There is so much beauty to be seen in life. Yet I truly believe the deepest beauty here on earth often comes through the other side of great challenges and pain, when God recycles the bad things and turns them out for His glory and our good, when He makes “beauty from ashes”.
This family has a beauty from ashes story, one in which God has worked wonders and redeemed their relationships – that is the business He’s in after all, redemption! And so, it was with great honor that I tried humbly to capture their beauty – God’s beauty, so clearly in their lives.
Chris is leaving in a few short days to begin his journey as a Marine. I’m so glad they’ll have these memories to share of their times together as this chapter closes and a new one opens.
Brother and Sister – they don’t love each other or anything… 
The light was so pretty up in Idyllwild; I think this stream was meant just for them!
In these next two sets, they were each sharing their favorite memory of time spent together – it was sweet to see all the smiling and laughing involved 
.
Katie recounting a story…
I know a touch of that adoring look Cynthia has on the right – a beautiful thing for a mother to feel toward her children.
I totally love these next family shots!!
We then moved on to a different part of the stream where the beautiful light illuminated the greenery.
In this next one, I asked each person to tell the others one thing they appreciate about them. Once it was Chris’ turn to listen to what his mom and sister appreciate about him, he said, “Oh yeah, keep it coming!” lol
Mom held it together until the end, and then the emotion of it all came; she was so sweet.
Thank you, God, for making this family and covering them with Your Redeeming Grace – it’s something only You can do.
Cynthia, Chris, and Katie, thank you so much for opening yourselves and your lives to me – I was so blessed by this time with you!
Cherish, Love, Remember Always,
Andrea
Then
“Then”, a 1990 single from The Charlatans, featured on Some Friendly album →
