Whitney+Dereak |Southern Oregon Engagement Photography
Within a Christian vision of marriage, here’s what it means to fall in love.It is to look at another person and get a glimpse of what God is creating, and to say,I see who God is making you, and it excites me. I want to be a part of that.” -Tim Keller
This day couldn’t have been more gorgeous. There was a light breeze, soft movement on the water, and natural light at Lake of the Woods that made it positively dreamy. Add in these two precious humans and their rich love story, and you have a perfect day! My husband/assistant/arm candy came along as well, and the four of us explored, laughed, and captured this season of life for these two. Whitney and Dereak met at Whitney’s stand (where she was working as a barista), and they began dating in October of 2015. They both say that respect, hard work, and unconditional love are the foundations for their story, and they can’t wait to get married this fall.
As a couple, you’re most likely to find them walking their dog Reese, going to the movies or the gym together, and Whitney adds that sometimes, she can convince Dereak to go shopping with her :) “My favorite thing about Dereak is that he has a heart and love for the Lord”, explains Whitney, “He is the strongest person I know; someone who has been through a lot, but his heart holds so much love. It wasn’t until meeting him that I realized how important it is to me to share prayer before meals, going to church, and reading God’s word was in my day-to-day life. I lost sight of the importance, and he resurfaced that for me. He’s not too hard on the eyes, either, so that’s a bonus!” Dereak says Whitney is a “the hardest working individual that I’ve met”, and that her passion for work, school, and everything else that she does, is what drew him to her. Both say that the last year has truly strengthened their relationship, and made their faith stronger as well. “Through trials that we didn't really expect, we have grown closer and learned to trust God and his timing. We are now much stronger because of what we have been through."
