If you follow my work you may have seen this little darling’s baby brother’s birth story a few months ago. Well, now it’s her turn for her birth story of sorts. I was asked along to document the day she forever became a Hollifield. The day she was adopted out of the foster care system and legally born into this family. A birth story as important as any I’ve ever told.

The hustle and bustle, coupled with anxiety and excitement filled their home that morning. While at times frantic, I was blown away at the well oiled machine that was their household. Each person had a job to do, and lent helping hands where needed. To me this is a testament to the quality parenting Stephanie and AJ are providing these precious kiddos.

You see, they don’t just talk about doing things to make the world a better place. They don’t just talk about making other people’s lives better. They actually live out loud, loving each other like Christ asks. They live it. They live His love daily in the way they love each other, and they live it by being shining examples of giving these adopted babes a life far better than the one they were born into.

Haley, you were blissfully unaware of the anxiety, worry, and fears that enveloped your mom and dad leading up to this moment. And rightfully so. You played with the microphone, and bounced on your daddy’s knee. One day, soon, you will understand the love that surrounds you, not just by your family, but by all who are blessed to know your story!

Completely not intentional that I have two back to back, multi-racial birth/adoption related stories to share. But brace yourselves for big brother by 9 months to steal the show when he smother’s his new brother in kisses.

Brianne and Marc had a rough road to conceiving, they had tried for quite some time, but always knew adoption was part of their bigger plan, regardless of conceiving biologically. Baby Zeke came into their lives, and took the world’s heart by storm. His big brown eyes, and a smile that lights up a room… not to mention the hugs he gave as he got older. 

I’m not sure if Brianne remembers this or not, but shortly after they adopted Zeke, they were at my house shooting his now famous Milk Bath session. Disappointedly, Brianne said she felt crampy, and was frustrated at the thought of her impending upcoming cycle. And I very stupidly (as I never would want to cause emotional pain on the subject) said, “Maybe it’s implantation cramps!”. Well little did either of us know, but she was in fact pregnant. Sweet baby Spurgeon was crashing his big bro’s Milk Bath session!

I’ve never met two people more on fire for the Lord than these two. I mean they live it, they don’t just talk the talk. I can’t imagine two greater parents, for these two precious boys. The Lord knew what he was doing when He knit these lives together. Their family, their testimony will live out for years to come… as they show the world what God’s love looks like. 

I’ve been able to photograph each one of the sweet kiddos in the Hawk family… and nothing could’ve made me happier than being asked to come along to photograph them bringing their daughter home from China. It was a LONG road to get to this point. Adoption is not for the faint of heart. It’s grueling, it’s exhausting, it will make you pull strength from parts of your body you didn’t know you could. It’s messy. BUT adoption is beautiful, it’s rewarding, it’s love in the unconditional form, it’s parenthood.
I could barely hold it together as we all waited in anticipation. Will and Karan Anne’s phones were turned off, their was no way of knowing how close they were to coming up the arrivals escalator. My hands were sweating, my chest was flushed… and then there they were.

A crowd of their closest friends, their biggest cheerleaders were there to greet this little girl SO many had prayed for, for SO long. She was finally here!

The brother’s expressions are just too much. They were just as excited to see their sister, as they were to have mom and dad home!

Any of you who frequent my blog may get tired of me saying this, but it’s the truth. It’s never lost on me these moments I get asked to document. What a blessing and an honor to share witness to God’s work and His miracles of life.