Picking a local family who deserves free family portraits was such a difficult task. I wish I could have picked all of them, but I finally narrowed it down to one amazing family. All week long I read and re-read the entires submitted by all of you and paced and wracked my brain and my heart. I truly was so hard to pick the winning family, but I chose the family that kept entering my mind. The family I couldn't stop thinking about. I really do wish I could pick all of them...it was such a tough choice.
In order to maintain the privacy of the family, I will not tell you their name or show you their photo, but I will share their story as it was written by Denise G! Yay Denise! I will send you a certificate for their free portraits and let you present it to them.
Each time I read their story I am brought to tears and goosebumps. I am humbled and find that my mind wanders to them when I think that I can't do this or that because I have 3 kids...just wait until you read about these amazing generous people. I know that this is the right family to receive these portraits and preserve the story of their love for generations. Thank you Denise! Thank you Thank you Thank you!
As told by Denise ( I am putting "*****" in place of their names...Denise wasn't using foul language Ha) :
"
I know of an incredible family
that is just the type you described -- and, very deserving of a free
portrait session by a very talented photographer -- you!
They
are the ****** family . They have four children
still living at home, but are parents to a total of seven (three are
adults who have left and started their own families...). ***** are the most loving, devoted, sacrificial people I know. They
never stop to think about themselves when giving of their time or
resources, they just jump in whenever there is a need. They are godly
people whose faith is not just communicated through their words, but
also through their actions.
Just
over a decade ago, they adopted a young man from China, named #####. ##### was born with spina bifida and was a child who was considered
difficult to place with regard to finding a family willing to adopt an
"older", disabled child. Another Texas family was planning to adopt ####, though just before the adoption trip was to take place, the
prospective adoptive father became ill and the family decided that the
timing wasn't right for this special needs child to join their family. *****, friends of the prospective adoptive couple, heard of
this boy's need for a family and immediately began a plan of attack to
ready themselves to become adoptive parents. Mountains of paperwork
that take most families months and sometimes years to complete were
completed in an amazingly short period of time. With three young
children at home, the **** knew their home would be bursting at the
seams and they weren't quite sure how their financial resources would
stretch to accommodate this new family member, but they moved forward,
knowing that God would provide and would meet their families needs.
#### joined the family and made an wonderful adjustment to his new life and
family in the U.S. The road since has been one full of emotional and
medical challenges as his parents have been by his side through
countless surgeries and treatments, all requiring them to travel five
hours away to receive specialized treatment by doctors and surgeons in
Dallas. Most adoptive parents request a healthy child -- the *****'s loved the child God gave to them and didn't ask anything more.
Not
long after ####'s adoption, the *****s heard about a tiny, very
premature baby weighing only one pound who was in a San Antonio NICU
awaiting adoption. This little girl's prognosis was dismal at best. IF
she survived, she would likely be deaf, blind, have cerebral palsy, or
suffer numerous other debilitating health problems that would prevent
her from enjoying a "normal" life. Adoptive parents could not be found
for this child through the normal searches. Prospective adoptive
parents were unwilling to accept the odds of adopting a child whose
medical future was unknown. Doctors were frank about the baby's health
and prognosis for the future. After praying for this baby girl for
weeks while her life hung in the balance, the *******s stepped forward
and expressed their desire to adopt her into their family -- no matter
what her future might hold. They wanted her to have a mommy and a
daddy, even if her life was brief. They knew that this child's life
was sacred and meaningful. The *****s once again traversed the rocky
road to adoption by undergoing home studies and investigations,
providing endless documentation about their family's most intimate
details, and they then began visiting daily this sweet baby girl who
would later be named %%%%%%%. Feedings, special
medical treatments, and endless hours spent learning how to meet her
needs followed over the next few months. As %%%%%% grew over the
next six years, her development could only be called a miracle. This
little girls is 100% healthy in every aspect. She has perfect vision
and hearing, she runs, laughs, and plays and has no health issues
whatsoever. Doctors have no explanation for her miraculous
development. %%%%%% is developmentally on-target and is adored by all
who know her. This family loved her no matter what. Now she loves
them and her future is bright, her potential incredible.
Unfortunately,
the *****s' unconditional love for the children God has brought into
their lives has not made their lives easier, though it has been joyous,
nonetheless. As I write, (dad) has been out of work for many months and
the family is facing uncertainty as they await God's answer to their
fervent prayer for secure employment. In the midst of these trials,
they are models of strength, integrity, and true faith.
They
are a precious, godly family and are most deserving of a portrait
session and will chronicle their love -- a love that is not bound by
blood, but by true, unconditional love and acceptance."
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