I just love when we get a new family photo done! We’ve never had a professional photo done of us or of either of the boys (Otto had a school picture done last year but that’s it!). It’s always just been one that someone took of us on an occasion when we were all dressed up or we set it up ourselves on the tripod and had someone just press the button! Nonetheless, whenever we’ve had some fresh photo done of us, it is like a very precious gift to me! I want to look at it all the time! It reminds me of how I felt on Christmas morning as a kid or when I received my wedding ring from Aaron on our wedding day or when we decided I would stay with Otto in Guatemala or when Owen was born. All of those moments were so exciting and rewarding and the excitement lasted long past just one morning as with “Christmas morning.” They were constant reminders when I would wake up, “Oh yeh, we’re married!” or “Oh yeh, we have a son!” or “Oh yeh, we have a baby!”
It may seem like hardly a comparison to just have a photo and speak of it alongside some of the most memorable moments of my life. But it’s not just the “picture” in and of itself. It’s what the picture represents...my family. All the moments we’ve shared...the highs and lows; the journey to each child; Aaron and my interesting/unique story of meeting (LOL), falling in love and marrying; our special “traditions”; us all cozying up in our pj’s at bedtime; all of the millions of moments, big and small that I wouldn’t trade for ANYTHING! The “picture” is the dearest representation to me of sweet joy and blessings. When I see a picture of us all, I just sigh and think, “I have so much!” I am reminded in this moment of how God our Father must look at us, his family, his children, with such sweet joy remembering all the millions of moments, big and small, good and bad, that He has shared with us...whether we acknowledged He was there or not.
As a child, my family looked like this. I have this photo hanging on my refrigerator. I love this picture! It represents so much to me...security, unity, love! I know what event we were at, that my mom made most if not all of our outfits we were wearing, I can picture what the ride home was probably like (our natural family banter, teasing and loving, maybe a little bit of my brother and I complaining about one another!). I am so thankful that I had a mom and a dad together in the same house who loved me! My heart just breaks for people who never knew this either as a child or even as a parent, to have your family together, whether by death or divorce.
We have a family who comes to our church who is fighting to make it. The husband is entangled in a mess of which I am not sure the details but it sounds like either alcohol or an affair. They have 2 boys, one is about 14 or 15 yrs old and the other is about 11 yrs old. It varies week to week whether Juan will come to church with his family or if Micki comes by herself with the boys. They always ask for prayer and I am so touched, my eyes watery every time they walk through the doors or ask for prayer or the many times we as a church body have laid hands on them in prayer. One time Juan even specifically asked for prayer saying he keeps knocking on the doors of hell. One time Micki came, after Juan had obviously left, and asked for wisdom in raising her boys alone. They are truly struggling to fight to stay together. It’s hard for him to say no to whatever it is that’s drawing him away, and to come home, and it’s hard for her to trust and forgive. It breaks my heart. Please pray for this family, Micki and Juan and their 2 boys.
I am so completely fulfilled caring for and loving my family, and I thank God for the sweet blessing He’s given me in Aaron, Otto, and Owen!
