i have talented friends

i can't thank ayley enough for taking these pictures. you know you have a good friend when she willingly makes time for a missionary photo shoot while in the midst of planning her own gorgeous wedding. i feel so grateful for all the talented people in my life who have made this mission experience so special already (multiple photo shoots, an amazing video, wonderful words of advice, and even just the simple, loving, encouragement). i'm also grateful for little tender mercies that prove heavenly father hears and answers prayers. the weather on our planned picture date was anything but ideal. i think we were both picturing perfect light on a warm summer night, but instead we got scary looking clouds and a whole lot of rain. we were this close to rescheduling, but decided to utilize umbrellas and brave the rain. i said a little prayer just before meeting up with her, asking heavenly father to keep the rain away – even if just for a little while. and what do you know, we had a rain-free photo shoot! my heart swelled with gratitude that night for a loving god who cares about even the seemingly silly things in life like stopping the rain for a couple of girls who want take pictures. it's true what they say, heavenly father blesses his missionaries.