first day I went in to help, I met Deidra. A beautiful blond with a very cool personality, Deidra was easy to talk to and easy to like. We hit it off immediately! At the time, she was the LifeKids director, and I volunteered under her until she switched over to Campus Admin. Still, every Tuesday for the past two-plus years, I have seen Deidra in the office whenever I was there. Over time, I got to really know her and her story, and see what an amazing woman she is.
At the beginning of this year, I started volunteering in Switch, Lifechurch's youth program, every Wednesday night. One night, I was talking with Deidra after Switch, and she pointed out this guy. His name was Matt and he also volunteers in Switch. She told me they had gone to high school together. And that she thought he was cute. :) And that maybe there was something starting between them...Next thing you know, they were dating, then engaged {and now married, but that's another post :)}! I could not be more overjoyed for any two people! Deidra and Matt both have a heart for God, and a strong and apparent love for each other!
Matt just happens to be a super-talented artist, so when they got engaged, I wanted to come up with a unique and artsy location to do their engagement session. Well, I knew the Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts was coming up, so I suggested that we shoot there. Deidra and Matt were thrilled with the idea. The Festival of the Arts is one of my favorite things each year here in OKC, and Matt and Deidra are beautiful inside and out, plus they brought some serious style with their outfits for the shoot...so you can only imagine how much I loved doing this shoot! :)

But I'll stop chatting {finally} and show you the photos!

cool sculptures + pretty light + hot couple = gorrrgeous! :)




Thank you, woman, for walking by, cup in hand, at exactly the right moment--the other shots in this same spot without you are just not as interesting. :)














Love-love-love!


























so clever, haha. ;)





Deidra, you are stunning! And Matt, you are handsome! :)




Matt & Deidra~
I have probably gushed enough to you guys about how much I loved your engagement session, but just in case you didn't get it--I freakin' looooooved this shoot!!! :) Thank you for being fearless with your pda among the crowds. :) You guys are THE BEST and you have renewed my faith in love. ;) Thank you for your friendship, which means the world to me! I love you guys!

~abi~