When there are no words, pictures tell the story of sweet joy, celebration and love that filled our 10 hours with Sophie as we grew to know and love her even more than we could have ever dreamed possible. Those 10 hours were filled with and surrounded by holy moments, that in the coming days I hope to put into words as we have a chance to process together all that God did that weekend. God truly brought to fruition the passage He led me to months ago as I thought and dreamed of Sophie’s arrival.
“Look among the nations and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” – Habakkuk 1:5
We were filled with wonder and astounded by all the Lord did in the 4 days we were in the hospital. His presence filled that place in incredible ways. And though tears flood our eyes now, we love reflecting on the beautiful moments the Lord gave us with our firstborn daughter, Sophia Kyla Dennis.
For those who wonder whether it is truly worth it to carry a child to term who has little chance of survival outside of the womb, it is worth it beyond what words could say.
First family picture
First family picture
Family getting to watch Sophie take her first breaths.
Family getting to watch Sophie take her first breaths.
Precious moments...
Precious moments...
Pretty sure they were only allowed to have 4 people in that viewing room. But the hospital bent over backwards for us to give us the most beautiful birth experience we could have hoped for!
Pretty sure they were only allowed to have 4 people in that viewing room. But the hospital bent over backwards for us to give us the most beautiful birth experience we could have hoped for!
One of my favorite mother daugther photos.
One of my favorite mother daugther photos.
Love.
Love.
Family comes in for the first time.
Family comes in for the first time.
Proud daddy, proud Poppop.
Proud daddy, proud Poppop.
Mammo love
Mammo love
Nini love.
Nini love.
Proud Papa and Nini.
Proud Papa and Nini.
Everyone had these pins on and all of our family had Celebration T-shirts on!
Everyone had these pins on and all of our family had Celebration T-shirts on!
Aunt Laurie.
Aunt Laurie.
Uncle gook!
Uncle gook!
My amazing siblings with their first niece.
My amazing siblings with their first niece.
Uncle Dan.
Uncle Dan.
Uncle Nick.
Uncle Nick.
One of Sophie's best friends :).
One of Sophie's best friends :).
Sophie's favorite Pastor, Brady. Always kicked a ton whenever he preached!
Sophie's favorite Pastor, Brady. Always kicked a ton whenever he preached!
Our Pastor Renaut... praying over Sophie.
Our Pastor Renaut... praying over Sophie.
Our Doula, Doreen who coached me through 28+ hours of labor w/out drugs (except the kind that make your pain worse) and helped me walk through the emotions that surfaced that led to deeper surrender to the Lord... She was amazing!
Our Doula, Doreen who coached me through 28+ hours of labor w/out drugs (except the kind that make your pain worse) and helped me walk through the emotions that surfaced that led to deeper surrender to the Lord... She was amazing!
My sweet friend, Jess.
My sweet friend, Jess.
My best friend, Julie.
My best friend, Julie.
Face timing with Uncle Michael, Aunt Mayra and Sophie's cousins Alex and Ryder.
Face timing with Uncle Michael, Aunt Mayra and Sophie's cousins Alex and Ryder.
Love Elyse's face, sweet friend and one of our photographers.
Love Elyse's face, sweet friend and one of our photographers.
My accountability note to myself in the case I asked for an epidural. Our photographer found this sitting somewhere :).
My accountability note to myself in the case I asked for an epidural. Our photographer found this sitting somewhere :).
Sophie's first birthday celebration!
Sophie's first birthday celebration!
She requested a birthday cake with lots of sprinkles...and was not disappointed!
She requested a birthday cake with lots of sprinkles...and was not disappointed!
Party time!
Party time!
Our Cru Staff team meets Sophie.
Our Cru Staff team meets Sophie.
Sophie's Grandma's looking in...
Sophie's Grandma's looking in...
Sweet family moments.
Sweet family moments.
There could not be a more proud Daddy!
There could not be a more proud Daddy!
Peacefully sleeping in daddy's arms.
Peacefully sleeping in daddy's arms.
We weren't tired at all :).
We weren't tired at all :).
Sleeping beauty...
Sleeping beauty...
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news...
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news...
Look at those fingernails!
Look at those fingernails!
one of my favorites of Sophie... cutest little face ever!
one of my favorites of Sophie... cutest little face ever!
Our precious family of 3...Kevin, Lindsey & Sophia Dennis.
Our precious family of 3...Kevin, Lindsey & Sophia Dennis.
We are forever grateful to our Videographer, Scott Taylor and Photographer, Amanda Kern from Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and my friend and photographer, Elyse South who documented every detail of Sophie’s precious life. These photos and video have captured the moments we will never forget.
Lindsey lives in Orlando, Florida where she currently works with a non-profit Christian organization investing her life in college students, helping them to know and walk with Jesus. She is married to Kevin, and the mother of 4 children, 2 who are now with Jesus and 2 who are in her arms today. She writes, teaches and speaks to others on what it looks like to walk with God in the midst of suffering, and how to trust Him with our lives.