So this blog is a little different than my usual sneak peek post with a story I wrote about the session…

This session was a little more personal and I thought it might be best if the words came from Hannah herself…

So I approached Hannah about using this post as a platform to share her story. Use it to encourage others who may be going through the same situation or one similar, so they can see that even if they feel their world has come crashing down around their well-laid plans… not to worry, for God always has us in the palm of His hands…

So without further delay… here is Hannah’s wedding story…

“I had my whole life planned out.

Everything was engraved on a notepad in my head – with each step numbered and in order.

I knew what was going to happen next and when.

– Or so I thought.

I was engaged and planning to get married in 5 months. We had been together for 3 years and things seemed to be going well. We made all of our plans for the wedding and we were in the process of finalizing all details. However, things started to change little by little.

For a while, I knew something was wrong but I did not realize what was happening.

One Sunday morning in church, the sermon (on Judas) really touched me. After the message, there was an old fashioned alter call and something in my mind kept telling me I needed to go forward. I listened to that voice and kneeled up front asking God to give me an answer, to help me with my hurt, my confusion, and with my future. I wiped my tears as I walked back to my seat. I felt touched but unsure of what was going to happen.

Little did I know my life was about to be flipped upside down.

My fiancé called that evening and I happily answered the phone. What he had to say was not at all what I was expecting. He was calling to say he was not going through with the wedding.

That was it.

No explanation – just that he would not be marrying me.

Just a few hours before, I had been on my knees asking God to give me an answer. How is that for a quick response?

Honestly, at that moment, I thought my life was over. I felt so crushed and I did not think I would ever be happy again. I cannot even describe the pain I felt at that moment.

As time has passed, I have learned some things I had not been aware of, and I can see that God was protecting me from an even greater hurt in my future.

It has been over 3 months since that happened and I feel like a new woman. God has helped me through this life change.

It was not a change like seeing a turtle crossing the road and you have to switch from the left lane to the right lane to avoid it. This was more like a deer jumping suddenly from the bushes along the interstate and you swerve off the road to miss it, rolling your car down a huge hill.

I thought my world was crashing down before me. I now realize and trust that God has a much better future planned for me.

This party at The Barns at Maple Valley Farm was a stepping-stone. My closest friends all came together to help put away old things and start anew.

My white dress represented my slate being wiped clean – a fresh start.

I threw a small bouquet over my shoulder to demonstrate my past being put behind as I looked ahead to a brighter future.

My “God is Good” party meant more to me than just having fun. It was a reminder that God always has His hand on me and that my past does not define me.

If anyone reading this is hurting in some way, I want to encourage you to seek the Lord and pray. You might not always get the answer you want to hear or the answer you think you need, but it will be the answer God knows is best.

And remember, the rainbow always comes after the storm.”