365 People Photos: No. 62: A Rosebud

Granddaughter Evelyn Rose at 3-1/2 months

I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams!

365 People Photos: Nos. 59-61--All in a School Day

Many of you may have guessed that we educate our children at home. This time when I pulled out the camera, I tried to take pictures of our "typical" school day. These three photos only do a so-so job of representing what school looks like in our home. I didn't catch much action. I'm posting the pictures any way because they will always remind me of our routine.

In the first picture our eleventh child, Amy, is listening while one of her siblings is reading the Bible. Each morning we read a Psalm, followed by the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds with the day of the month (Today, February 12, we read Proverbs 12.)

In the second photo, Amy is being taught multiplication by her dad.

Finally, I caught Daria just as she stood up from the lunch table. We eat both breakfast and lunch as a family, and the fellowship is a highlight of the day. We have to eat at our dining room table because nine of our twelve children are still being homeschooled, and that is far too big of a group to fit around the kitchen table!

We began educating our children at home when we moved to England in the fall of 1997 when our oldest daughter, Anna, was a first grader, and our twins, John and Lissie, were in kindergarten. At that point we only had the three kiddos. We did much of their schooling cuddling on my bed. Now if all my students climbed on the four-poster with me, we'd fall through the floor! This year we have three in high school, two middle schoolers, and the youngest two are in elementary school. All nine were adopted from Russia between the ages of three and almost 16. None of them spoke a word of English when they joined the family. God is so good; all of them are dedicated learners. With the exception of the youngest, our adoptees have caught up with their peers after starting their schooling in orphanages! And nine-year-old Eliana is progressing at a happy pace. Isn't our Lord amazing?

365 People Photos: No. 58--Kindred Spirits

On the rocky path that is life there is that rare person who brightens your world from the first moment. You somehow just click. For our daughter, Jaynie (on the left), Rachel is one of those special gifts from God, a precious kindred spirit. The girls live several states apart so they were overjoyed last summer to be able to spend a day together at the wedding of Rachel's brother.

There is an unusual bond between the girls. We adopted Jaynie from Russia at age eight, while Rachel's family has adopted three preschoolers from that country in the past couple of years.

365 People Photos: No. 57--A Redhead's Coloring

This is our second granddaughter. With just two grandchildren, we're already relearning the lesson every parent of more than two kiddos knows; they're each unique. Our Creator has fashioned Evelyn Rose to be wonderfully, marvelously unique!

As a still fairly-unpracticed baby photographer, I do have to confess that my skills are being stretched by Evelyn's coloring. She doesn't have much hair yet, but the little bit she has is definitely reddish. And with that red hair has come red eyebrows and fair eye lashes. All this is set in skin so fair that at times, this sweet baby seems almost see-though.

As a photographer I've been challenged because the same lighting that worked for close-ups of her sister overwhelm this little princess. She washes out. To this grandmother, that is a no-no because this little peach is full of personality. While her fair features may cause a photo fade, her bright smile won't let her recede in a room. Her ready laugh is a constant reminder that she is a remarkably happy baby.

My hope is that this photo captures the wonder God placed in the coloring of this delicate redhead. I have much to learn about how to best play up this little one's features, which leaves me praying I will get to see her often as she grows.

365 People Photos: Day 56--Chubby Hands

Our daughter, Anna, recently pointed out how she loves Brielle's chubby little hands. Her comment has made me more aware of what it means to be a toddler. Now I, too, am relishing this feature that says, "I'm young...and new at life. I often struggle to get my hands to be able to do what I have seen grown-ups do." This thought leaves me with a good reason to have compassion for my granddaughter if she gets frustrated trying to master her surroundings. May I give her grace as I hold her chubby hand, just as God has given me grace as He has held my hand.

365 People Photos: Day 55--Georgetown with Grandpa

Last fall our kiddos had the opportunity to stroll the streets of the picturesque hamlet called Georgetown in the Colorado Rockies with their grandpa. My dad will be 82 in a few weeks. I thank God for the blessing he has been in my life and the lives of my children! This photo is one of those magical pictures that I will treasure for the rest of my life. My dad and my children...happy sigh...smile. I thank God when a people picture comes together like this. He breaths His grace into a moment that is already special because family is together. I just happen to be in the right place with a camera. A picture like this is nearly effortless...and yet somehow...timeless. I'm reminded to cease striving and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).

365 People Pictures: Day 54--We Do Donuts!

When we traveled to New England last summer, I was surprised to find a Dunkin' Donuts on nearly every corner. After all, I love a good sour cream glazed doughnut! On that trip I also came to enjoy Boston Cream donuts, thanks to an introduction by our daughter Lissie's soon-to-be father-in-law.

However, this photo wasn't taken in Massachusetts. In November we drove to Denver to celebrate my mom's 81st birthday. About seven hours into the 11-hour drive we stopped in North Platte, Nebraska. To our surprise we came upon a Dunkin' Donuts there. We boosted their profits on their very first day of business by purchasing a dozen for our mini army, and then the kids were kind enough to pose for a photo.

(My husband and I have the rare blessing of parenting twelve children. Our three oldest children weren't able to travel with us on this trip. The kiddos pictured here are the nine Russians we adopted as older children--ages 3 to almost 16 at adoption--over the past 12 years.)