I don’t really know where to begin with this post… how to explain how an anonymous and unexpected gift has impacted me. But I will certainly try. :)

It all began in the end of the summer… I was going about my morning as usual, when I received a facebook message notification from a fellow photographer, Kristen Wall. Kristen is also the founder of Delight which is dedicated to encouraging young women as they pursue their God-given talents. I’d entered a contest to win a seat to the Pursuit 31 Conference (more about this in a second…!) a few weeks prior, but had learned that I wasn’t one of the two selected applicants. It was disappointing, but after hearing about the two other girls that HAD won the seats instead of me, I just felt peace about it and prayed they would be so so impacted by their time there. But why was Kristen messaging me now…?!

She said she had a story to tell me. She said how hard it was to select only two winners from all the amazing applicants in the scholarship contest. But then she said something crazy next: she told me an anonymous donor had sent in a very generous donation specifically towards “Caroline Raush’s registration,” making it now possible for me to attend the Pursuit 31 Conference!!!!!

I sat there in amazement. I was speechless. I started crying. And smiling so crazy big. I just couldn’t hold back this overwhelming emotion and JOY in hearing what someone wanted to do for ME!!!! There really aren’t enough exclamation points to describe my excitement!

I still have no CLUE who the donor is and all I want to do is thank them over and over and over again for this incredible blessing that they’ve given me!! I just want to tell them how amazing they are for making this girl’s dreams come true!

So tomorrow, I am off to Atlanta for the Pursuit 31 Conference, an amazing four-day Christian womens photography conference. I still can’t believe I really get to say that!! My flight leaves at 7:35 AM and I’m pretty sure I’m not going to sleep a wink tonight because I will just be so EXCITED. I am thrilled beyond belief to spend time learning from so many amazing speakers: photographers, authors, editors, and creatives (Emily Ley! Katelyn James! Hannah Brencher! Promise Tangeman! Bob Goff! Mary Marantz! Gina Zeidler! Jane Johnson! Lara Casey! Karen Stott!). But most importantly, spending quiet time connecting with the Lord in a retreat-like setting, seeking what He has for me in this next season of my life after I graduate from high school. I am just floored at this opportunity, and humbled to have the privilege to go.

It’s really hard to accept a big gift when you can’t reciprocate or even thank the giver. But I come away from this with two things: incredible thanks to God for opening this door for me, and an insatiable desire to pay it forward. And all the while you can bet I’m praying that God blesses this amazing person for being such a blessing. :)

I will be back first thing tomorrow sharing Mark + Rebecca’s sweet engagement session from yesterday, but then after that, things may be a little quiet here on the blog while I’m gone. But you can BET I will have so much to share when I return!! ;) Thank you as always for your love and support, sweet blog readers! Oh my goodness, how grateful I am for you! Xoxo!