Thursday, February 2, 2012

I Never Told You...

Right when we got home from China with Gracie, a friend came over and brought me lunch with a 225 magazine she had picked up.  225 is a very popular magazine distributed around town.  I rarely get one because they are always gone before I can get it.  As I was going through the magazine, I saw that they were having a photo contest.  I immediately thought of China and that I must have something worthwhile I could submit.  As I read the categories, I came upon one titled "Journey of your life"!!  Their subtitle was "exotic places, exotic faces".  Well....I had a little girl who had just taken the journey of her life!  I was so excited and knew exactly what picture I would send.

homecoming (3 of 14)

My goal was to reach people with the adoption message. I had to come up with a 100 word caption that told the whole story. There are so many people who read this magazine that I just knew this little face would haunt some of them! lol... Do you know that I never even saw her face in the reflection until I went to submit it!! I'm sure you know where I'm going with this! Yes!! I WON! Not just for my category, but the whole thing!!! I was so unbelievably excited when they called with the news! A huge bonus is the $300 gift card I won to our local camera store! Whoo Hoo!! Here is the write-up in the magazine:

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You wouldn't believe how many people tell me they saw the picture. People at church, people at the girls' preschool...everywhere. I love that! A couple of days ago, I got a call from someone at LSU. She runs an international hosting program. She said she had read about me in 225 and thought I might be interrested. I am!! They paired us up with 2 girls (best friends) from China who are attending LSU. I am so excited about it! The goal is to do something with them once a month and be in contact with them. I am hoping we will fall in love with them and they will be around more than that! I think the girls are going to be SO excited!

34 comments:

Stacy said...

HOLY COW!!
That is so cool!!!
Congratulations!!!!

And how awesome that you will have two college girls to keep some of your sweeties culture around.
Let us know how that goes!!

Proud of you, my friend!

Lauren McG said...

As that has always been my photo favorite, I was surprised to see the reflection of her face until you just mentioned it!!! Wow!!! God is so good and you are reaching so many!!

Jolene said...

That is so cool! Congratulations and I hope you have fun as a celebrity in your town!

Brooke said...

That is SO amazing Jennifer!! However, it is no surprise that photo took the cake. It is one of the BEST photos I have ever seen in my entire life! Congratulations!!! xoxo Brooke

Rebekah said...

Congratulations! It really is an amazing picture! And what a wonderful experience for your family to be paired up with the 2 college students. Sounds like a lot of fun!!!

Paige said...

that is so awesome!!!!! I did not notice her reflection until you pointed it out, WOW!! great pic!

Debbie said...

Jennifer, you deserved to win! That is the best photo I have EVER seen on any "adoption blog"! CONGRATS!!

Shannon said...

I kept wondering if you were ever going to post about this. Candace actually scanned and emailed it to me a couple of months ago. So happy for you. I too never saw Gracie's reflection in the window until now. Priceless...but $300 is good too! :)

snekcip said...

Oh you know I'm squealing w/delight!! I had NEVER noticed her reflection either!! It gave me chills!! Truly, truly a very beautiful picture. Gracie Joy will also cherish this picture forever!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

quilt'n-mama said...

I LOVE this picture of your sweet Gracie Joy... a little more mellow here than in the Changsha airport as I remember:) I took a similar one of Clara along the way home, it makes my heart joyful and sad to look at. I love Gracie's face in the window!
Way to go!
Gayly

Amy said...

WOW!! Congratulations!! I wish we had something like that mag around my parts...

Diane said...

Congratulations! This is amazing! I have LOVED this photo from the first time you posted it:)

Gracie Joy is precious!

God Bless,
Diane

Emy said...

Wow! That is so amazing! love the picture and the caption too! AMAZING!

redmaryjanes said...

Congratulations! That is fantastic!

BA said...

AMAZING!!! I LOVE that picture!! Congratulations!!!

The 5 Bickies said...

