Parenting

Mom's Joyful Photos Celebrate Every Person Who Helped Her Adopt This Little Girl

ParentingPublished Mar 24, 2017
By Jeanne Sager
featured-img-of-post-203746Millie Holloman Photography

Millie Holloman always knew she'd become a mom. She just didn't know the path she'd take to get there ... at least not until she began looking into foster care. As a photographer, Holloman was a business owner with a flexible schedule and plenty of room in both her heart and her house. Now three years after signing on to care for kids who need it most, Holloman has just become a "legal" mom, and a beautiful series of photos she shared celebrating the event shows that it really does take a village.

Holloman tells CafeMom the photos of her "village," each showing a person or people holding up a signboard with a personalized statement, celebrate the people who supported her on her journey to motherhood.

"I've often said that when I signed up for foster care, I signed up for the heartache and pain that often come with it," Holloman wrote in her now viral Facebook post. "But my family and friends didn't sign those papers, just me. I just drug them all into it. They've been through the ups and downs with me. They've supported me when I called crying after court hearings or given me a shoulder to cry on when I've had to buckle kids in their car seat and send them off with another family to love. They have fallen in love with these kids and they have prayed big prayers for us all. They have stepped up and filled in the gaps for the roles I can't be to these kids."

She never meant for the photos celebrating her adoption and her village to go viral -- she just wanted daughter Vera Wren to have something to look back on, something to show her how incredibly loved and wanted she was from the very first day of her new life.

1/17
The Judge-placeholder
The Judge
Millie Holloman Photography

The Judge

Although Holloman had already planned to feature a signboard photo of Vera, it was her sister-in-law who suggested they feature signboard statements in images of other people celebrating the day, and Holloman wanted each one to be special.

Holloman's lawyer had to ask the judge to throw an adoption ceremony for little Vera -- although common in some jurisdictions, they're not usually held in Holloman's area. The judge readily agreed, noting he wanted to take part in a happy ending ... leading to the saying on his signboard!

2/17
Thanks Be to God-placeholder
Thanks Be to God
Millie Holloman Photography

Thanks Be to God

Vera was just 2 years old and had just entered the foster care system when she went to stay with Holloman for a short time (she later returned when her case changed from "pending" to "able to be adopted"). The woman pictured brought Vera to her future mom's home all those years ago!

3/17
The Social Worker-placeholder
The Social Worker
Millie Holloman Photography

The Social Worker

Holloman has been able to foster eight different kids since she began as a foster mom, and a social worker from the Bair Foundation helped her as she walked through the process from fostering Vera to adopting her.

More from CafeMom: 18 Adorable Newborns Who Look as Grumpy About Being Awake as We Are

4/17
Love!-placeholder
Love!
Millie Holloman Photography

Love!

Friends and family both came in to help welcome Vera officially to the family.

5/17
Cousins Forever-placeholder
Cousins Forever
Millie Holloman Photography

Cousins Forever

The 5-year-old has plenty of excited playmates!

6/17
Forever Friends-placeholder
Forever Friends
Millie Holloman Photography

Forever Friends

When Holloman shared this photos, she told the women pictured, "I can't wait to see all of the memories we will continue to create watching our kids grow up together! Your prayers are a HUGE part of [how] we got here!"

7/17
Proud Grandparents-placeholder
Proud Grandparents
Millie Holloman

Proud Grandparents

There’s no question these grandparents are thrilled!

More from CafeMom: 20 Foster Kids Celebrating the Joyful Outcome of Adoption -- a Family of One's Own

8/17
The New Aunt and Uncles-placeholder
The New Aunt and Uncles
Millie Holloman Photography

The New Aunt and Uncles

Vera has a host of new relatives!

9/17
The Witness-placeholder
The Witness
Millie Holloman Photography

The Witness

Although Holloman took several of the images, she wanted to be "in the moment" that day, so other members of her photography business team jumped in to take the bulk of the images!

10/17
Family-placeholder
Family
Millie Holloman Photography

Family

As a wedding photographer, Millie spends a lot of time with these folks planning weddings ... hence their sign!

11/17
Sorry, Guys!-placeholder
Sorry, Guys!
Millie Holloman Photography

Sorry, Guys!

Whelp, another girl cousin means even more outnumbered!

12/17
Love Conquers All-placeholder
Love Conquers All
Millie Holloman Photography

Love Conquers All

Holloman's aunts took a long trip to make sure they could be there to hug their new niece. 

More from CafeMom: 3 Years After This Photo, Childhood Cancer Survivors Reunite

13/17
The Lawyer-placeholder
The Lawyer
Millie Holloman Photography

The Lawyer

Holloman's lawyer helped make it happen!

14/17
Mom-placeholder
Mom
Millie Holloman Photography

Mom

This really says it all, doesn't it?

15/17
DIdn't We All?-placeholder
DIdn't We All?
Millie Holloman Photography

DIdn't We All?

Well, didn't you?

16/17
The Proud Girl-placeholder
The Proud Girl
Millie Holloman Photography

The Proud Girl

Forever and ever and ever, Mommy's little girl! 

More from CafeMom: 21 Magical Baby Girl Names Inspired by the Sea -- Perfect for Your Little Mermaid

17/17
Next Up-placeholder
Next Up
Millie Holloman Photography

Next Up

And a little sneak peek at what's going on next ... Holloman is in the process of adopting a little brother for Vera!

adoptionmoms
Cafemom Logo
This is motherhood #nofilter

AboutTermsContactPrivacyPRIVACY SETTINGSSUBMIT A STORY
© 2024 WILD SKY MEDIA.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PART OF WILD SKY MEDIA
| FAMILY & PARENTING
CAFEMOMMAMÁSLATINAS
LITTLETHINGSMOM.COM
This site is owned and operated by Bright Mountain Media, Inc., a publicly owned company trading with the symbol: BMTM.