Precious Video Showing the Marrs’ Miraculous Adoption Story Will Bring You to Tears
By Movieguide® Contributor
Jenny Marrs is reflecting on her daughter Sylvie’s adoption as she celebrates the release of JJ Heller’s new song, “Love It Here.”
“When @jjhellermusic shared her newest song with me, I was standing in a construction site surrounded by crew and subcontractors,” Marrs wrote. “We had a brief break while the camera operators set their cameras down so I clicked open the text and hit the ‘play’ button. Every sound on that job site faded away as JJ’s melodic voice filled the air. Tears pooled in my eyes as I listened. Her words captured the heartbreak, the sorrow, the hope and the sheer joy of our years-long journey to adopt our daughter.”
Heller then asked if Marrs would share the family’s personal videos for a music video.
“I absolutely said ‘yes,’” the HGTV star said. “This video is a treasure for our family and I will forever cherish it. I also pray that it is an encouragement for every momma longing and praying desperate, pleading prayers for their own miracle story.”
The video features clips of the Marrs family greeting Sylvie at the airport once her adoption was finalized, as well as videos of her playing with her siblings, celebrating birthdays and spending time with her parents.
Marrs continued, “As I watch this video today, on the day of its release, I remember, years ago, as I would lie beside her at bedtime, rubbing her back and reassuring her that I was here and she is safe, she would whisper the same words night after night: ‘God carried me home, momma.’ Indeed He did, my girl. He knew that our little family would never have been complete without you. And He knew that this crazy world of ours desperately needs you to shine your brilliantly bright, beautifully radiant light.”
Movieguide® previously reported on the Marrs’ thoughts on adoption:
“[We might] look a little bit different than most, what people would consider a normal family, [but] we’re the exact same,” Dave shared.
Jenny added, “Adoption is a part of our family. It’s a part of our story, but they’re all just our kids.”
In an Instagram post about “Love It Here,” Heller explained the writing process for the song.
“Over the years many of you have asked me to write a song about adoption. Since I don’t have first-hand experience with it, I wanted to approach the subject with lots of care and plenty of humility,” the singer-songwriter wrote. “It’s such a gift to share all the things you love with a new family member, whether that child comes to you through adoption or you’re bringing your biological baby home from the hospital. It’s not that your home or life is perfect, but it’s beautiful…and will be made even more so when you experience it with your child.”
Heller has also spoken about her “non-traditional path” in the music industry.
“I really don’t fit in,” she wrote. “For years I thought that was a bad thing, but I don’t anymore. I finally figured out that maybe chasing radio play was not the best use of my time.”
Heller continued, “I realized that perhaps God has a quieter, non-traditional path for me and my music. Instead of wasting my energy trying to fit in, I decided to write the simple songs God put on my heart to write. I committed to creating music for the sake beauty, truth and peace, without the goal of national radio play. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past five years: releasing a new song (sometimes two songs!) every single month… and it’s been the most creatively fulfilling season of my life.”
