These families are all so special…they deserve their OWN blog post. Plus, this is a long one. Grab your popcorn and hanky.
When we first started this venture a flurry of emails went out to area agencies and organizations to help find adoptive families to participate. One of the first responses we got back was from this family, and included a short version of their amazing journey through adoption. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I read their email, and I picked up the phone to call Mandy (who is organizing and spearheading this project) and I had to take a minute to compose myself so I could talk.
You see, I knew this young lady. Seven years ago when I was a social worker at Gladney I was the caseworker for her ‘first mommy’. She was an immigrant, and had terminal breast cancer at the tragic age of 27. She was a single mom, and was very conscious of the fact that she would soon leave her three-year-old daughter in the hands of relatives scattered across the country, never sure of who would be her final guardian. Determined to locate a forever family for her daughter, she came to Gladney and we began working with her to find that special family.
A few weeks after she had met the adoptive parents and given her approval, she boarded a plane to be with her relatives when she passed. I tucked her into the plane that day, oxygen bottle at her side and her beautiful bare head void of hair from her chemo. A week or so later I was married, and a week after that we spoke on the phone. Her health was failing, she had heard good things about her daughter from the adoptive family, and she felt at peace with her decision. She said “You will have a good life. You will have a child in the next two years, and it will be a girl. I will always watch over her for you.”
Two years and four days after our wedding date, our daughter was born. I know that she has a very special angel watching over her.
This angel has another special little girl to watch over. When this now nine-year-old child (nay, young woman) stepped out of the car today, tears pricked my eyes and I was almost speechless. She reminded me instantly of her First Mommy. And her love, spirit, and good nature shines through as a testament to the love of her family and her angel watching over her in Heaven.
She is an amazing young woman. She sang for us tonight, a song that she wrote with her best friend, and I was again reduced to tears and doing my best to not blubber all over this poor family (who would surely think I was a basket case).
To add to this story, she brought her older brother and his two children to the session. See sweet Jacob in his Daddy’s arms? Adopted.
What a wonderful family adoption has weaved.
14 Comments
These are stunning Jen!
Oh gosh you almost have me in tears too. What a beautiful girl and a happy ending for her. Lovely work Jen!
OH MY Gosh, she IS beautiful, their family is beautiful and this story, quite simply, brought tears to my eyes. LOVE this project.
What can I say to that but TEARS! That is the sweetest story I’ve heard in so long, and it’s such a wonderful testimony to the love we can have for others and the gifts we can give (and thus receive). SIGH – just beautiful!
You have me in tears, and CHILLS!!! WOW!!!
You got me, I have a tear (or two). Very nice Jenn. Thanks for your project.
Goosebumps.
What an amazing story! Great work!
And they always say there are no coincidences…. such a magical story. Thank you for sharing. I can’t wait to see the new addition to your family!
Jen,
All of your pictures take my breath away, but this story got to me in a big way. I had heard it from you personally, but, seeing this gorgeous young woman, I too am struggling — and failing — to stop blubbering over my computer.
These adoption Sundays are very precious indeed.
Love,
Karen
I just love the catchlight in her eyes. Just lovely . . .
Weeping. Just a blubbering mess. And the photos are just, as always, gorgeous.
Wow, what an amazing story. Tears, dripping, down. Thanks for sharing!
I just stumbled upon your blog and you are making me cry! Stuff like this is what draws me to photography. Amazing work and heart.