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At first glance, we might not look like we belong to each other. None of us share an ounce of DNA and we obviously look nothing alike. But genetics don’t get to define who any of us belong to. If I believed that, I would have missed out on the greatest loves of my life. We belong to each other because we choose each other everyday, because love is thicker than blood, and because we are a “real” family. And I‘m so dang grateful I get to belong to them. #belonginglookslike #mini❤️me #oldnavystyle #ad #lovemakesafamily #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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They completed their first round of swim lessons for the summer! I did swim lessons at this same place every summer when I was growing up, so it’s so nostalgic to be back there with them. They are having a blast and think it’s so fun to wave to each other from across the pool. So glad they love it! #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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Anyone notice something different about Junia in this picture? Swipe to see what she did today with her best little buddy. When they were all done, they picked out friendship necklaces and showed off their new bling 💎 #junia_jebrianne #ivy_dee
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We almost didn’t go out this morning because of the cold and misty weather. Glad we decided not to let that hold us back, because we never regret getting out. I am so excited for long summer days with these guys! Now it’s just time for it to start feeling like summer weather! #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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🎉Congratulations to winner @lauraliszt 🎉 DM me for info on how to claim your suit!****I have teamed up with @JanelaBay for a GIVEAWAY! We are giving a free suit to one lucky winner! I’m no bathing suit model, and Nick is certainly no #instagramhusband, but here we are doing those exact things despite the discomfort it may have caused us. Lately I’ve been seeing so many posts about being body positive and celebrating how we look no matter what shape or size we are as women. I love this movement. And while I still don’t feel all that comfortable putting a picture of myself in a bathing suit out there for anyone to see, I’m thankful for the women who are making waves and reminding us that we do not need to fit into society’s idea of perfection when it comes to our bodies. That is why I love this company @janelabay! They make a variety of adorable high quality bathing suits that are great for all different body types. And I’m so excited to get to give one away. The rules are easy! Follow @melindaann Follow @JanelaBay Tag one friend who might like the suit per comment! Each tag counts as an additional entry. *for 5 bonus entries share this post on your stories and tag @melindaann and @janelabay. The Winner will be announced on 6/21 at 8 pm MST.
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I am deeply grateful to get to parent alongside him. He parents with such thoughtfulness and intentionality (as he does all things in life), and we are all better for it. Grace upon grace upon grace to me in this picture. Happy Father’s Day @nkinnier. We love you more than words can say. #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne #happyfathersday #graceupongrace
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The kids went swimming recently in the jacuzzi with their cousins on the roof of the beach house. When they got out, I asked Silas if we should get a jacuzzi. His response: “No......(long pause).....we should get a beach house.” Touché 👌🏾 #silasfranklin
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He lost his first tooth today!! A couple weeks ago, he came into our room in the middle of the night crying that his tooth was loose. I deliriously told him he was just having a bad dream and that that wouldn’t happen until he was 6 or 7. But sure enough, his tooth was actually loose, and we’ve been waiting on this thing to come out, despite my denial of him being old enough for this to happen. Swipe to see the moment he finally let me pull it out! #silasfranklin
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Clearly he’s her favorite. And she has him wrapped around her finger ☝🏾 #junia_jebrianne
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It actually felt like summer today 🙌🏾 Not sure how long it will last, but we’ll be right here as long as it does ☀️ #junia_jebrianne
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Waitin’ on summer like.... • But really, we’re seeing all these school’s out pool party posts, and we’re still waiting for this May gray/June gloom to burn off. I even have the heater on today 😳 Does it feel like summer where you’re at yet? #silasfranklin
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My miracles 💞 #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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There’s not much I love more than little ponds, but finding them in our neck of the woods is no easy feat. So having a picnic lunch here yesterday made my pond loving heart leap like the little frog in the second picture 😉 #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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Today was 👍🏾 and 😄, just like Silas and Junia are expressing in this picture. We found a new (to us) hike, and had lunch next to the cutest little pond. The goodness of these days with my people is overwhelming. Straight magic 💫 Adding some of my favorite moments to my stories. #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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I want to give them the most beautiful life full of adventure and fun, and I wish every day looked like this photo. But there are days like today where we don’t leave the house and the most exciting activity is getting to take a ride in the Jeep to FedEx with Daddy. Since that’s not the car Nick or I typically drive, Silas tends to claim it’s the “best day ever” anytime he gets to ride in it, so today wasn’t a total fail. We’re working towards having more days like the one in this picture that I took while I was on my Instagram hiatus. Bring on summer! #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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Our favorite secret trail that we always have completely to ourselves. It ends at a picnic table overlooking the ocean, and every time we reach that spot to sit and have lunch or do school, Silas says without fail, “We should really do this more often.” We go about once a week, but once a day feels more appropriate considering this view. #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne #brontiethedoodle
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Sometimes we try to clean and organize our garage together, which pretty much always leads to a fight. This usually happens after a party when I’ve haphazardly shoved everything out there to get it out of sight, and then Nick is sure it should all go to goodwill. But then we have a date night with wine and cheese and the sunset over the ocean, and the crap overflowing in the garage doesn’t feel all that important anymore. Because I really do love hanging out with him. Anyone else fight with their spouse over the garage, or is that just us?
