the mcdonald family | arizona family photographer

the holidays are coming all too soon, no?! :)if you're like me you're running around either on the internet or IN the actual insane malls trying to finish up christmas shopping for the people you love.baking cookies, breads + pies is becoming a weekly occurrence this month and snuggling up on the couch at the end of the day to watch a holiday movie or show is becoming the happy norm.for me, year end photoshoots are slowly coming to an end and a question I've been being asked a lot because of my busyness is this:"aren't you so exhausted?" in regards to photography...yes and no...yes, just because I want to be at home like a lot of you doing the cookie/movie/snuggle thing 24/7,but a resounding NO because of the people I get to photograph especially like these people.let me explain...I've been thinking a lot of thoughts lately, so let me explain my "no" to the exhausted question...do you see all of those things that I listed as normal christmas activity up there?well, what if you were a four year old kid and had never gotten to have that same experience?what if fresh baked cookies, snuggles and visions of the polar express weren't a happy tradition in your life?brings thankfulness and a healthy dose of perspective when you think that way, no?THESE people think that way and are doing something about the kids who don't have that experience.they're adopting.why are they adopting when they already have a little one of their own and probably will have more biologically?well, you can read about their why's and the beginning of their journey here...but in their words, this is why:"This is probably the easiest question we get asked...because we are adopted into God's family. As believers God graciously adopts us into his family and loves us even before we love Him. The Gospel is the most redemptive story- taking a sinner, undeserving of anything other than death, but God graciously extends mercy to us and adopts us into His family. Jake and I both, together and on our own, have prayed about growing our family and God has put the desire to adopt into our hearts. Several months back during a date night- I told Jake that I felt God moving us towards adoption for our next baby, but I wanted to wait until Jake felt the same way. Over the next couple weeks, we both dove into the word, our community and prayer- God moved Jake's heart to move forward with adoption. He has given us both an immense sense of peace facing the unknown and what if's of this journey, but we also anticipate seeing Him work in wondrous and redemptive ways. Our desire is to be a part of God's work in His kingdom and we pray that this story brings Him the glory."how cool is that?I don't care who you are and if you know these people or not...they are worth supporting in their desire to provide a home for the kids who don't have a home to call their own.people always say, "oh, I wish I could help people like these people!"well YOU can...just click to donate here...any bit helps...really.it's as simple as not buying your $5 cup of coffee today...give the $5 to them instead so they can get their little one sooner.I'm a fan of being a "do-er" not a "well-wisher". ;)thank you for the afternoon, mcdonald's...you are seriously incredible people!and I CAN.NOT.WAIT to meet your newest little one next year! :)