It has been my privilage to photograph Mike and Heathers family throughout the years.  I have had the opportunity of watching their family grow.  Through the process she has become a dear friend.  I asked her to share a little about her adoption story as I believe it is a truly remarkable one.  Adoption may not be for everyone, however, for this family it has been an amazing journey and a blessing beyond what words can explain.
Their story.... 
When Mike & I had been dating for a while and talk of marriage came 
up I always said “I can’t marry you, I want to have little black babies,
 and there is no way you can give me them!”  Little did we know that 
years later we would be faced with unforeseen medical issue, that would 
bring the option of adoption into our lives. After perfect, but high 
risk and premature pregnancies, the doctors told us at this point it was
 either my life or another baby.  So, we decided not to have any more children.  After all we had been blessed with three little men that brought so much joy to our lives! 
 Why would we ever need more? When our littlest was about 3 weeks old 
(with maybe a little postpartum on board) I broke down, cried and cried,
 because I felt so our family was not complete, however, because of my tubal 
ligation I would not be able to bare any more children of my own.  I’m not sure at what 
point the idea of adoption popped into my head, but once it did I 
quickly became obsessed with the idea.  For months I researched all 
things adoption, I researched on positives and negatives of biracial 
families.  After a couple of months I brought the idea up to my husband 
he quickly shut it down.  Well that does not work with me, because once 
my mind is set on something, it IS going to happen!  So we finally 
started the process and paperwork.  We turned in our paperwork and 
completed the process in February of 2010.  April 9th I got a call at 
8:15 AM our social worker said “I have a little girl who was born this 
morning; her mother wants us to choose a family, we choose YOURS"!!!  I cleaned 
and packed like crazy, Mike was sleeping because he had worked the night
 before. As soon as he even slightly opened an eye, I jumped in his face
 and said “We are getting our little girl TODAY"!!!  The moment we 
walked into the nursery and they pointed us to our little MaCee we 
instantly knew she was ours. It’s amazing how although not grown inside 
of you, your heart immediately knows they are meant to be with you.  
Once again sure she was the piece that would complete our puzzle we told everyone that she was it; we just had needed a little girl to 
finish us off.  Well sure enough little Miss MaCee started coming up on 
18 months and I started having that feeling again.  This time took a 
little more begging and pleading and finally the hubby gave in to one 
more time.  In the beginning we wanted MaCee to have a little sister, 
but it never felt right to me. The first few months I just felt so 
unsettled about the situation, but unsure of what it was I just kept 
praying that whatever was meant to be would happen.  In December of 2011
 I told my husband maybe we are supposed to have a boy, maybe that is 
why I feel so unsettled so we opened our preference up to boy or girl.  
January 1st I saw a situation for a little boy who would be born in Utah
 on January 10th, now first I would like to say I had called on probably
 about 50 situations like this and nothing had ever come of them. Second,
 we had decided we would wait until after June to continue trying 
to adopt, because we had a cruise planned.  Feeling a little 
different about this one I said to my husband please can I call on this,
 and then if it isn’t the one I promise we will wait until after June.  I
 called the agency and she said I’m so sorry we are just about to send 
profiles to the Birth Mother, but if you send us a profile we will send 
it with the next group.  I sent it thinking this was our last shot.  The
 next afternoon we got a call from the lady saying “I was bad, I 
shouldn’t have shown your profile, but for some reason I just felt like I
 should, SHE PICKED YOU"!!!  We were thrilled; we started preparing for
 a baby again.  We have been truly blessed by two amazing selfless 
women, and love our little Chocolate Mochas!  For anyone who is 
interested or even just starting to think about adopting, it is one of 
the most amazing things I have ever experienced.  It has 
brought so many amazing people into our lives!  People will always walk up to us and say you're amazing, those children 
are so blessed. However, Mike and I know we are the blessed ones, they have
 changed our lives for the better.  I wish that everyone 
could adopt!  
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
Army Chaplain
My friend Daniel is applying for a position as an Army Chaplain in the reserves.  Part of the application process is to provide a professional photograph.  There are VERY specific photographic instructions including the words, "This picture is the MOST important part of your application packet".  NO PRESSURE at all.  Thanks Daniel for putting your faith in my abilities.....I think!!!!  ;) 
  
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