{us, polaroid by susannah}
I’m kind of loving (okay, totally loving) this photo of us. It just feels so gooood to have a photo together! Is it typical that photographers rarely have a family photo taken of themselves?
Here we are. Our family. And Cedar love…just looks like he’s so part of us. And it brings me goosebumps. You know, many many times since Cedar was born, when people find out he is adopted, we get an emotional response. It could be the person near us on the airplane that talked with us for a few hours and spent time with Cedar or one of his teachers, or someone that spent 30 minutes chatting at a store or a neighbor, etc; there is always an emotional reaction when they learn our story. Gasps, tears and an embrace. And many times people have said “…but he is SO you guys!” Every time I well up with tears and laugh and cry with them because its such a heart-spirit-energy thing that is collectively felt. Its what I felt when I first held him seconds after his birth with my husband and his birth parents circling me. A feeling of home and belonging and I know most people that have adopted know exactly what I am sharing and so do all of those that have birthed their children when they have felt they knew them beforehand. And what I am sharing has nothing to do with whether or not Cedar “looks” like us. Its so much about his heart and how me moves and grooves and interweaves so perfectly into our family.
We’ve been going through an awakening with Cedar that is intense and sacred and all consuming right now and when I am able to find the words, I will share it here soon. But when I opened up this photo in an email today that my friend Sus sent to me, I felt the tears spill. I see the three of us and I know deeply how we are all three teachers and guides for one another and I feel such an affirmation to trust the process.
Someone wrote to me the other day that our story offered them hope when they felt so desperately that there was no hope left. I am humbled and honored to hear these things and I never take it for granted and I most always am taken aback by the outpouring. I always said if your desire to be a mother or a father is there, it is there for a reason and your child will find you and hear your longing. There is so much purpose to the union of your child. Cedar is one of my life guides and I think one of the things that kept me going during our fertility journey was trusting that my desire was there because there was much to learn from it…during the journey AND the destination.
August 14, 2012
I love this picture! I love that you said you are “trust the process.” Yes! Cedar is amazing, and so are his two parents. http://www.laurenluquin.com/2012/03/trust-process.html
August 14, 2012
I love that pic of your family! So beautiful and such great energy
August 14, 2012
I love you guys. I MISS you guys. This Polaroid is so youz, it really is
Tell Cedar his Aunty P’sanna loves him and is still looking out for green trains xxxx
August 14, 2012
My eyes just welled up at reading your reflection this morning…..’if you desire to be a mother or a father it is there for a reason and your child will find you and hear your longing’….there is so much wisdom in what you have shared that my heart feels over flooded with love and continued desire to meet my soul mate and start a family.
August 14, 2012
beautiful!
August 14, 2012
the beauty and love that radiates in this photo, is priceless.
August 14, 2012
“I know deeply how we are all three teachers and guides for one another and I feel such an affirmation to trust the process.”
I’ve been affirmed of the same thing, again and again, trust the process. And I’ve also been reminded to trust the relationship.
I love how this is about unfolding and growing, gaining flexibility and eyes:heart that see and extend past the imaginable into the depths of relationship and soul and life and forever.
Can’t wait to hear more about what is unfolding, xo.
August 14, 2012
love, love, love…a very beautiful family on a very beautiful journey! xo Two
August 14, 2012
We are approaching the six year birthday of our family through adoption … as our daughter was born in China, there is little confusion about our story although one day I was in her school, walking down the hallway to her classroom when one little boy from her class was headed the other way to the bathroom. He greeted me “hello C’s mom!” and I commented upon how good his memory was to remember me to which he replied “well, you look like each other.” Of course! And yes, the awakenings that lead us deeper and deeper into our relationship and into the full experience of love. It is an awesome if somewhat fierce experience.
August 14, 2012
but he DOES look like you two! xoxo
August 15, 2012
I have a friend who is now a father of many children, he himself was adopted. He shared his adoption story with us, all I could think was how special he was to have been raised by such loving parents. Cedar will get to tell his story one day and how special it was to be raised by such loving parents. He is yours, because he was born just for you.
August 15, 2012
oh denise ~ i welled with tears just seeing your sweet family….it reminds me so much of my own and how our milo came to us and how perfectly he fits with us. we are moving through some of our own things with milo and the things that can frustrate me on certain days bring me so much joy to see in pictures because it’s WHO he is…perfectly, wonderfully him even though it’s such a different journey than expected. beautiful <3
August 16, 2012
Hello. My friend Charity told me about your blog today. I’ve been taking a few minutes checking it/you out ( I love your photography ) – and reading a few posts. I had to share with you that as soon as I saw this picture, before I read what you wrote – I had goosebumps and tingles all over my body. Cedar is so clearly a part of your family – was born to be in your family. Spiritually and energetically I was wowed by how much you all look like each other… A beautiful gift. What a blessing.