Transparent Moment

I don't often feel sad about the fact that we aren't able to have kids naturally.

I feel like I have been there and walked through that emotion. Once when we found out that it was me. Once when we found out that it was actually both of us.

One of the coolest things about adopting, for us, is that we both feel like our hearts have always wanted to adopt. We just didn't know that our family was going to be completely grown out of adoptions.

I had a moment on Saturday.

A moment where I got really angry.
My anger came out of the realization that a lot of the families adopt because they feel called to or wanted to...

Not because they have to.

Please understand a few things:
1. I know that there are a lot of families, both adoptive and not, that struggle with infertility.
2. I also realize that adoption, no matter what the reason, is absolutely incredible and an absolute living out of the gospel.
3. I am not looking for anyone to feel sorry for us.

I could not be more excited about the plan that God has put in place for us and the crazy road map of our lives that we are following by trusting that plan.

But it was the first time in a long time that my heart sank a bit and a tear welled up in my eye over the lose of something that we didn't have.

To be honest...I'm a bit thankful for those moments.

They make me feel human.

Dear World

Dear World,

This just happened.

Sincerely,

Erik Peter Anderson, your newest best friend. 

The Andersons and the Foothills

Ok. To be honest. It was awesome.

And no...we can't stop talking about how much we love each other so you will just have to be okay with expecting that a lot.

Here are a few of the highlights of our 24 hour journey to the wondrous foothills of the Sierras...

...everything from dancing and antiquing to President Anderson of Earth bringing the boys home...

Most of all, it was a perfect way to celebrate the love we have for each other and the crazy amounts of fun that we are still having...4 years and counting.

4.

4 years ago I married the most incredible man that I have ever known.

4 years ago we made a decision to love each other forever, no matter the circumstances, no matter the trials.

4 years ago each of us said "I do" to a journey that we didn't have a clue about.

4 years ago we buckled in for the ride of a lifetime.

4 years ago was the start to something incredible.

4 years ago may not seem like much to some, but it is everything to us.

4 years ago we had no idea that this life would bring us passions, desires, hardships, adventures, understandings, patience, trust, tears, and laughter that we had never known before.

4 years ago.

wow.

4 years ago seems like an eternity away.

But, 4 years ago today was the best day of my life.

Happy 4 years to my love. 

The Eve

So, yeah. It is a little early, but who is really counting?

In celebration of our 4 year anniversary, Erik went ahead and proved himself husband of the millennium...again!

To honor the path that we have walked, the adventures we have been on, and the passions that we have discovered, Erik made these incredible pictures for me and put them in frames.

In the words of Ben Folds (what up high school!!)...

I am the luckiest.

seriously.

that is not an exaggeration.

Big Day for the Photographer of the Family!

So...I'm totally going to piggyback on my post from my Jessa Anderson Photography blog...but I'm putting this everywhere because that is just how stinking excited I am.

And because I can. :)

Yes. It is true! I am officially official!

Or at least that is what it feels like. I am so pleased to say that after hours of going through photos and researching "techy" words on google, I OFFICIALLY launched the Jessa Anderson Photography Website today!

So for all of you out there who have been anxious for this day...TADA!!! Consider today a victory and go check it out!

My Life As A Time Lapse

As a kid, I remember watching special videos that my dad made. As a photographer for FOX, this was not a rare occasion. However, this specific video I recall vividly in my mind...and I'm not sure why.

In 1995 St. Louis constructed the Trans World Dome (now known as the Edward Jones Dome) in order to bring the NFL back to the area. I remember my dad spending tons and tons of hours piecing together a time-lapse video of its construction. He was so proud of the result after hours, days, weeks, and months of work. 

I remember watching the video and being proud too.  

I also remember being amazed at seeing something that was built over a long period of time come together in a span of 5 minutes. 

Doesn't it sometimes feel like life is that same way? You work so hard for these huge events in life and then all of a sudden they are over and it feels like you were just living life as a part of a time lapse. 

The last 4 weeks of our lives have felt that. I mean like high speed, crazy outcome, non-stop time lapse. 

Here is a little review. In the last 4 weeks, we have:

• Hosted 1 Student Ministries Fundraiser
• Hosted and ran 2 Adoption Fundraisers
• Completed our Homestudy for Adoption
• Housesat for one of our High School Students
• Had an out of town visitor for a few days
• Successfully put together and completed our High School Mission Trip
• Lead Worship for Sunday Church
• Preached a Sermon
• And a partridge in a pear tree?

I think back and wonder how on earth we fit all of this into our lives (on top of the regular work schedule, photo shoots, bible studies, seminary). When I look back at it, it is just a glimpse of the reality of the time spent to build, construct, and execute the actual events. 

It all happened so fast. 

Now that I have some time to step back and slow down, I look back at the completed month and see the incredible results of all of this madness! 

To list a few...

• Relationships built cross-generationally within our church through raising money for CHIC
• 2 months of prayers and encouragement to get us to the point of completing the first step of our adoption
• $1,700 raised from our Mini Session Photography Fundraiser
• Renewal and Refreshment in old friendships
• Building and deepening in new friendships 
• Seeing the fruits of letting go and trusting God
• Changed lives through service
• Stronger relationships within our student body
• Stirred passion in our hearts for Inner City Missions
• Finding purpose in using our gifts to glorify God 

You can't always see things clearly when you are in the thick of it. Sometimes it takes watching it all pieced together at completion to realize that the whole process...long, daunting, and challenging as it may be...has created something beautiful. Beautiful and lasting.

Sin Had Left a Crimson Stain

In the Words of DC Talk

Time is ticking' away...tick tick ticking' away.

You have approximately 19 hours to still sign up for a photo session!

Tick tick tick tick tick.....

Mini Session, Mini Preview

We did our Mini Session Photography Fundraiser this past Saturday and WHOA!!! It was INCREDIBLE!!! We had such a blast creating unique and fun backdrops, capturing some amazing photos, laughing, and getting to know some really incredible families!

Sadly, we had to cancel the afternoon because the weather just got a little too severe...
40 mph winds and horizontal rain don't make for the best photography? Weird.

We did, however, have a great morning and got some fantastic shots before the monsoon rolled in so I thought we would give you all a quick preview! Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day!

The best part about all of this is that we get to do it again this weekend!! AH! So, if you didn't get a chance to sign up but want to...let me know! 

Thanks to everyone who did come out this past Saturday and braved the crazy weather with us! We had so much fun and feel so blessed by each of you!  

A Bald Guy and Some Elbow Grease

Our Home Study Home Visit is tomorrow. 

Nuff said.