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Christian & Amanda // Epic Oregon Coast Couples Session

by Rebekah · Leave a Comment

Christian & Amanda’s Oregon Coast couples session on Tuesday was equal parts wildly epic and sentimental. The weather started out mild, but the winds brought in enough rain that we were all a bit soaked and tousled by the end.

But somehow, the weather was actually perfect for this session. It seemed to serve as a poignant reminder of how God has held Christian & Amanda in the palm of His hand this past year, even in the midst of the storm.

In April, Christian & Amanda lost their sweet lil baby at 6 weeks pregnant. The day that this blog is being posted would have been their due date.

In Amanda’s own words, here is some of their story:

I found out I was pregnant on March 16th and immediately told my husband. We were over the moon. My mom had a lot of difficulty getting pregnant due to endometriosis (it took my parents 10 years to have me) and I have always had a fear that I would face something similar. So I was super excited that we were able to get pregnant with little difficulty. The timing seemed to work out perfectly and it felt like things were falling into place. The next week I had my first appointment to confirm the pregnancy and then flew back to KY as this news needed to be delivered in person to my family! I wanted to wait to announce to friends and extended family until after our first ultrasound, scheduled for March 31st. 
 
Christian’s family came in after I returned from KY as his sister was getting married on April 3rd and lots of wedding prep was happening the days leading up to it! We told his family just a couple days before the first ultrasound, and it seemed like the next weekend would be absolutely perfect as we celebrated a new life and new marriage.
 
On March 31st I went in for my first ultrasound. I was so excited to potentially hear the heartbeat, however, when we did the first ultrasound there was nothing there. There was evidence of pregnancy but they were not seeing what they should. I was confused and crushed. They didn’t want to completely write it off as a miscarriage just yet as it was possible I was just not as far along as we thought. So they scheduled me for another ultrasound on April 15th and the two weeks that followed were agonizing as I waited to see whether my baby would live or if it was already too late.
 
After my sister in laws wedding, I spent about a week just in complete shock. I didn’t know what to think or how to feel. Was there still hope to be had? I know I serve a God of miracles, but would this be one?
 
The day came for the second ultrasound. I wasn’t really sure how to feel leading up to it, whether or not I should hold onto hope. What happened I did not see coming, which was that our baby had grown and so I wasn’t as far along as I thought, but there was still no heartbeat. I opted to have surgery the following Monday, and spent the next couple weeks recovering physically.
 
What I didn’t expect was how long it would take to recover physically and just how much longer it would take to even begin to pick up the pieces emotionally. In just a moment everything I had planned for and dreamed of for our life and our child’s life vanished. I finally began to learn how to allow myself to grieve and what it looks like to walk through something like this with your spouse (side note-you will NOT experience it the same way and that’s okay).
 
I also had to learn what it means to trust God and know that He is still good even when world-shattering disappointments happen. I learned that God is a comforter and a healer, and that He weeps with us in our pain, even as He sees how this is all going to come together for our good and His glory.  This is something I will grieve in various degrees for the rest of my life, but I know that the God who led me through the past few months and has already brought good out of it will continue to do so.
 
I think the biggest comfort for me was Psalm 73:28, “ It is good to be near God.” I heard someone describe it as God’s nearness is our good and that really struck me in my state of confusion and desperately looking for good things to come out of all this. God definitely drew close to me in tangible ways and I am forever thankful for that. I can’t imagine going through this without Him.

Christian & Amanda traveled from Arizona for this session, and wanted to commemorate their little one through these photos. But at the same time, they wanted to celebrate the ways that they’ve grown closer to each other and God this year.

It was heartache and joy, beautifully juxtaposed.

To Christian & Amanda; thank you for choosing me and trusting me. It has been my honor and privilege to work with you and tell your story. I’m praying for you today especially, that God would give you an overwhelming peace and joy in Him. Hugs!

Amanda’s dress is from Baltic Born Clothing.

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ON THE BLOG: Mr & Mrs Raz ✨ "I always get emoti ON THE BLOG: Mr & Mrs Raz ✨

"I always get emotional watching my couples get married…it’s just part of my “modus operandi”! But I was *really* fighting back the tears as Davis & Brooke pledged their lives to each other. The love & devotion they have for each other is second only to their love & devotion to Jesus, and WOW it was a beautiful thing to see as it played out during their wedding day."

Follow the link in my bio to see the full blog post from this incredible wedding day! 🤍

The Vendor Team:

Venue: @lakesidegardens 
Florals: @artisticflowerswedding 
HMUA: @powderincbeauty 
Videographer: @fireside.media 
Cake: @helenbernhardbakery 
Bridal Gown: @davidsbridal 
Groom’s Attire: @mrformaltuxedos 

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Happy Father’s Day to the man, the myth, the leg Happy Father’s Day to the man, the myth, the legend. 

Dad, because of the father that you are, I can more fully grasp how deeply our heavenly Father loves me. You are a physical & earthly representation of His love & grace & kindness, and I am so, so blessed to be your daughter. 

