Friday

On Friday we left the motel late again because I spend the morning editing photos and uploading them. This would be our last day to take pictures. We went back to the aquatic park where we would meet a family to give them their photos. They were anxious to see them as soon as we got there. There was one photo of the baby that I couldn't get to fit on an 8x10 so I kept going up and finally got it to fit on a big poster. That was the first picture I showed them. When the the mother and grandmother saw the picture they both cried. They were so thankful for all of the pictures and then Cindy said, "But I don't have anything..." I said yes you do now, you have all these pictures. She then said, "but I don't have anything to give you."  I told her that she wasn't supposed to give me anything. Just seeing their reactions meant more to me than anything they could have given me in return.
   Later that afternoon at the same park Judy who we had met earlier in the week came by because she had Joplin t-shirts she wanted Andy and I to have. Judy is the neatest lady! She brought us the shirts and brought Gracey a little porcelain clown, which she loved. When Judy was 50 she decided to go back to school and get her teaching degree, which she did and then taught school, elementary school for I think 12 years!!! She is an awesome lady, so full of love and laughter. We are so much richer because of having met her and her daughter Marcy.

   Then Friday evening we had the opportunity to photograph a large family. They had all been effected by the tornado. They are a beautiful famiy, and such sweet people. The oldest grandaughter had just returned from camp, where she had given her heart and life to the Lord and been baptized. What a great celebration! We enjoyed our time with them so much, and were so blessed to get to know them.