Monday, April 13, 2009

Beauty For Ashes

After church on Sunday, our family went over to our brother and sister-in-law, John and Tracie's house for Easter dinner. Tracie and my Mom and I cooked up a storm to feed the masses :)! It was the first time all our children had been together for a meal, since John and Tracie came home with their two newest angels. There were 15 children under one roof! Wow! By the time the younger ones were all done eating, they looked like they had bathed in raspberry jello and gravy. Elia, my adopted niece, was parked at the plate of chocolate covered strawberries, taste testing them. By the time we caught her, she had a sheepish little grin on her face, proudly smiling next to several strawberries with chew marks in them, enjoying a little feast of her own. Tracie and I decided to put all the little ones in the tub and get them cleaned up! They had a great time and we got some great pics out of it.

As I was looking at all our children together, I started thinking about God's goodness to them and to us. I became overwhelmed with emotion, thinking about what it was like before our adopted children had been rescued. Now I was watching them running around together, happily playing and feeling loved and secure. The Lord has truly given them beauty for ashes and he's blessed us with the most precious little angels, revealing more of His beauty through the precious lives of these priceless ones!

Here are some pictures of our day together. God bless you today and may you feel his presence near you!



The Loux cousins


Our Ukrainian beauties! (From left to right) our little Ethan, John and Tracie's precious Aiden, our amazing Sasha, John and Tracie's beautiful Emma and our teddy bear, Silas


Ride em cowboys!


Our beautiful girls!


Sophia


Leeann


Keyolla


Telma


Michaela


Teyolla


The bathing beauties!

17 comments:

Unknown said...

BEAUTIFUL all right! LOVE IT!

sarahjohns said...

Amazing! The Lord must of been smiling down on you all as you celebrated together! Love seems to have been the best perscription for them all!

Amanda Jones said...

Great Photos! What a BEAUTIFUL BLESSED family!

Amanda-Adopting Ean and Mila

Tami and Bobby Sisemore Family said...

AMAZING pictures, amazing God! Loved, loved this post! :) Congrats to your entire family :)

Blessings and hugs,
Tami
PRAYING Noah's little brother Jeremiah home ASAP!
www.tillGodbringsthemhome.blogspot.com

lisaqshay said...

Love these pictures of God's goodness and overflowing mercy, love and grace! Thanks for sharing them Renee.

Anonymous said...

What adorable and beautiful children!! I had to laugh at the tub picture...as a mama of young ones I am wondering how much of the "water" was actually water by the end of that bath...lots of little boys in there!! :)

Missy said...

The bathtub picture was an EXCELLENT finale!!! Loved every picture!! SO good to see the kids looking so wonderful - and Ethan looks SOOOOO much better!! I hardly recognized him!

Anonymous said...

Beauty for Ashes - such a perfect description and such a beautiful family! Your family get-togethers will never be dull!!

Mrs. I.

June Berger said...

What wonderful memories and a wonderful life all of your children will now have. Not to mention four very blessed parents! God is so very good!

orphans4me said...

Wonderful pictures!
Joy

Anonymous said...

Derek and Renee,
Happy Easter! What a beautiful family mosaic you have! Life has been great in Alaska and the Lord is moving!

Now that I found your blog, we will keep better tabs on you all!
Blessings,
Ken and Rachel Pleasants

Arden Campbell Czaszewicz said...

I'm sitting here on the other side of the planet in tears...so happy to see these little ones, and the bigger ones too, being loved by the Father through all of you and all those around you! Thank you for these precious pictures!

Amanda said...

I know you have said you are blessed, but seeing it is so beautiful...God has done wonderful things in your lives. You and your children are so very blessed!! May God continue to use your families to inspire others!

Arden Campbell Czaszewicz said...

Hey, I'm curious to know how the boys' English is coming along?

Derek said...

Hey sweetie! Great pics! We are doing good in Berlin - At our hotel I have access to the lobby computer but can't use my laptop. That's why I'm sending you a message this way. I love you tons and we are praying for you here. PLEASE TELL ALL THE KIDS I LOVE THEM AND MISS THEM TONS! I'll try to skype when I get access with my computer.

Tons of love to you!

Derek

The Loux Family said...

Derek, Honey, please find a way to call me. I have a few Emergency issues that I need to talk to you about!
I love you and hope you're all doing well! I'm assuming you can't pull up Entourage to view your messages. Love you, Ne'

Cammie Heflin said...

Gorgeous family!