I walked up to Jane like a seventh grade girl, like I had pig tails in my hair and a puffy paint binder, and asked, “Sooooo can we be friends??”
Because it just HAD to happen. She lives on Maui, I live in San Diego, and we were at the end of speaking at a conference in Atlanta. I wasn’t about to leave the conference, watch us all fly back to our sweet little homes, and let a friendship with this amazing woman slip away.
Because Jane is magnetic. I mean, we officially met on the bus ride to the conference when Jane requested that we play gangsta rap over the speakers and then she knew ALL of the words.
Ummmm yes… my kind of girl…
And that night, when Jane got up to speak at the conference and started telling her story, I was in TEARS in seconds.
Like, snotty-nose, elephant tears, with big gulping breaths. At one point, I really should have excused myself because I was blowing my nose SO LOUD, but I seriously didn’t care. I wasn’t about to miss anything this girl had to say.
Because Jane is wise. I mean, there are only a handful of women that I’ve met in my life (I can still count them on one hand) that seem as though they DWELL within the very heart of God. Like they’ve taken an extension cord and plugged it straight into His electric socket, living on a direct line from the Holy Spirit.
It’s a quality that can’t be faked or shortcutted.
It’s a quality that only comes through the fire. And Jane has been through that fire.
I will let you read Jane’s story here, because her words are infinitely better than mine (AND YOU NEED TO READ HER STORY – STOP AND DO IT NOW), but the short version is that Josh and Jane tried and waited for ten years to get pregnant. In the middle of that, Jane’s best friend was diagnosed with and passed away from cancer.
Jane has been through the fire, my friends.
And in the midst of living in that fire, she became a scripture digger. Instead of waiting passively, Jane dug into God’s heart, and she developed a unique and powerful method of studying scripture that has changed many lives, including mine. (Check out her bible studies – they’re amazing!)
Like a coal miner, she found treasures in her darkness, and on the ten year anniversary of their journey, she became pregnant.
If you’ve been watching our Instagram and Instastories, you know that Jeff and I were in Kauai celebrating our ten year wedding anniversary. Jane’s little bundle was supposed to come at Thanksgiving, but instead, he came a week later on December 1st while we were on the islands. So Jeff and I extended our trip and hopped over to Maui to photograph this incredible miracle in this unbelievable journey of faith.
I’m in LOVE with how these images turned out, and there’s still some film at the lab that I can’t wait to share!! (Keep an eye out for those images in the next few weeks!) We started our shoot at sunrise, where Josh and Jane brought little Jordan to the beach for the very first time. Then we walked back to their house for breakfast, coffee, and shooting around their adorable little home in Kihei.
Josh and Jane: Thank you so much for letting us crash your little party so we could document your brand new miracle! Jordy is so absolutely PERFECT, it’s insane!! You guys are good people, and we’re so lucky to call you friends. You are incredible parents already, and we so loved watching you adore your little Jordan!
Hugs,
Erin