• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Sum Girls Boutique
  • “SUM” Services
  • Subscribe
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • facebook
    • twitter
    • instagram
    • youtube
    • snapchat

Dim Sum and Doughnuts

A little SUMthing about growing up, making mistakes and happy endings.

Adoption is a work of heART

November 30, 2016

We first met Marla Michele Must on location at a park in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Marla contacted us to see if we’d be interested in being featured in an article for which she was being interviewed. It was an article about adoption and families in the metro Detroit area who had adopted. Marla just needed some family shots, but that meeting, on that day, turned out to be so much more.

Marla took beautiful pictures of our family. She somehow managed to capture all four of our disparate personalities without losing our energy as a family. We didn’t dress any special way, we actually didn’t do anything special to get ready. We just showed up, and Marla worked her magic.

family-pic-blog

(That’s us)

As National Adoption month draws to a close, we are honored to showcase the following selection of photos by Marla Michelle Must. Enjoy!

6e7a0479

“Being a parent wasn’t just about bearing a child. It was about bearing witness to its life.”  ~Jodi Picoult

6e7a1013

“Adoption carries the added dimension of connection not only to your own tribe but beyond, widening the scope of what constitutes love, ties, and family. It is the larger embrace.”  ~Isabella Rossellini

6e7a1369

“Little souls find their way to you, whether their from your womb or someone else’s.”  ~Sheryl Crow

6e7a1444

“Family is not defined by our genes, it is built and maintained through love.”   ~Amalia G.

6e7a4514

“However motherhood comes to you, it’s a miracle.”  ~Valerie Harper 

6e7a4586

 “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” ~Richard Bach

6e7a8969

“Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone, but still miraculously my own. Never forget for a single minute, you didn’t grow under my heart but in it.”   
~Fleur Conkling Heyliger

6e7a9007

“If you have a heart for adoption don’t let fear stand in the way.” ~Doug Chapman
Marla Michele Must is a mom to three, an adoptive mom, a child advocate, and award winning portrait artist specializing in children and families in Birmingham, Michigan. You can read about Marla and her family’s adoption journey here: http://mustlivealifelessordinary.com/2010/02/introducingour-daughter-and-little.html
Every year Marla’s studio celebrates National Adoption Awareness Month by inviting adoptive families for complimentary portrait sessions to honor and celebrate the beauty of adoption. Marla’s artwork is on display at Child And Parent Services Adoption Agency in Bingham Farms, Michigan along with many other establishments around the Metro Detroit area.
About the artist:
http://www.mmmportraitart.com/about-the-artist/
Photography Studio:
www.EnchantedByMarlaMichele.com
Fine Art Studio:
www.mmmportraitart.com
Adoption Blog:
www.mustlivealifelessordinary.com
 
Ongoing Empowerment Project:
www.RandomActsOfEnchantment.com
Happy National Adoption Month!
Thank you for being here!
marla-no-watermark
dimsumanddoughnuts-logo-sm

Related posts:

You Don't Have To Have Kids
"My Writing Process" Blog Roll Tour
In Defense Of Black Dogs: The Bruno Marshall Story
When Karma Shows Up At An Eminem Concert

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Adoption, Guest Post, Sum Of This, Sum Of That Tagged With: adoption awareness, adoption photography, metro detroit blogger, metro detroit photographer, Mommy Blog, national adoption month, parenting

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Abbey says

    December 1, 2016 at 2:35 pm

    Drop dead gorgeous…just like you! My girls came from another woman’s belly, but when God was ready, He put them in my heart. And that’s how they were born.

    Love you, BFFL.

    • Robyn says

      December 2, 2016 at 10:36 am

      Those kids of yours are DEFINITELY from your heart. They made it into mine too.
      The only thing better for this post would be a picture of your beautiful family, so you guys will just have to come visit and we can all get amazing pictures taken! Love you. BFFL. #GetThemToMe

Primary Sidebar

heading-about Dim Sum and Doughnuts
heading-subscribe

heading-categories
  • Parenthood & Parenting Tips
  • Camp Life
  • Adoption
  • Rants
  • Marriage & Family
  • Friendship
  • You’re Not Alone
  • Mailbag Monday!
  • Sum Of This, Sum Of That
  • 20 SUMthings
  • Dogs Rule
  • Relationships
  • Guest Post