Congratulations....I didn't see her face in the glass either. Had to go back and look a 2nd time. So glad you won. You had to, you had such good intentions.

Can't wait to hear more about your LSU buddies.

Leggio said...

How Awesome Is That!!!!!! You Go Girl!!!!!! Doing what you love and advocating for the orphan. We are going to be driving through Louisiana on Saturday on our way to take the boys to Disney World. We are still waiting for the Article 5 to issue for our sweet Mia. I love your pics. We are getting close to being united with our baby girl. :)

Sharon said...

Congratulations Jennifer! That is so awesome! I had never noticed Gracie's reflection until you pointed it out.

Pink Velvet Mommy said...

Congrats....and that picture has haunted me since the day I saw it on here. It was a profound end to the journey to Gracie!!! I would have totally voted for that picture too!!!

We hosted an exchange student from China 4 years ago and she goes to college in Ohio now and participates in a similar program and she absolutely loves it and has fallen in love with her college host family!!! So I think you and your family will LOVE this experience!!!!

Jennifer said...

Wow!! That's SOOOO awesome!!!

Football and Fried Rice said...

I LOVED this picture!!!!! I am so glad that it WON!!!!!! And what a story it does tell.

SO cool about the LSU girls! I am sure they are going to fall in love with you and vice versa! They can cook for you!! and teach you things (dumplings!) Maybe. Guess I didnt really cook in college :)

DO TELL what you are getting with your snazzy gift card??

Jennifer said...

That is so awesome!! I love that picture...I can definitely see why you won! And how fun will that be to host the LSU girls!! I know your girls will love that!

Kristi said...

What a perfect photo!

Congratulations on winning. That is so, so fun.

deborah said...

WOW!!! Congratulations are definitely in order. That photograph is indeed telling a story and a wonderful story, at that. I, too, missed her face in reflected in the glass until you mentioned it. It's a beautiful capture. You deserved to win. I'm especially excited for you because I'm just getting into photography myself and want to do that well some day soon. Enjoy your two new friends from China, too. That's exciting all over again! :)

Keisha said...

Jennifer!!!! That is sooo AWeSOME!!! I remember this picture & never noticed her sweet little reflection! So excited for you! Way to go!

Judy Deaton said...

I've been following your blog since I found it on No Hands but ours....I think....anyway, I have always loved this picture!! Beautiful family too. Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

AWESOME Jennifer! Everything about that is amazing! And I never noticed her reflection until you mentioned it! Love the photo even MORE now! God is so cool...

Cathy & Naomi

The Gutmans' said...

What a blessing that you can use your photo and your amazing call to Adopt, amazing!!!! Prayers that this sparks someone else to listen & follow the call to one of the biggest blessing one can ever experience!!!!

Anonymous said...

Jennifer, When you first posted that picture, it took my breath away!! I didn't notice the reflection until this post. That picture totally deserved to win. It is an amazing photo, showing Gracie about to go home...where her brothers are waiting!! Oh, it is just amazing! I can't stop looking at it! Your daughters are BEAUTIFUL.
~Shelby

Rita said...

wow....Actually your wish has come true, we are falling in love with each other once we met,lol...
Love u all members, missing u all...

Everything Beautiful Shay said...

YOU ROCK!!! XO

3 Peanuts said...

I was so happy for you when you won this (still am:)!! it is a fabulous photo that speaks volumes. Congratulations, friend.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the contest. What a photo. Truly.

THANK YOU also for posting about this foundation. I am looking for something exactly like this! I am going to be checking at the large university in the large town near us when we get home from China! We adopted our son at age 10 and he really needs more than we are giving him. Having him back in his birthcountry has made me realize how much more we need to do in finding opportunities to interact with other Chinese people. Thanks so much for sharing and can't wait to hear more about your time with these young ladies.

Anonymous said...

Have I mentioned how much I enjoy reading your blog??!!?? This is awesome :) Miss you guys!
Dawn R.

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