She Magazine NOVEMBER 2015 | Página 104

Adoption Higher Grounds Photography feature Portrait of Love CRISTI, SCOTT & LEXIE KINDER CRISTI AND SCOTT KINDER WERE CLOSE TO BECOMING EMPTY NESTERS. Their son Brandon had graduated from college, married, and moved away. Daughter Jordan had also completed college and was working in another town. Ryane, their youngest, was a junior in high school. “The days of having three children playing three different sports or dance recitals were gone.” However, God had major plans for the Kinders.   In a small group study focused upon Nehemiah and leadership, Cristi and Scott were focusing on being the hands and feet of Jesus. “The study seemed to lean us toward having the courage to take the first step in something huge and having faith that God would see us through the next.” The group decided they wanted to become involved within the community. One of the options mentioned was the John K. Crosswell Home for Children. “I offered to make the call to gather information. I spoke with the director the day after our group met, and he invited Scott and me to come out anytime. The very next afternoon was filled with overwhelming emotion as I was able to put real faces to a huge population of children. I knew I had found the place where I could express the passion that God placed deep in my heart when He created me. From that day forward, I spent many hours at the Home loving on children.”  She remembers the first moment she saw Lexie. “We met her February 23, 2007, on our first visit. Her physical appearance was much different from any child I had ever seen, but she had such a sweet spirit.” It was t