Guest Post: What Heaven Looks Like...

It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words. I couldn't agree more. Elizabeth Ann of Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box shares a peek into one family's adoption of their son in today's guest post. In an effort to keep the focus on the images, I'll keep this one brief. Be blessed.

WHAT HEAVEN LOOKS LIKE . . .
This is picture is the closest thing to heaven that I can imagine as a human here on earth. . .

I introduced you to Lisa, Joey, Audrey, and Archie a couple of months ago. . . and this past week has been one that their family will never forget!
God's hand has been over their entire adoption process but He showed himself faithful yet again when the amazingly, talented Whitney Runyon and her husband, Nick, were able to go with Joey to Bulgaria to document him picking up Archie and bringing him home! Everyone has different spiritual gifts and Whitney's is definitely photography!

Lisa and Audrey telling Joey goodbye at the airport.

Archie greeting his daddy at the orphanage. . .

Archie immediately pretended to call mommy!

Archie's going away cake that Lisa and Joey gave to the orphanage. The top right hand corner says "Joey, Lisa, Ace". And at the bottom it says "with thankfulness to all of you and your care for our son".

Archie excited about the sparklers

One of my favorite pictures. . . precious. . .

The orphanage's send off ritual. . . the child drinks from a bowl of water. . .

Then the water is thrown on the steps and the child and their new family walk over the water. .

The people who worked at the orphanage telling Archie goodbye!

Loves his daddy

I wonder if this is what Heaven is like. . . I imagine God on his knees with his arms open wide waiting for us to run to him. We have earthly parents just as Archie had incredible caretakers, but finally, finally we will come to our "forever home" and I wonder if it will be like the homecoming Archie received. . . with angels lining the streets and God waiting to envelop us in his arms. . .because we are home . . . finally home . . . with Him!

- Elizabeth Ann

What an amazingly powerful set of images. Romans 8:15 & 23 says that we have been adopted by God as His own children. I can't even begin to fathom what it will be like in the presence of our heavenly Father, our Abba. Thank you Elizabeth Ann for this priceless reminder. For more images and background on this sweet family, check out Elizabeth Ann's sweet blog. xo

all images by Whitney Runyon & Chris Hsieh.