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Love these boys and our Disney days together. Yesterday I asked the kids if they wanted to go to Disneyland today, and they said no (the magic wears off when you have passes and can go anytime 🙄). But when I told Silas that Eli would be going too, he emphatically yelled that yes he actually did want to go. We’re so thankful for friends that make life more fun and who actually make us want to venture to the happiest place on earth! @lnshaw #silasfranklin #eliking
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I think this is my favorite picture from Junia’s party. It so perfectly portrays the chaos of trying to get a picture of all the cousins together. Silas was trying to keep Junia away from her cake because she wanted to touch it. He feels a strong sense of responsibility to protect the world from Junia 🤣. You can swipe to see the best we got 🙄. I adore this little squad so much! #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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We had Junia’s birthday party today, and it was pretty much the best! It was pouring rain all morning, but the sun came out just in time for the party. Silas said “I think I know why God made it rain today and then made the sky turn blue. Because he knew Junia’s birthday was going to be a rainbow party.” 🌈 🌈🌈 Rainbows and unicorns were the perfect way to celebrate our colorful sunshine girl! #junia_jebrianne
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This kid just earned his yellow stripe belt in taekwondo today! It was so fun to watch him graduate! Super proud of all his hard work 🥋 #silasfranklin #taekwondo
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I will never get over the awe and wonder I feel at being their mom. And while I think this day is too complicated and painful for too many people to merit the public celebration that so often comes with it, I do choose to celebrate it amongst my own family in our own way. Not to honor me, but to honor them. Being their mom is the most gracious gift from God that I never deserved in the first place. I am eternally grateful for them and the gift it is to be theirs. #mothersday #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne #adoption
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Their love for them is deep. They did not make the decision to place their babies with us out of any selfish motivation. It was a completely selfless act of love. Today is Birth Mother’s Day, and while we wish we could spend it with the women who gave us our greatest gifts, we are loving and honoring them from afar. Without them, we would not have this beautiful life. The depth of our gratitude and love for them is bottomless. We see them in our children everyday, and it’s the most beautiful reminder of the privilege we carry. Sending love to all the birth moms out there. I pray you feel loved and cared for and honored today and always. #birthmothersday
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Quite possibly my favorite picture of all time. Silas’s first time riding Splash Mountain did not disappoint. I forgot how fun this ride is 💦
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Spent all day at Disneyland today for Junia’s birthday! We had a ton of fun despite the broken refrigerator we woke up to this morning, the fever Nick had all day, and the 90% capacity filled park 🤷🏻♀️. Seeing these kiddos having so much fun made up for all of that. #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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We rewatch this video every year on Junia’s birthday and laugh all over again. So I figured I’d share it here one more time too. Day one of her life, and Silas was already giving her a dose of what life looks like with an older brother...🤢😆 #junia_jebrianne #silasfranklin
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It’s her 3rd birthday today, and this picture perfectly portrays who she is as a 3 year old. She is fierce and strong and brave and free spirited. She wants to be friends with everybody and will talk your ear off if you let her. She has strong opinions and has no trouble making them known. She is particularly opinionated about her wardrobe and is drawn to all things pink, frilly and obnoxious. She owns all the ridiculous articles of clothing I swore I would never buy for a daughter, because she’s that persuasive and because this girl can rock anything. She will simultaneously wear her frilliest dress while riding her scooter or wrestling her brother or practicing her karate. There are not words that can describe the depth of my gratitude to be her mom. Three years of pure joy! Happy Birthday my beautiful Junia! #junia_jebrianne
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I sat down to try to write something out for infertility awareness week thinking I might have something to say. But the reality is, I don’t want to be a spokesperson for infertility, because it’s just not an identity I choose to carry anymore. I have reached a place where I mostly just feel gratitude for infertility. My life wouldn’t be nearly as beautiful without it. We always wanted to adopt, but without infertility, we wouldn’t have our specific kids, and that’s a life I don’t want to know. There is life and hope and beauty beyond infertility. My life is a testament to that. About a year ago, I wrote a bit about what infertility is like at this point in life. The link is in my profile if you’re interested in reading the whole thing. Here’s just a part... “Not getting the miracle we think we want can sometimes lead to miracles that are immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine. I've got two to prove it.” #nationalinfertilityawarenessweek
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Easter 2019 🙌🏾 #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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Oh Happy Day! #jesusisalive #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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My Instagram Lent fast ends today, just in time for my birthday! I love celebrating this day with my favorite people, especially when it involves the yummiest donuts on earth. Thirty-eight is starting off great 🎉
