365 People Photos: Number 128 -- A Horse and His Girl

Kirsten and Magic are off to a great start. Today she rode him for the first time since we bought him. God is so very kind!

365 People Photos ~ Number 112: I Heart These Sisters

Our two oldest Russian daughters through adoption, Sarah (almost 21) and Zhenya (22).
I thank God for them daily.

365 People Photos: Number 111 ~ My Daddy Loves Me

In my last post in this series, I commented that sometimes a picture taken from behind can tell a powerful story. For this adoptive mama, this is one such photo.

The bond between our daughter, Zhenya, and her daddy is plain to see in the loving grasp of their hands. I can only imagine that for a girl who had no father figure until God placed her in a family through adoption, the security in having a dad who treasures you must be deliciously reassuring. Being loved by your father must communicate to a former orphan that your life has value, despite all the subtle messages to the contrary up which you've received.

In reality, as touching as this photo is with its tale of a father-daughter relationship, this picture represents something far more significant than earthly adoption. For those of us who have trusted in Jesus Christ's death on the cross as the payment for our sins, we have been eternally adopted by God. And with that familial relationship, our Heavenly Father tells us that He will uphold us with His righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10). What a promise! I don't know about you, but I need the loving grip of the hand my Abba-Father for each step of this adventure called life!

(If you would like to know more about Zhenya's growth into womanhood and her upcoming marriage, please visit our family blog: Unto Him We Live.)

365 People Photos: Number 110 ~ A Girl's Best Friend

God has made our Kirsten (age 20) such an animal lover that recently she lugged our long, lanky mutt, Bella, out on the deck to view a particularly beautiful sunset.

365 People Photos: Number 106 ~ Daddy Love

Last night we had a long wait at our local airport waiting for our daughter, Sarah, to return from Zambia. (For more on this, see our family blog Unto Him We Live) During that time 12-year-old Hope, our eleventh child, talked and talked with her daddy, sharing her heart with him. During a break in their conversation, I couldn't resist urging them to pose in front of the airport's flag. Hope is a curious child, and her daddy is willing to field question after question as she wraps her mind around her ever-expanding world as she prepares to enter her teens later this month. I'm so thankful to God that my man is such a great father!

365 People Pictures: No. 80 ~ My Beloved Anna

This morning I had the rare opportunity to go out for coffee with my oldest daughter, who is now a dear friend. While we were out, we stopped in at a nearby garden that used to be a large estate in Cincinnati but was willed to the city in the early 1990s to be used as a park. This gave me the chance to take an updated photo of Anna Mackenzie. It seems as though it was only yesterday that I was taking her senior pictures.

I thank God for the sweet, trusting relationship we share. Anna is ~ and has always been ~ a blessing in my life.

Our Second April Birthday

Today our youngest daughter turned ten!

Eliana waited eagerly all day to find out what were in the gifts piled on the heart. 

She ripped...

...and tore...

...and dug to find her treasures.

At last, it was time to find out what the giant bag from mom and dad held.

To get the treasure out of this tall bag, Eliana had to dig and dig and dig.

Eventually, Eliana pulled out two dolls.

The new ten year old radiated happiness.

The hearts of the whole family were joy filled as we watched this thin waif of a former orphan relish the sense of truly belonging. Although she was adopted 3 years ago, Eliana continues to bubble with happiness when she is made the center of affection for a birthday celebration. 

Happy Birthday to our last little one! You richly bless each of us..

We thank God that He placed you in our family through adoption!

365 People Photos: No. 73 ~ An Orphan's Dream Come True

When we adopted Kirsten three years ago, she communicated through our translator while we were still in her homeland of Russia that she yearned to have horses be part of her new life. We didn't immediately know how to make that happen, but we certainly knew out hearts longed to make her dream come true.

After we got home we started asking around and learned of a wonderful trainer. Kirsten began taking periodic riding lessons before she could even speak English.

Today I was blessed to have the opportunity to take some of Kirsten's senior pictures with the horse she rides for her lessons. Although this photo doesn't have the usual qualities of a senior picture, it is one of my favorites from today's shoot. Kirsten is a deep thinker and a courageous young woman. For this mama, this photo captures my beloved daughter's willingness to dream big dreams.

365 People Photos: No. 71: The Blues

This time...just the eyes.

 

Brielle was rolling around in her bedding as Oksana, our nine-year-old daughter, played with our favorite toddler in her bedroom. The blanket casting the yellow glow is her favorite. The birth-grandmother of Brielle's mama, Anna, made the blanket for Brielle. Adoption is creating the most beautiful legacy in our family! Thank you, Sharon, for your love for Brielle!