Adoption:: The joy of walking with friends and a new endeavor

Jenny and I have been friends for a while now, probably five years or more.  Its hard to remember because she showed up with her sweet family at our church when I was in the trenches of parenting littles.  We slowly found each other and connected over our boys who were around the same age and were into the same thing (and still are, can we say Wii and Mind craft?!)  We started doing life together and joined the same small group.  It was here that we were able to get more connected and I heard her heart for a little girl.  Even though she was able to conceive and carry two wonderful boys, there were complications.  The doctors strongly advised that she not have any more children biologically, and this momma who loved painting fingernails, doing hair, and the color pink, was at a loss on why the Lord would give her such strong longings for a little girl, but not allow her any more children.

She then began praying and asking us to pray for a child.  Because her husband, at that point, was apprehensive about the cost emotionally and financially of adoption, she prayed for his heart and a baby girl.  As an outsider looking on, I prayed along side her watching and waiting for a miracle.  Even though it probably seemed like forever to her, it was amazing how quickly her husband’s heart changed and he was on board ready to move forward with her.Now that they were united, they made their intentions public. In the process, a friend of theirs sent them to Cosa Rica not only for a vacation, but with the name of a contact that could possibly help them get connected to a baby girl.  Trying not too be too hopeful, they headed away and came back with heavy hearts as they both knew that it wasn’t going to work.  So instead of working through contacts, they registered with a domestic organization.  This process began in the spring by putting together a book of photos for potential mothers to see and praying for their baby girl.  The agonizing process of being chosen was so hard for me as a friend to watch.  The ups and down’s of almost being chosen and then not.  The tears of the why’s still ring in my ears. The heart wrenching sorrow of the question,”Will we ever be chosen?” still play in my head as I wondered why the process was taking so long.  All I could do was sit on the sidelines in prayer and cheer them on as we all waited.Then the day came.  It was a Sunday after a sermon on Hannah’s prayer in First Samuel 2 (yes of all sermons!) In the middle of the night, or maybe it was early morning so it must have been Monday, I got a text saying they were on a plane headed to get their baby girl.  Tears of joy and elation filled my soul as I rejoiced with our sweet friends.  Sitting on the sidelines watching God do a miracle by bringing this baby girl into a family that already loved her before she was even thought of was a true reminder of the love that God has for us all as He continues to adopt those into His family All this said, in the year of 2016 a dream of mine that I have wanted to pursue for a long time is coming forth.  It has been a dream for a while, but having small kids and other responsibilities has made me put it on hold.  Thankfully this is the year.  I love adoption.  I love the heart of adoption and I want to bless those who are going through it or been through it.  I can not financially give to all the families who have needs, but I can give back with the gifts God has blessed me with.  If you, or someone you know, plans to adopt, or has adopted in the past year, would you let me bless you or them with a full session and images.  Weather it be for a look book, a homecoming, or a session after your child is in your arms, I want to bless you.I will try my best to accommodate you, and if I can’t there is another organization I can send you to that I have become a part of.  I want to work with referrals as friends and family members have been like me, on the sidelines as cheerleaders and prayer warriors not exactly knowing what to do, but wanting to help in any way they canSO, would you help this dream of mine become a reality?  Already in this past year I have been lucky enough to bless four families, and can’t wait to bless more!  Thanks for considering, I can’t wait to hear your story!