Through Her Eyes

Sveta wasn't quite sure what to think of our weird American Halloween.....until she realized people were loading CANDY into her little bucket. Especially cute was the way she would yell "TWIK OAR TWEAT!!!" I think she got even MORE candy because of that!

                                         Out of all the costumes, she chose Buzz Lightyear!!

Saying "To infinity and beyond!" (okay TRYING to say it anyway...)

We knock on doors and people give us candy???

Watching our children last night, filled with pure joy and excitement shining on their faces, caused me to pause - to let it soak in how much our God loves US. My heart is overflowing with thanks and awe of how He works for good, how He brings children into our lives, and at the miracle of adoption. So, so thankful for each and every one of my children.

All four of them....three walking here on earth with us, one dancing in Heaven.

October was a full month and full of firsts for Sveta. It has brought our family so much joy to experience things through Sveta's eyes.

Headed to Preschool

Autumn is here and we have so much to be thankful for...welcome November...

A Hallmark Event

It's been nearly seven years since we had professional photos done as a family. Recently extended family arranged large group pictures but for our family of five it was a very difficult experience.

It's hard to explain but after one of your children is no longer walking on earth with you, family photos bring a certain level of sadness. We had no input in the arranged extended family pictures of setting, photographer, clothing or how we could remember Emma in them. That brought much sadness to the pictures for all of us...it was as if no one understood how special family photos were to us.

Prior to knowing about the extended family pictures I had been mulling over family pictures in my mind. A thought came to my head how to celebrate the new chapter in our lives - life with Sveta.

This past weekend, we celebrated a milestone. In a way we were able to celebrate life with our children here on earth and remember Emma in Heaven.

Family pictures.

It had to be extraordiary...amazing...and it was.

My friend Haylee is just starting to do photography, Heavenly Butterfly photography, (she is also on FB!) If you are in the East Tennessee area check her out! So, a while back I had this crazy idea to have our family pictures done at the Two Rivers Mansion in Nashville. This is where The Band Perry shot their video for the song "If I Die Young".  Haylee lives in Tennessee and I had been saying for months she needed to travel here to snap our family, little did I know my husband would set up the whole thing with Haylee and give me a week 1/2 notice!

These are just a few of the photos Haylee did. I love them all. Emma's presence is in each of them. There are little things here and there that are very subtle.

Haylee knew how special and significant these photos would be to us for she too has children in Heaven.

This piano is the one in the "If I Die Young Video" by The Band Perry ....the kids were cracking up when Haylee told them to crawl under it to take a picture.

Thank you Haylee! Can't wait to see the rest of them. Thank you for being such an important part of this hallmark point in our lives, and for always, always being supportive, and always my funny friend with the same crazy accent and warped personality as myself. I love you!

Motherhood....it's the legacy we leave behind.