Our Story
I absolutely love this picture of us. It symbolizes a time of struggle for my children and me but it also shows each of us happy. I still feel so blessed to have experienced this sunny June morning back in 2010.
A high school classmate of mine is an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G photographer and offered to give me a few hours on a Saturday morning to create some beautiful memories. The children's father, my ex-husband, had left us the year before and I wanted to have a family photo shoot representing our new life as it was then.
That morning as we got ready I was so nervous. My oldest son was extremely shy and I was convinced he would not smile at all. My younger two were a bit more photogenic but they had never met Sara and I was concerned she and I would have to pull off some major silly faces and bribes to get some genuine smiles.
A few minutes after Sara arrived the kids were looking a little like deer caught in headlights. She showered them with compliments and as the sweat wet the back of my shirt I became a bit panicked.
Please Lord, let them be happy. I want her to capture their wonderful quirky personalities and help me feel like I'm giving them a happy life.
The kids soon warmed up to Sara and began flashing those gorgeous little smiles.
The picture above is a representation of how a big brother protects his little sister by wrapping his arms around her. It shows a mom holding onto her toddler in the way only a mother can and that same little boy giving that mischievous grin he still brings out now at the age of 4.
When Sara sent me the link to our photo shoot I wasn't nearly prepared for what I would see. Sara had chosen the Beatles classic, Obladi Oblada...Life Goes On to accompany our slideshow. I cried like a baby thinking about our past and what my little family had gone through.
I will cherish this photo and the others forever.
God is in the business of changing our lives. A photo is a snapshot of a moment in time to reflect on where we've been and how far we've come!
"Behind the Scenes" is a fun link up where we show those photos - but tell the real story behind them. The sneak peek behind the scenes, a look past the edges of the photo to the real life behind it. - Crystal Stine
Love this, Sarah! 1.) You are gorgeous (and so is your family) and 2.) You are so strong and 3.) I love seeing your faith shine in your eyes. You don't look like a woman defeated, or a woman giving up--you look like a woman LIFTED up. Praise God!
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet Natalie! Thanks for your support and encouragement. I'm grateful God has used my past to redeem our future.
DeleteSarah - love it! God has given you a beautiful and amazing family in these children! You look so happy here, and I'm so thankful for God's peace and protection over you during life's craziness. And boy do I know that mischievous grin... my son has one of his own that I just adore. Love to you today from Crystal's link up :)
ReplyDeleteThank you April! God surely has a plan for all of us and leaning into Him is the best way to live. Yay for mischievous grins!!
DeleteI love this beautiful photo...thank you for sharing. :) You remind me so much of my best friend...seeing God redeem and restore her and her kids has been a blessing...she shines Jesus, even on the hard days. (And I see this in your picture and in your words, too.) Thank you for this peek into your heart today. Many blessings to you! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! It's amazing how God can change our lives when we take one step at a time, one breath at a time, one moment at a time. Blessings to you as well!
DeleteOh, I love this! And I love the song choice - it's so appropriate. My ex-husband left us when our daughter was three and I remember the months afterward as a blur of confusion and pain, but yes indeed, life goes on. I was never alone because God was right there the whole time. Your children are beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBless you my friend! So happy God has given you new life. Thank you for the compliments!
DeleteLove Love Love This! You have been blessed with a beautiful family in these three little ones. I love your older son wraping his arm around his sister. My son and daughter seemed to have fought so much you would think they didn't care for each other at all but at the same time he was her best protector. Love to you today from Crystal's link up :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy! My children do their fair share of fighting but I love having moments like these captured so I can remind them how much they love one another. Be blessed!
DeleteYou are truly blessed. You have a beautiful family and a wonderful faith in a Wonderful God. May you be blessed even more in ways you haven't even imagined. God is good. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Vilisi! God has done amazing things and continues to surprise me.
DeleteBless you friend!