It's a Part of Her

These are Rachel's official pictures for her kindergarten year and I love them! Sometimes when picture day comes I get a little nervous for how Rachel's, Hannah's too, pictures will turn out. But I'm always a little more nervous when it comes to Rachel's pictures - will they make her smile too big and therefore you'll see her cleft gum and jacked up tooth? Will she smile in such a way that her scar will look drawn up?? Will her nose look okay?? Will her repaired cleft stand out in the picture or will you not be able to tell?? Things that go through a mother's head when she's had a cleft affected baby, or a child with any facial deformities for that matter.

This picture captures her cuteness. A glimpse into her personality. I just want to go to her and squeeze her cuteness, but I can't, she's at school! :)

Sure, you can see the notch in her lip. Maybe you can't, but the Mommy and the Gramma can see it. But really when I sit and stare at the picture and think about it, that little notch, as little as it is, is part of her. It's how the Lord chose to make Rachel, it's a symbol of how great our God is- in providing a perfectionist of a plastic surgeon and a testament to all the prayers prayed on behalf of Rachel. She'll always have it. It's a part of her...