heading-instagram

Before we opened, lots of people questioned why on Before we opened, lots of people questioned why on earth I’d “want to open a brick and mortar when everyone just shops online...?” 
⭐️
But you know what? SUM people like to shop in real life. They like to touch and try on. They like to be surrounded by good vibes and make memories. It’s good to get out, check out, and log off for a bit. 
⭐️
I’m not saying “Don’t shop online.” I’m just saying it’s also nice to add in another element. Small businesses are SUPER COOL and special — and I promise you, if they’re in business right now, it’s because they’re working super hard to keep their doors open. I have also been putting in the work, and I am feeling so grateful for the stellar group of customers, businesses and friends that support us and all we are trying to do. 
⭐️
Thank you @feministmomming for doing a spotlight on @dimsumanddoughnuts and @sumgirlsboutique and for reminding me how special my family, our brand, and our support system are to us. We are so grateful to have all of you in our lives and on our ride. 🙏 #SupportLocal #ShopSmall and Come Get SUM soon! 💜 #SumGirlsBoutique 
_______________________________
👗👚👖 Trendy, Sustainable Fashion + New Apparel & Accessories for Tweens * Teens * Ladies in #BerkleyMi
Challenge Accepted @poesygallery @moe_z_arts @shan Challenge Accepted @poesygallery @moe_z_arts @shan809 @debfuger @lmk126 @dianna.feldman 💜 Trying hard every day to build our brand so women and girls have a place to feel good about themselves and have SUM fun! So lucky to be surrounded by so many strong, amazing women who support me no matter what I do. 🙏💜 @sumgirlsboutique @dimsumanddoughnuts #womensupportingwomen
On Sat, March 28, 2020 our daughter’s dream came On Sat, March 28, 2020 our daughter’s dream came true ⭐️ •
•••••
Instead of having her Bat Mitzvah service in the Rabbi’s Study, family only (which was still more people than she wanted) she got to have it at home with just us! 🎉 •
•••••
Frankie will forever be the first person EVER from the congregation of #TempleBethEl to be Bat Mitzvah’d via #ZOOM in the comfort of her own home! Dress Code: #QuarantineCasual.👌🏻 •
•••••
It was the most incredible experience for our family, including #BrunoMarshall 🐾, and we couldn’t be prouder of our amazing daughter. ❤️🙏 •
•••••
#DimSumAndDoughnuts 
#GrowingUp 
#QuarantineBatMitzvah #wehadatorahinourhouse
In the midst of the COVID-19 yuckiness and all the In the midst of the COVID-19 yuckiness and all the crap it has thrown at our family (and so many others), it’s still #GotchaDay and it needs to be celebrated! 🎉 12 years this diva has been with us and we love her more every day. ❤️ 🥘 🍩 @DimSumAndDoughnuts • @sumgirlsboutique #daughterlove #daughterlife #adoptionday
#NationalAdoptionMonth, yo! 🙌🏻 If you are ad #NationalAdoptionMonth, yo! 🙌🏻 If you are adopted or have an adopted kid, take 20% OFF any one regularly priced item @sumgirlsboutique on Sat, Nov 23 cuz #adoptionrocks! 🎸 ❤️ •
•
#SumGirlsBoutique • Trendy, Current, #SustainableFashion + New Apparel & Accessories for Tweens, Teens & Ladies of all Ages in #downtownberkley
#internationaldayofthegirl is a day to promote the #internationaldayofthegirl is a day to promote the empowerment of young girls everywhere-but we try to do that everyday @sumgirlsboutique! 💜⭐️ 💪🏻 Come see us and Come Get SUM sooooon! •
•
Trendy, Current, #SustainableFashion + New Apparel & Accessories for Tweens, Teens & Ladies of all Ages in #DowntownBerkley💜@dimsumanddoughnuts
Did not know about #NationalDaughtersDay until it Did not know about #NationalDaughtersDay until it was too late, but I did write a blog post for those divas and it took me a YEAR and I hope they appreciate it one day! 😜😜 #DontBeStupid #mothersanddaughters #growingup  #DimSumAndDoughnuts #sumgirlsboutique •
•
Blog Post link in bio (It’s a gooooood one!)
Photo Cred @mikemoy
Happy #NationalDogDay from this handSUM guy! 💜 Happy #NationalDogDay from this handSUM guy! 💜 #BrunoMarshall #BlackLabs #LoveForDogs
One night only! We were all together, and now they One night only! We were all together, and now they’re all gone... 😢Cody and #BrunoMarshall came to get the divas, and now they’re #camptanuga bound! Bring on the magic • 2019 ❤️🌈⛺️#tanugamagic #tanuga #campwifelife
These two came home from NYC with two new loves: # These two came home from NYC with two new loves: #governorsisland and #pokernight - and the most love for their Uncle D 💛 @dstortion #BKgirls #DimSumAndDoughnuts / @sumgirlsboutique
#BrownAndWhiteStripes in our hearts and home and c #BrownAndWhiteStripes in our hearts and home and closets forever. ❤️ #DimSumAndDoughnuts #gonebutneverforgotten #henribendel #bendelgirlsforlife #bendelgirls | @henribendel @dimsumanddoughnuts
@dimsumanddoughnuts divas #BehindTheScenes at @sum @dimsumanddoughnuts divas #BehindTheScenes at @sumgirlsboutique 💕 @mphmarketingsolutions #DowntownBerkley
So happy we got to be a part of this amazing story So happy we got to be a part of this amazing story and that we are teamed up with the #DrewTransitionCenter in #Detroit! ❤️#SumGirlsBoutique #DimSumAndDoughnuts 
#EmpowerPotential #Confidence #Support #Smiles / @dimsumanddoughnuts
#NationalAdoptionDay 💜 #NationalAdoptionDay 💜
#HappyHalloween from #johnandyoko ❤️🎃👻 #HappyHalloween from #johnandyoko ❤️🎃👻
Late to the party, as usual. I missed #nationaldau Late to the party, as usual. I missed #nationaldaughtersday but these divas are getting a whole blog written for them one day so I don’t feel that guilty! @dimsumanddoughnuts #daughters #sisters #momlife #momblog #dimsumanddoughnuts
Follow on Instagram

heading-recent-posts

Mona

June 30, 2020

The Eyedeegafs

April 16, 2020

Don’t Be Stupid, Part 2

August 8, 2019

Don’t Be Stupid

August 15, 2018

links

  • Adoptimist.com
heading-connect
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Snapchat
MPH Marketing Solutions In Berkley, MI
funky-frog-boutique
camp-tanuge
pronto
Kay_Bratt
 

Copyright © 2022 Dim Sum and Doughnuts

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.