So this session…it’s actually quite comical when I think back on it. We did this session the night before our family’s beach week. Collin and I thought we’d scoot down to the beach a night early and leave the kids at home with grandparents. You know, one night sans children before the craziness of living in a house with seven children for a week. Not that we don’t love that week. We truly do. But a kid free night at the beach? Um, yes. Every single time, YES. We arrived, checked into the hotel, had supper, and met Kevin and Jen for the session. We were parked in one parking lot and saw them arrive and park in the lot adjacent to the one we were in, so we drove over there. We turned the car off, chatted for a few minutes about where we would start photographing, and decided to drive to a different area. Except our car wouldn’t start. The car that was JUST RUNNING, literally 90 seconds ago. The car that was loaded down with ALL of our stuff and most of my parents’ stuff for a week at the beach. Nice. No matter, we were quickly losing light so we hopped into their van and decided to worry about the car after the session. The session went great. These kids are hilarious and the dynamic that this family has going on is so much FUN. We didn’t stop laughing the entire time we were with them. And even though it was perhaps the windiest night of the summer, it all worked out and I love this session! But in the back of my mind the whole time I’m thinking “Why in the world won’t the car start and Oh MY Goodness how are we going to get to the hotel and We’re at a state park why didn’t we just camp in the first place You know this, Aron…Camp. Always Camp!!” We made it back to the car and sure enough, still won’t start. I’m not even going to go into all of the details about what you have to go through just to be able to leave a broken down car at a state park, but trust me, it’s CRAZY. And these seven people hung with us the ENTIRE TIME. And they didn’t even act annoyed about it. Finally the state park guy was able to get it to start using his jumper cables (Yes, we had already tried that, it just never worked until right then). We made it to the hotel and the next day discovered that there was a bad battery connection. It was maybe the craziest session we’ve ever had. And I am SO thankful that it happened with them. Because they were AWESOME about it, even though it was after 9:00 and they hadn’t had supper yet. There was never one complaint from any of the kids. They ROCK!!
And I’m going to end this post with some of Jen’s own words that she posted on Facebook earlier this week, because she says it better than I ever could and in a way that is so personal and so beautiful. She was commenting on her crazy morning getting five children out the door and to school…in the midst of a giant house remodel…and a very busy time in life. And her words are beautiful and bring glory to her Savior, something I’ve seen her do countless times over the past couple of years. Jen and Kevin, we are so thrilled for all seven of you! Can’t wait to see this family become ONE great big family this weekend! Here’s what she said:
This kitchen would make most people crazy… Which is how I felt getting all 5 of my precious kids out the door to school this morning…. Surely a bomb had exploded! But, after dropping them off at school…..the vibrant excited, happy ones that have all been through so much pain in the past 2 years, … after they chatted & giggled all the way there, then prayed before exiting the van….then The Lord met me on the way home..and whispered in my ear, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” With tears pouring I walked back in to this kitchen….. Seeing it in a new light…With all the signs of a big family, moving, remodeling, living… I am reminded of the depths of His goodness & mercy.. That His plans, though excruciating at times, are always for our good..but most importantly for His glory.. That He loves me with an EVERLASTING love, that He REDEEMS the years the locusts have eaten and RESTORES the broken hearted.. That His plans are to prosper us & not to harm us.. That He will work ALL THINGS for the good of those who love Him and who trust in Christ.. .. I praise the One who saved me, comforts me provides for me, loves me, restores & redeems me… My faith and hope are so well placed in His Being.
