This weekend I was able to take the camera out of my hand for a day and watch our sweet cousins renew their wedding vows for their 50th wedding anniversary. Over 100+ friends and family gathered together to celebrate this milestone. 
We laughed. We danced. We hugged. It was good!
But it got me thinking….what a legacy that is. 50 years.
When we got to our cousins house to stay the night she pulled out a photo of all of “her boys” that have lived with them at one time or another in those 50 years. It was a photo of her son and about 6 grown men (his friends) that have lived under her roof. Everyone’s reason was different for living there.
But, they were welcome. They were fed. They were loved.
Man, what a legacy to leave behind.
I looked at Steven while at the party and asked, “can we do this for our 50th!?” He smiled and responded in his witty charming way and said, “only if I still like you.” Oh that boy, always keeping me on my toes!
But this party made me think of my legacy. I believe photos are a huge part of that. I remember growing up in a home where love ran deep and photos were plenty. The photos showed where we have been and who was there. They showed milestones and triumphs. They showed the awkward teen years and the silly antics that came along with it. But most of all, they documented lives well lived.
Now take a second and think of an orphan. No photo album to look though full of smiling family and people who loved you unconditionally. No milestones celebrated. Few memories wanting to be remembered. A life craving an ounce of the life we live on the daily.
You guys, Jesus has wrecked my heart for the orphan. My thoughts go back to them time and time again. In the fun sweet moments of life, I am reminded not all people get these gems. I want the conversation to continue. I want us to remember them. I want them to break your heart. I want you to look for them. It is too easy to look away and because of that they have too few standing up for them.
We don’t have to adopt to be a part of the solution.
We can love. And equip. And give. And pray.
If you feel called to get involved, I’d be honored for you to partner with me on my trip to Ethiopia this February.
I’m going with The Archibald Project on a Media Mission. We will spend a week loving on and serving the children and staff of an orphan care organization in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. My mission will be to create a story about some of the children I meet and let the world know that not only do they exist, but they matter and need families and people caring for them. The Archibald Project has documented several adoptions and worked with several orphanages to help inspire others to get involved in orphan care.
This is why the Media mission exists, this is why I want to go; I wan to use my art to help educate and inspire orphan care in my community. Orphan care is not a part of everyone’s life so many people are never exposed to or introduced to specific orphans. The Archibald Project has found that by sharing orphan’s stories people are impacted into action. It allows all who view this media the opportunity to connect with a child and their personality. They are not just another one of the countless orphans in the world, they are a child with a name who longs to be loved.
As always, please share this post and follow @thearchilbaldproject and @kimigphotograpy
Thank you for being a huge part of this adventure!
