Worship and Study had finished for the night at my church, and I tapped a girl on the shoulder to say hello. I didn’t recognize her and proceeded to introduce myself, since it was her first time at church. With the brightest smile and most joyful countenance, Mollie returned the introduction and began to tell me about her life. It was a sprightly conversation and I left it feeling encouraged and so glad we had met.

She was a freshman at Samford, though a couple of years older than the typical freshman. After dancing with a mission organization for a couple of years out of high school, she had decided to attend Samford to get a degree. I distinctly remember our conversation to this day, and I left church that night hoping she would come back.

Fast forward four years, and Mollie and I stood on the steps of another church… this time for her college graduation portraits. It was a beautiful full-circle moment! Mollie is a driven go-getter, but also a simply beauty who effortlessly talks about Jesus. We drove around town during golden hour and found the most perfect light. I kept telling Mollie “you’re the most natural model!” and I hope she believes me now!