It has been awhile since I announced the winners of my Valentine’s Contest Winners, Mark and Laura Eubanks.

For those of you who are just tuning in, I had a contest in February inviting couples to write to me about their love story. First prize was a free couples shoot. I had so many wonderful entries! It was so hard to choose one, but I chose the beautiful Eubanks Family. We waited until now to photograph them and their two boys because they wanted their session at their lake home, where they feel the most relaxed.

Mark and Laura’s story is compelling for so many reasons. They have been married for 18 years, but they have known each other for over 30. They met at a shoe store where Laura, much to her chagrin, was taking her younger brother to buy shoes. Her brother did get the shoes, but more importantly, Laura got a date with the tall handsome shoe salesmen, Mark, who was working there at the time. They began to get to know one another, but were quickly parted as Mark’s life took him live in another part of the country. Laura says she never stopped thinking about him. Finally, nine years later,  they found each other again when Mark came back to Georgia for a visit. They began to date again, and three years later, they sealed their desire to be together by getting married.

They have been through a lot of hard times and tragedy, more than most people  will ever see, and more than I can go into detail here.  However, what stood out to me the most was how their love for each other has been a true beacon of light through very dark times.

Perhaps Laura says it better here

While we have been through a lot, we feel very blessed to have each other to lean on and it has strengthened our bond. We cherish our relationship with one another and try not to take life for granted. It’s Mark’s sense of humor which attracted me to him, and gets us through the hard times.

As you can tell you in the pictures, they love life, and they love being together. Enjoy the photos of the lovely Eubanks family. Congratulations, Mark And Laura! ( and happy anniversary!)