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!)

Hi everyone! WOW! I did not know what I was getting myself into when I created this contest! It has been such a journey of blessing. I have laughed and cried as I have read and re-read your stories, all of them beautiful and unique, making it SO difficult to choose! It was so good for my heart to see the faithfulness and beauty of true love, still alive and well on this earth!

Laura and Mark Eubanks are my couples shoot winners! They will get to choose the couples shoot of their dreams! I am looking forward to sharing those pictures with you all and letting you see a glimpse of their deep love for one another!

Here is the twist in the whole deal!  I have decided, along with my good friend Dustin Ah Kuoi, to have a 1st runner up with a consolation prize! ( which could have been 1st prize too!)

Tony Webb and his wife Jan will receive their own personal love song written and performed by Dustin. He is one of the songwriters and worship artists at 12 Stone Church. Dustin is also a Blogger Extraordinaire, and you can find his words and ideas here, at http://dustinahkuoi.wordpress.com/

Congratulations to my winners, and to all those who did not enter, or win this time, stay tuned! You will find this kind of thing popping up all year!!

Blessings,

Mary Anne