The Russell Family + Why I love adoption, Amelia Island Family Photographer

When Kim contacted me about family photos I immediately saw that she was a photographer – and I was nervous! I have photographed quite a few photographer’s families and it can be so stressful because you really want to be your absolute best. I mean your every move is being judged by another photographer! I was so delighted when I met Kim and her family though, none of the usual pressure I feel was there. The whole family was so laid back. They were wrapping up their family vacation on Amelia Island.

The Russel boys had my heart. You’ll notice one has on sharks tooth shorts! They talked about searching for teeth and I showed them the megladon tooth my friend found. Kim shared with me that they adopted Nati in January, but you would have thought he had forever been a part of their family. She later shared on facebook that the reason they waited until now to have professional photos taken was that she wanted the boys smiles to be genuine – and they had all gone through such an adjustment period since bringing Nati home. You could tell instantly that Kim loved Nati fiercely, the way a mother would love any child. And THAT is why I love adoption.

Adoption is the Gospel in action. It is a beautiful representation of how Jesus lovingly takes us as orphans and makes us His own children. He loves us fiercely! How amazing that God would choose to love broken orphans like us. If you are a Christian you have experienced this first hand. God actually calls us to take care of the orphans and the widows of the world, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 NIV  Watching Nati run on the beach with his new family gave me an overwhelming gratitude to be a child of God and for people like Kim and her husband who live out the Gospel everyday!