Unexpected Gifts

Last Saturday one of my best friends, Jessica, came over to do a photo shoot with my oldest kid, Kayleigh, and her family.

(Kayleigh is one of the teen moms I’ve mentored for the past five years, and she’s pretty much been adopted into our family … along with her family.)

This photo is of Kayleigh’s husband Nathan and their daughters MaCayla and Audrie. Their son Donovan just turned a month.

That’s my Christmas tree and bookshelves in the background, and yes … they’re posing with my children’s book 10 Minutes to Showtime! (I just had to throw that in!)

You can see the whole photo shoot here. Isn’t that so cool what an excellent photographer can do in my living room?!

The amazing thing is that when I started mentoring, I thought I’d be helping a young mom. I had no idea how I’d connect with a family–and how much I’d grow to love these people. They are as much a part of our lives as anyone else.

Isn’t God like that? … Offering unexpected gifts where we least expect it.

It’s true in all areas of life. When I started writing, I had no idea what a gift I’d receive in my fellow writers and readers.

When I had my kids, I had no idea how much I’d enjoy the teen years. Seriously! They are great kids who love God and are really fun to hang around with.

When I got married, I had no idea that almost 17 years later, John would still make me laugh and know just the right thing to show me his love. (Last night it was dinner out followed by Starbucks.)

When I started blogging, I didn’t understand the “community” of fellow bloggers that I’d get to know. Great people!

And when I offered to host the photo shoot I had no idea that a photo Jessica took “between shots” would make me smile so …