And to all the other fathers out there, including my father-in-law, happy Father’s Day! 

#fathersday2022 #septemberwedding #oregonweddingphotographer #oregonweddings #washingtonweddings #countrywedding #farmwedding
ELEVEN YEARS with my best girl. 🧡 (Swipe to se ELEVEN YEARS with my best girl. 🧡

(Swipe to see baby Rebekah & Sabrina. 🥹)

Last year, after my dear friend @amongtheoaks.co took these images for me, I wrote a super sappy blog post about Sabrina. If you’re in the mood to read something like that (and see tons of photos!) then follow the link in my bio. 💫

Here’s a little excerpt that still rings so true:

“I know dogs can’t read, but if they could, here’s what I’d want to say to my Sabrina Marie:

‘Thank you for being by my side for 10 years. We’ve had the best adventures a girl and her dog could have. Living in the cottage, just the two of us? Dream come true. Hiking forests and mountains together? I’ll never get tired of it. The way you lean your head on my leg? It melts me. You’ve never wavered in your love and devotion to me, even when I haven’t deserved it. “If I could bottle this up, I could make a million” has never rang more true than it does right now. You hold my heart, and I love you so, so, so, so much.’” 

Now don’t mind me while I go look through old pictures & get super sentimental!! 🧡

(First photo credit to @amongtheoaks.co & editing credit to @rebekahleonaphotography)

#goldenretriever #olddogsarethebestdogs #goldensofinstagram #goldenretrieversofinstagram
"Freedom is never more than one generation away fr "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. 

We did not pass it to our children in the bloodstream. 

It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." 

-Ronald Reagan

May we all remember what today is truly about…not the BBQs & the extra day off work, but remembering the sacrifices that so many brave men & women have made to keep our country “the land of the free, and the home of the brave”. 

#memorialday #memorialdayweekend #landofthefreebecauseofthebrave #ronaldreagan #americathebeautiful #pnwonderland #merica🇺🇸
MR & MRS MASON 🍾🥂💫 Celebrating the culmi MR & MRS MASON 🍾🥂💫

Celebrating the culmination of this love story last week was truly an honor & a privilege. I cannot wait to share more with you all!!

Bride & Groom: @jmendezoliver & @zackmason74 
Venue: @thetroutdalehouse 
Florist: @milwaukiefloral 
HMUA: @jmendezoliver 
Videographer: @tesfilms 
DJ: @dustinrileyevents 
Cake: @nothingbundtcakes 
Catering: @sanchostacosandgrill 
Bridal Gown: @truesociety_thewhitedress 
Bridesmaid Dresses: @davidsbridal 
Grooms Attire: @generationtux 
Veil: @mariellebridal
Hey, my name is Rebekah, and I’d LOVE to introdu Hey, my name is Rebekah, and I’d LOVE to introduce myself if you’re new around here!! 💕

I’m so excited you’re popping onto my page. It’s a HUGE honor that I definitely do not take lightly. It’s SUCH a joy getting to share my couples stories through photographs with you!

If you’re new around here… hi! I started this business back in 2013, and it’s grown WAY beyond anything I could have ever imagined! If you want to check out more of my work, click on the link in my bio or just start scrolling through my Instagram here. 📸 

But more importantly, here are a few fun facts about yours truly so we can get to know one another a little better!!!

👉🏼 I'm an Oregonian native, born and raised. No, the whole state isn't filled with "weird" hipsters from Portland...there are plenty of us conservative, down home country folk too. 😜

👉🏼 My top favorite movies are Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Calamity Jane, Man from Snowy River, and the 1995 Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth. (And I will *never* turn down the opportunity to watch reruns of the Andy Griffith Show.)

👉🏼 If our house was on fire and I only had a minute to grab a couple items, I would grab my Grandpa's flannel shirt (he passed away almost 8 years ago), my wedding rings (obvs), my great-grandmother's ring (she & I share a middle name even though I never got to meet her), and probably my kombucha scoby & sourdough starter.

👉🏼 I drink my coffee black & need to be in bed by 10pm or I basically melt, and I have a love affair with rose bushes. (And someday I WILL have a huge rose garden!) 🌹 

What about you?! Can you relate to any of these?! Share three fun facts about you below. What are you passionate about?! Annnndddd gooo!!! ⤵️
Happy Mother's Day 💕 No matter what motherhood Happy Mother's Day 💕

No matter what motherhood looks like for you, I hope that today you know how incredibly loved & appreciated you are. 💐
I’m just going to say it… there are things abo I’m just going to say it… there are things about your wedding that will stress you out but your photographer SHOULD NOT be one of them which is why I’m really passionate about providing a seamless experience from the time my couples book with me until the moment they receive their galleries. 🌿

Rebekah Leona Photography

Light and airy wedding photography for the couple who wants photos as stunning as their love story. Located in Oregon.  

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