We Aren’t Starting A Family
Best Race for the Cure…EVER!
October 3, 2014
A Sweet Old Man and a Tornado at Walmart
October 19, 2014
We Aren’t Starting A Family
Yes, you read that right, we aren’t starting our family. In fact, we have been a family for over 8 years now. Yep, the Taylor family started on July 22, 2006. We are growing our family, but definitely not starting it.
This is something that God has spoken to my heart lately about. Josh and I are a family and have been way before kids.
Embracing My Current Reality
Almost a year ago, Josh and I attended an auction where we won a family photo session. We weren’t even trying to win the photo session. Josh was just trying to start the bid! So, we laughed when we won it and were honored to buy the item, as the money was going to raise awareness for human trafficking.
So, when we won this photo shoot, we decided to save it and we could use it for a maternity photos. So, we have held onto it for about a year. I’ve been so excited to use it, but we just kept waiting. Well, you know the rest of the story. We haven’t gotten pregnant, thus we still hadn’t used our photo shoot.
Photo shoots are for families, right? Or for seniors. Or for newborns, or engagement photos, wedding photos, you get the picture… Well after we learned of our failed IVF cycle, I felt like we should take these photos. God clearly spoke to me: “You are a family.”
My brother-in-law and sister-in-law are incredibly photogenic. They have always giving photo books or photo calendars as Christmas gifts as they had their engagement photos, wedding photos, photos of their daughter…year after year they have had certain events in their life that have called for photos! Josh and I have always laughed and thought, “Well, we could just give pictures of us sitting at our house!” Our life and family didn’t seem as “legitimate” or “picture perfect.”
How Our Photo Session Changed Me
Well, we scheduled the photo session. Nope. It wasn’t a maternity session, an anniversary session, or a husband, wife, 2 kids and a dog perfect-type session! It was a really fun experience, especially because we never took engagement photos, so it was cool to do that:) But here is what I learned:
Each of us are a part of a family.
Whether you are a single mom, a newly married couple, a young single, an older single, a teenager, a widow or widower, a divorced dad, a grandparent, or a couple that has been married for a while without children–
Josh and Aly Taylor (and Bella) are a family.
We celebrate a “Family Night” at our church one Sunday night of the month. We are asked to set aside special time with our family that night where we do something intentional to spend quality time together.
We often see pictures of families playing games and activities and many times, I am thinking, “It’s just us!”
But “just us” is an incredibly good thing. We have been able to spend such quality and alone time together and start our family long before we began growing our family. Oh how blessed we are!
We started our family on July 22, 2006. It doesn’t happen when a baby enters in.
You started your family when you were born.
Or when you had your child.
Or when you got married.
Or when you got divorced.
Or when you were adopted into another family.
Or when you created a close friendship.
Lesson of the day: Embrace where you are. Embrace your family. It’s already started…don’t wait to take your pictures for the “family moment”. That moment is today. Do it now. Embrace and enjoy today! Enjoy some of our FAMILY photos:)
Embracing and Enjoying this season,
Aly
If you would like to receive our weekly posts in your email inbox Click Here!
22 Comments
You will never know what this post and your words did for me. Thank you. I love you guys!!!
Aw, Jennifer. You are always so kind to us…and we love your FAMILY!
Aly, Y
ou are so right on about this. We all need to just enjoy where we are TODAY!!
Aly, You are so right on about this! Love you and Josh!!!
!
Thank you Ms. Ann. Yes, and I was preaching to myself. Striving to enjoy today instead of wishing for something else!
Aly and Josh,
It has always been my thought that a real “family” starts at the marriage altar. A man shall leave his mother and a woman shall leave her home…… the old has to pass before the new begins.
God does call for it to be that way, and He blesses and sanctifies it. Isaiah 43:18-19 ” Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.”
No, I am not saying to forget your family of origin, but how can anyone become a family without realizing when the two become one with God as the Head there is family? It has pained me over the years that the “in-laws” don’t accept this, become intrusive and possessive of a spouse, cause contention and division, and in some instances even divorce. I am not speaking solely of myself.
For those of us God has chosen not to give physical children, the absolute recognition of the marriage and the priority of husband and wife to parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and others, comes slower and more painful. If only people, and especially Christian people, would realize how this distorted, selfish, unBiblical, skewed vision of family damages marriages.
And children do not legitimize a marriage or a family: Isaiah 54: 1,13 ” Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord. ” All your sons will be taught by the Lord, and great will be your children’s peace.” We all will have spiritual children, and for those of us set apart, who is to say that we will not have more because we have had time to pray for more spiritual children , serve more spiritual children, comfort more spiritual children, teach and disciple more spiritual children?
It is the MARRIAGE, not the family, nor the extended family, that is the symbol of Christ and the church from beginning to end in the Bible: Genesis 2: 21-23 quoting 23; ” This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man.” Revelation 19: 9
“Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, ” These are the true word of God.” God has His divine purpose for a husband and wife, with or without children.
No, this is not an admonishment for you, but there needs to be awake up call across the country for all Christians—-it is not just a marriage or a wedding ceremony—- it is the God breathed, Blood-bought, Holy Spirit sanctified birthing of a new family. And it should be re-named. Maybe the invitation should read, ” Join us in the Celebration of a New Family, as two lives unite under God, to go forth in His love and peace.”
I’m sorry for the lengthiness of the comment. You are welcome to repost all or some of it.
Gina Grant
Wow, this was so good! I tell Josh all the time that we truly are one! God has joined us together and I do not feel like myself when we are apart for long periods of time.
I think it is hard to balance relationships with our family of origin once we get married. You’re right, we are now part of a new family that takes precedence over ours we grew up in. It is so difficult to sometimes balance those roles and make other family members feel valued.
I am so thankful that God’s word says so much about binding together husband and wife, and honoring your parents at the same time. It can be tricky, but it is doable. Thank you for your wise words and perspective. So true!
Christians readily accept that live starts at conception. But there is a conception of family in God’s creation and that is the marriage altar.
Yes, a new life begins in marriage. Love that concept!
just beautiful Aly…….. the photos and the words from your
Thank you Ms. Robin. God is truly so good to us.
I love the photos! This family is “legit”! Wise, wise words, Aly…yet again!
Thanks sweet Heather! Your comment made me smile as I could hear you saying it!
I needed this! Thanks for the blessing!
You are so welcome!
This post.. ❤️ it! This past year or year and a half really has made my definition of family change. Thank you for sharing and reminding me to embrace the here and now!
Aw, you’re welcome Farrah! It’s crazy how we define “family”, when often times I think God sees it so differently. Love makes a family!
I am not sure if I can have children…. Every sign points to no… BUT my husband and I have been together for 9 years and we have two BEAUTIFUL Bassett Hounds : ) that are what we consider our babies, and with them our life is more than complete! People continuously ask us when is “our time” but I always tell them that we are happy! I believe that, if it is going to happen, it will.. but right now… we are perfectly and completely happy with each other! We should take pictures yearly! Your picture are beautiful!
Yes, Cynthia- I encourage you guys to start taking family pictures. Our dog, Bella, is our baby girl! You ARE a family. I am so thankful you are relishing in the time with the 4 of yall… I know God is so pleased with your contentment!
Well said! You are a beautiful family!
Thank you Ms. Donna!
This post made me think of family in a different way… a way I never thought of it before… I am a single mom and have thought many times that without a husband, I didn’t have a complete family. After reading this, I have a deeper understanding.
thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and God’s word.
Yes, Samantha! You guys are a family. What sweet time you can have with just you and your boys. You are an amazing Mom and have an incredible family!