The Story of an adopted family / OWensboro Ky Family Photographer

I am a storyteller, it's my favorite thing to do. I take people's pictures and tell their stories through documenting. The absolutely goal for me is that my audience can get a sense of who my client is only be seeing their images and also that my client can forever hold onto who they were during this chapter of their life. Taking my client's photos is a whole big deal to me!

After learning and knowing the Stracener's story I knew I had to blog about their family.

One usual day at the ball field, I was taking shelter with my newborn from the rain. The sweetest momma with her toddler was also taking shelter and glanced over at my new baby. The little girl said "Momma look a baby." Momma, said "Oh my goodness, isn't he the sweetest. How old?" So we chatted for a minute about him and that was that. But little did I know, that really wasn't that. I could literally feel her gushing over my baby, I could feel her enormous heart pouring out in that moment. I recognized this mom, but I had no clue who she was or what her story was, but after that contact something tugged at my heart and told me I needed more. That something was God, but I couldn't see it until much later.

I posted an image on social media from that ball game and she commented, how cool, I didn't know we were friends on here. You know, that moment, when you are walking through Walmart and you see someone and you know you have seen them somewhere, but where? Well I am friends with so many people on social media that I have no idea, but I knew I recognized her. So we started chatting on a private message and there sparked an interest of me documenting her story, so we scheduled a phone call so that she could tell me her story.

Listen, by the end of that phone call, or actually by the middle I had tears pouring down my face. This mom, this woman, this wife, HAS BEEN THROUGH IT! Her heart has felt pain that most women will never feel. And while I knew that I could not ever say that I have felt her pain, I can say that I admire her 100%. This was it, this was exactly what I need for direction for her session. I know that I captured her family to the exact. I know that her teenagers are at that stage in life, the stage where it's weird to love on mom and it's weird to be in front of a camera ebcause they feel awkwardm. Guess what, through allowing them to open up and connecting with each of them, mom got an image, an important bonding moment with each of them, that she will treasure always!

I am not even going to try to tell her story because I would not do it justice, but here is a quote directly from mom:

"Women are natural born caretakers. God has given us nurturing desire and as long as I can remember, I looked forward to stepping into that role with everything I am. After years of infertility, doctors, specialists, pain and disappointment, I knew our road to building a family would not look like the traditional family. And by God's grace, I was more than ok with that and married to my prince of a husband who was also more than ready to take another path to fill our home. The journey to our kids has been one of heartache, twist and turns, potholes and standstills. Not just for my husband and I but for our children as well. Some days, it felt like taking the next breath was as much as we could do. We kept going, kept breathing and kept believing the Lord would fill our home. Each of our kids' story is so unique how God put us together. He took every broken pieces of each of us and created this beautiful family. Our family. I am so thankful for his goodness in creating beauty from ashes."