the bratschie family: monday mini-session

I love the Bratschie family. Not only are they amazing people who are closely tied to two organizations that are near and dear to my heart (Breakthrough Urban Ministries and the Lawndale Christian Health Center), but they are also beautifully creative, loving, warm and friendly people full of laughter and joy. It is so cool to see them raise their children up in the ways of the Lord and worship our Creator as they pause and celebrate the unique opportunity that marriage and child rearing are in this life here on earth. It was such a privilege to be in their new home this past Monday and to welcome their beautiful baby boy to the world, since our last time together when he was still in the womb! It has been such a blessing to document friends and families as the Lord continues to shower His goodness on them despite so many awful things going on around us each day. See, "I am doing a new thing" He says. "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper" (Jeremiah 29:5-7). Praise God for the Westside of Chicago. Prosper it good LORD; take this good work that you have begun and bring it to completion for the day that Christ returns.