Celebrating Adoption

So there is this group I joined...called Celebrating Adoption. The basic idea is that anyone who has adopted in the last year (from anywhere, a child of any age, etc.) can contact any of the photographers on the website (www.celebratingadoption.org) for a free portrait session for them and their family, plus they will receive 20 free 4x6 proofs.

For me, this is not only a chance to randomly give back, but a chance to advocate for something I believe in. I have always wanted to adopt, and have known in my heart that I will. Three and a half years ago I met this amazing person, Kristopher, who I will be married to in exactly 37 days. He was adopted at age 11, after both of his birth parents passed away. I know the hurt he carries from this experience, but I have also seen how blessed he has been by the family who adopted him. He became the youngest of three kids, and was blessed to be raised by such a wonderful, Christian family, who I will soon be "adopted" into myself.

We have just been given a big choice of our own...a family member of Kris' is raising her grandson, and is dealing with some pretty major medical issues. A little under two weeks ago we were asked to take on the responsibility of Godparents...that is, to agree to take this woman's grandson if anything is to happen to her. We are both pretty young, I am still in school, and at first we were shocked almost beyond words (side note: me being speechless does not happen often. at all.) Last night we made a decision that will change our lives forever, I'm willing to bet in ways we can't even fathom. We are now Godparents (that's all I can think of to describe this duty...) to a bright and rambunctious 6 year old boy. Heaven help us.

So, that is why, in a rather large nutshell, that this form of serving others and giving back has become so important to me. When I signed up for Celebrating Adoption, we had not yet been asked to take on this responsibility, and never would have fathomed it.