end of an era

About 3 years ago Kyle came home from work with a really nice (expensive) camera. His department had found it in the midst of cleaning out some closets, so he brought it home to experiment with. He had taken several photography classes while in college and it quickly came back to him.

Soon after that, we invested in a much less-expensive version of that camera. Kyle began doing some photo work for various families and kids and before we knew it, he was a full fledged, part-time photographer. Kyle Brogdon Photography was born.

Kyle Brogdon Photography went of out business when we moved this summer. But he still had his equipment. I would not let him let it go. Until this week. I realized we don't really need that much of a camera anymore. I can't pick it up and just start taking pictures - it's much more involved than that. And, with debt to pay and Christmas approaching, the extra money would be nice. So, the camera is now on ebay.

This past weekend I had a mini-breakdown realizing that this camera would soon be gone and we had not taken real pictures of our kids in over a year. So we headed out yesterday to the college to get a few quick shots. Here's some of what Kyle did in about a 20 minute time span. I may be biased, but I think he's the best photographer around.

Pie

This was a real conversation in the back of my van yesterday.

Jacob: "Mom, that sign at Zaxby's says they have caramel pecan pie milkshakes. YUM!"
Noah: "I don't like pecan pie. It tastes like pecans."
Jacob: "I don't think pecan pie tastes like pecans. They just add the right amount of crunch to it."
Noah: "I don't like crunchy. I like soft and creamy pie."
Jacob: "Well, then, you should try the coconut cream pie at Golden Corral. It's sooo good."
Noah: "oooh. Is it soft and creamy?"
Jacob: "Well, I wouldn't call it soft - soft, but it is definitely soft."
Noah: "I like soft. Like Mimi's chocolate pie - that sends my taste buds through the roof!!!"

I can't tell you the joy I experienced from listening to my 7 & 8 year olds critique pie. They are definitely my children.

Risky Business

Yesterday the kids and I ventured out to Kroger. I don't know why I try anymore. I should know by now that trying to buy a cart load of groceries + focusing on sales, coupons, and mega event totals + 4 bored children = disaster.

I can't complain. I have very well-behaved, polite, obedient children 98% of the time. It's just that you never know when that other 2% will happen. So going out in public is a bit risky. And yesterday met their monthly - dare I say even yearly - quota for that 2%. I didn't even see it coming.

I had everything organized. Coupons in place, detailed list made. So I thought it would be a quick in-and-out of the store. I didn't factor into the equation that school had just gotten out and every mom in the county would be in Kroger with their own children picking up something for dinner that night. (or maybe I'm the only one that has to make an emergency run to the store for dinner ingredients????) I also didn't factor into the equation that a few of the things on my list to make the Kroger Mega Event even doable would be gone causing me to have to actually think and add/subtract on the go. Which is normally quite easy for me but between "Stop karate chopping the UGA signs!" and "Where'd Ellie go?" I was not at my finest math moment.

About halfway through our journey I realized that I needed to regain some control. We were getting evil eyes from people just trying to maneuver through the maze of children running down the aisle. Ellie was playing "how far can I run away from mom before she completely loses it?" and Jacob was on a mission to rid the store of every UGA logo he could find. Lucas had Noah in a headlock while Noah danced around trying to get himself free.  I turned around and screamed gently beckoned them to come to me. I laid down the law and they all nodded their heads like the sweet little angels they are.

Then I turned my back on them. And it was chaos once again.

By the time we got to the check out I was D-O-N-E. I sent them out of the register aisle to wait for me. There happened to be 3 carts of Halloween clearance that I didn't see as well as a pallet of dog food stacked high. It was about the time the bag boy started questioning how I could shop with "all those kids" that I heard a cashier call out "Honey, please get down off of there before you fall."

I didn't want to look, but knew I must. Lucas and Ellie were standing on top of the dog food stacked high. Jacob and Noah were fighting with "lightsabers" (which were really ax-like weapons from the halloween clearance).

I finished paying and got out of there as fast as we could.

I'm not sure but I think I heard loud cheers go up as we walked out the door.

Yes. There were consequences when we got home. It involved rakes, a big yard full of pinestraw and leaves, and a very quiet evening for me after children went to bed very early.

I've learned my lesson. I can definitely say that I will not be taking all my kids into a store again. Until next time at least.

Adoption

On June 29,1975 a baby girl was born. That day was filled with two sets of tears. One of sorrow from a mother's heart torn by the decision to give her daughter a better life. Another from a mother's heart that had longed for a child for many years and would now receive that gift.


Thirty years later, June 24, 2005, another baby girl was born. Again two sets of tears flowed - one from sorrow and one from joy. 


I was the daughter who was adopted in 1975. I grew up knowing the meaning of adoption. I heard the stories of how my parents prayed for a baby and I was the answer to their prayers.  Years later, I had the opportunity to meet the woman who chose to give me life instead of ending mine to convenience hers. I will forever be grateful. 


I was also the mother crying tears of joy in 2005 as I received a call that our daughter had been born. After having 3 biological sons, we knew God was leading us to adopt our next child. We started the long process and wait. God brought our precious Eliana home 3 months after she was born. 


We have spent the last five years in awe of the miracle of adoption. Ellie is as much our child as our boys are. God has bonded our hearts together as a family in ways I cannot express. 


Ellie knows where she was born. She has heard the stories of how her parents prayed for a baby and she was the answer to our prayers. Even though she may never get the chance to meet the woman who gave her life, we do have pictures and a message that her birth mother gave her. I'm sure that as she gets older, she will treasure these things.

James 1:27 says "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress..."


Though we may not all be called to physically adopt a child, it is clear that we are to have a heart for orphans. 


How can you help? Pray. Pray for the thousands of children across the world who have no family. Pray for the women who are today struggling with the decision of whether or not to give life to their child. Pray for the families who are desperately trying to find funding to grow their family through adoption. 


Give. Adoption is costly. Our own family is still paying off debts occurred from adoption fees. Legal fees, country fees, agency fees, travel fees - adoptive families often times are left struggling to pay these. Show Hope is one of the many amazing organizations set up to help families fund their adoption.


I am blessed to have experienced adoption from two different angles. This precious face reminds me everyday of what a gift adoption is. It is a thread that runs deep through our family and I am forever changed.