365 People Photos: No. 51--20/20 Hindsight

Our family went on a trail ride at the base of the Rockies in western Denver after visiting the kids' grandparents. I rode a 30-year-old steed named Czar that was gentle enough to allow me to take photos as I rode, last in the 11-equine line.

Self-love is the very devil himself in us.

It is the prince of the devils in us.

It is the deepest root

And the ultimate bottom

Of all our sin and all our iniquity.

Thomas Shepherd

O Lord, keep me from self-love! Slay it, please! And fill the chasm that results with Christ.

365 People Photos--No.50: Twins Born 5,103 Miles Apart

Of our 12 children, these two get the most comments that they look alike. Often people even ask if they're twins. These questions and remarks tickle our family because Lissie (left) and Jaynie (right) may be close in age (16 months apart) and height, but that's where the similarities end. After all, the girls were born on different continents to different parents. Perhaps the assertions that the girls must be twins is especially funny to us since Lissie does have a twin--John. People rarely ask Lissie and John the same query she and Russian-born Jaynie get.

It was God's doing that these two look like sisters even though they share no genetic heritage. The wonder of adoption continues to amaze our family each time someone addresses Lissie or Jaynie with the familiar words, "Boy, you and your sister sure do look a lot alike!" When the question inevitably comes when the two girls are together, the rest of us just turn away and exchange knowing smiles. God certainly knew what He was doing when He placed Jaynie in our family!