i remember there was a time in my life when i didn’t care about how late it was. i wanted to stay up talking on the phone with ben because we were 3,000 miles apart. i didn’t care about how humid it was in the summer because i wanted to go with him outside and see the fire flies. i didn’t care how cold it was in january because i wanted to go visit boston and walk on old cobblestone streets holding hands.

it was young love.

sweet love.

i forgot what it was like until i was put in a place that forced me to remember those fond memories.

this is sarah‘s little brother eric, who was born and raised in new jersey. just a few days prior to our meeting, he had asked sweet kelly to spend the rest of her life with him. two days before they returned home to texas for school, sarah informed me that he and kelly were here in new jersey, only 25 minutes away. we communicated and set up everything for the next day. 24 hours later, we went out shooting in the cold.

it was 25 degrees plus windchill.

we even had some fresh coffee before we began, but my face was still numb. i couldn’t feel my fingers and i wasn’t able to speak well.

nevertheless, it was enough for them.

their love was on fire; they kept each other warm.

young love, sweet love.

as i am sitting here typing in the cold right next to the fire, i can’t help but get excited for the thought that sarah and i will see these two again on their big day in december, in a warmer TEXAS!! yeehaw!

but for now, on this freezing cold day, here’s kelly + eric.