Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Gia Love

Adoption.

A word with a BILLION definitions.

Love, Faith, Hope, Grace, Mercy, Child, Family, Despair, Loss, Joy, Hardships, Excitement, Trust.

This is Gia Love and her story touches me to my very toes.  

Quite some time ago, in September of '11, Justin and I were just getting started in our adoption journey and had recently turned down the file of a cutie we were quite fond of.  When our agency sent out the new photo listing about a week after that tough decision, Justin pointed to a photo and said, "Why don't we check out her file.  She's adorable!"

I glanced, agreed she was cuter than cute, but passively said, "I just can't even look at another file right now.  My hearts just not there yet."

We didn't really think too much about this little bitty, just knew she was meant for another family.

About 6 months passed and I haphazardly ran across a Korean adoption blog.  Malerie's.  She and her husband Kevin were waiting on their match.

And I started following.

And then.... they made the announcement that they had been matched.



With Gia Love!!!!  

The SAME little girl Justin had thought was such a doll baby!  I honestly never thought I would have any idea about where this angel bug would end up.  

Not only was she adopted by a family that lived in Birmingham, but I have had the privilege of becoming friends with her Mommy.

And then- her Mommy asked me to do her very first photoshoot!!!  I'm just telling ya'll.  Adoption is SO cool.

Though it was beyond windy and Little Miss certainly preferred her mother, it was impossible not to get good shots of Miss Gia Love.

She is beautiful beyond reason and the love she exudes is overwhelming!  There were a few moments we had to take a bit of a break because I kept tearing up at all God has done in her/her family's lives and I was just so in awe of his awesome and the honor of witnessing it.

This photo, as many of mine are, is not "photographically perfect."  But, I think that's why I LOVE the photo-journalistic style best.  This darling little one, squished all in her mother's loving arms.  To me, it's the very definition of adoption and it's ultimate goal: 

Love.

{thankful for}
35. A fabulously fun photo shoot
36. Meeting Gia Love in person
37. Good adoption conversation with another Mommy who "gets it"

3 kind thoughts:

DiJo said...

Hi Brooke!
Not sure why the PRO button is not working. THANKS for the heads up..
I am going to re-load!

Blessings,
Diana

Sandy said...

Brooke the picture has so much emotion in it and that is what photography, to me, is all about! Beautiful!!

Mary Louis Quinn said...

Isn't God amazing?! Beautiful photo!!

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Our Adoption Timeline

  • June 19, 2011- We are officially "Paper Pregnant!" We have submitted our Waiting Child Application to Holt!
  • July 5, 2011- Submitted our formal Home Study Application to Villa Hope
  • September 6, 2011- Submitted all of our paperwork for our Home Study
  • October 8, 2011- Completed our First Home Visit
  • October 17, 2011- Completed our Second Home Visit
  • November 14, 2011- Home Study Approved
  • December 1, 2011- Filed our I600a
  • February 1, 2012- I600a Approval Letter
 
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