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Today is Ash Wednesday and the first day of lent. While I did not have plans to give up something specific for these next 40 days, I woke up in the middle of the night last night and felt God clear as day telling me to set aside social media during this time. I woke up this morning feeling excited for what this time will hold, as I try to be more intentional in my time with God and my time with them 👆🏾without the distraction of Instagram. I hope you all have a beautiful Easter season, and I’ll see you on the other side 😍 #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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Little readers 📚 Love these little free libraries! #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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This morning I read the kids the story of Zacchaeus from the Jesus Storybook Bible. When we finished, Silas prayed for the day. It started “Dear Jesus, thank you for being IKEA’s friend...” 🙌🏾🙏🏾🙌🏾 Train ‘em up! #silasfranklin
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Rainy day pajama tea party 🌧 #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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I feel intensely grateful for them every single day. But there are some moments where that gratitude overwhelms me entirely. This blurry moment from this morning was one of those times where this life just feels too good to be true. #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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Got out today before the rain comes again tomorrow. We rode our bikes to a spot on the beach we had all to ourselves (minus that lone surfer in the background) and collected shells, planted stick trees and looked for crabs. Then Junia and I ate it on the bike on the way back. The bike was sideways on the ground with Junia stuck in her seat, and she just calmly said “um, that hurt” then laughed and laughed. Toughest girl I know. #junia_jebrianne #silasfranklin
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She likes to pretend she’s a superhero and dress up accordingly. She’ll color the palm of her hand with marker then whip it out for people, announcing “These are my powers!” Silas was wrestling with her and Nick the other day, and he gave her a pillow to use as a shield. Junia proudly said, “I don’t need a shield! I have my powers!” Today her superhero costume consisted of a wig, glasses and a paintbrush that’s actually a wand. She truly is magical 💫 #junia_jebrianne
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School looked like this today 🌟Actually it only looked like this for about 5 minutes. That 5 minutes was really nice. #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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Ended the weekend at the beach. It was cold, but that didn’t stop my kiddos from wading into the water. Today made me feel really ready for summer and warmer weather! #silasfranklin
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He’s very cautious in every area of life. But when he’s on his bike, he’s confident and fearless. I love that he can hang with his dad on mountain bike rides. I love that he loves it so much and that they get to share this activity together. I love that this boy, who could do anything and everything because he’s just so dang talented, has the need to fully analyze and process things from all angles before he’ll take a risk on something new. And I love that the mental preparation he takes allows him to be the very best at everything he ultimately decides to attempt, like mountain biking. It’s such a thrill for me as his mom to see him in his element, mud splashed and all 🚵🏾♂️ #silasfranklin
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Back when I was in college, my roommates and I would spend hours entertaining ourselves by taking pictures of ourselves making all different types of faces. We’d count to 3, then make whatever face came to mind first. This was back in the day before cell phones and forward facing cameras, so seeing how these turned out was always a fun surprise. Fast forward to life with these crazies, and I love that they love to play the same game. And I still get the element of surprise because my eyes are so bad, I can’t see the camera screen from that far away before I’ve put my contacts in for the day. #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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The weather has been throwing us for a loop, as we’re not used to so much rain. ☔️ So getting out when there’s been breaks in the storm has been so good for our cooped up little souls. Especially when it means throwing rocks off of cliffs and enjoying how GREEN everything is! #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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I think this photo perfectly portrays each of their unique personalities. •Silas: “I’m going to stay back for a bit to observe and process my surroundings so I can decide how I feel about the situation and what I’m going to do about it.” •Junia: “Look at me! Look at me! Let’s all be friends and party together!” •Brontie: “Ummmm, what’s going on?” I adore how unique they each are and how their opposite personalities compliment each other so perfectly. Silas is the cautious protector to Junia and her wild ways, and Junia helps Silas let loose. They are so good for each other. #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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Happy Valentine’s Day from rainy Southern California! #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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Decade Day at school with my boy today! I’m not totally sure what decade Silas is...70’s? 80’s? But this kid can pull off any look, so who cares. My dress was my mom’s back in the 70’s, which she wore WITHOUT the leggings. And she’s taller than me. So yeah. Go Mom! Junia was supposed to be our little 80’s tagalong, but she currently has a fever and a cough, so she had to stay home with Daddy and miss the fun. We’ll have to save the leg warmers for another day 👩🏾🎤🕺🏾#silasfranklin
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Junia had a little ice cream date today with her buddy Eli. Her brother tagged along, but that didn’t stop this girl from making a move. Swipe to see what caused these guys to make these faces. #junia_jebrianne #eliking
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These unusually stormy Southern California days are really making us happy right now. We’re only lamenting the fact that we have just one umbrella between all of us ☔️ #junia_jebrianne
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This morning Nick announced “This is the kind of weather most people stay home for, but not us.” Glad he pushes us to get outside even when it seems counterintuitive. Life’s a whole lot more fun out here. #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
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Stormy morning walk! Grabbed some hot chocolate, then braved the high winds on the pier. So good to get out before the rain started dumping on us! #silasfranklin #junia_jebrianne
