Shoes In The Window Photography

Psalm 145:13
“The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving towards all he has made.”

Psalm 34:2-4
“I will boast in the Lord;
the humble will hear and be glad.
Proclaim Yahweh’s greatness with me;
let us exalt His name together.”

I feel like it’s so important to share stories of God’s love and faithfulness towards us. I have been humbled and amazed by it towards my family this year. He sees and hears and loves us and every good and perfect gift comes from him.

At the beginning of this year, I asked the Holy Spirit what He wanted for me in 2021. I heard, “Peace, freedom from fear, and a baby.” We have been in the process of trying to adopt a baby girl since 2017, something we both felt in our hearts we were supposed to do. So I was excited to hear this was the year this baby would be added to our family! A few weeks later, I was surprised to find out I was pregnant. This didn’t change our plans or hopes of adopting a baby girl, I just assumed this was the baby that would be added to our family this year.

This pregnancy was the hardest I’ve ever experienced… I was non-functional for weeks and unable to spend time with my other kids. It was so challenging and draining, but getting to that 20 week ultrasound is always so rewarding and I held on to that. When we finally got to that day, our main conversation was figuring out how we would tell the kids if they were having a brother or sister. But within seconds, everything went blurry in my mind and heart as I heard the technician say there was no heartbeat. Nothing can prepare you for that devastation and grief… nothing can prepare you for the heaviness and emptiness that follows. I couldn’t believe I’d spent all of those weeks struggling and waiting for this day… and in a moment it was over.

I am so thankful for my husband and family and the people who surrounded me with love and sympathy and truth. One thing I know for certain is that every good and perfect gift comes from my loving Father. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus has come so that we may have life. Jesus was not the author of this loss. He did not take our baby away. And I knew he wanted to heal and restore that which he did not take.

Those weeks following this news were long and hard. I wanted to be present for my children that were here, but it was so challenging when I mostly just wanted to lay in bed. I found comfort in knowing that the Lord was deeply compassionate towards me and with me, not expecting me to get it together immediately and not disappointed that I hadn’t. I took a lot of walks in the sunshine and had good talks with him on the way. He began to remind me that he had told me he wanted a baby added to our family in 2021 and he was a restorer. I know that our baby we lost was added to our family, but he wanted to restore that which was taken… holding our baby in our arms and the joy that comes from that.

So I began to say daily that we would still have a baby added to our family in 2021… because he had spoken that to me in the beginning of the year. All the while, Jesus was dealing with me gently and helping me recognize and say no to areas of fear in my life. This has been so hard, but I’m so thankful for truth and his kindness towards me.

In mid September, we got an e-mail for a birth mother in California who was having a baby girl due in mid October. I submitted our profile to this mom and prayed, “Lord, please give us favor with this mom.” I had never prayed this before but somehow felt led to this time I guess. One week before when my due date would have been, I got the call that just amazed me. She had chosen us. We had never even been chosen to be interviewed with! And she had picked us without ever even talking to us. She was due about 4 weeks after my due date. I was so overwhelmed and thankful for God’s faithfulness and goodness and love towards us. He is just SO good.

2021 has been filled with so much loss. We had lost our baby, my Nana, my aunt, and most recently and unexpectedly my cousin. This baby girl has been our joy and our light in the midst of so much heaviness. We are just so thankful and I had to share just how loving and kind our God is. Her name is Josephine Ruth Grace Bowyer

Some pictures of God's faithfulness in the form of a precious baby girl!

A few pictures of my new niece! Such a blessing

A few pictures of my new niece! Such a blessing

Wonderful family...Love watching their babes grow!

For Paige and her loves

My sister is expecting another blessing... a baby girl! Happy to take pictures of her beautiful family and can't wait to meet this sweet girl

Love Maria's face as she knows Brandon is opening her gift

A couple of sneak peaks for Maria

It has been such a privilege for me to take pictures of both of Paige and Alex's beautiful babies... first Yori and now this sweet baby girl Annika. All the love and blessings to this wonderful family

Something special

More

Some spring pictures of my loves

Little boy is 6 months old and all kinds of delicious and delightful

This is my very own Santa baby...

A few shots of Jordan, Casey, and Maggie

:)

Yori

Just wanted to post an update of why my business page is so neglected and my blog isn't even available at the moment ... Totally worth it :)

Unbearable cuteness

Sister sister

Jordan and Casey’s Wedding

Happy Birthday to my little brother! … It's literally his birthday :)

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