:: Don’t Blink or You’ll Miss It ::

:: Ben's Lifestyle Session ::

We had the pleasure of capturing a day in the life of Ben, and his mom Jenny, this past January. Ben is a vibrant 4 year old, who is full of personality and a plethora of goofy faces and Jenny is his adoring mom, full of love and light. We decided to step outside the box on this one and I asked Jenny, if she wouldn't mind being a guest writer on Ben's blog post. I've always enjoyed listening to mothers describe their children and as Mother's Day 2015 quickly approaches, I couldn't imagine a  better time then now to share Ben and Jenny's beautiful story.

"I blinked and now my Ben is 4! He is your typical 4 year old boy. He loves to wrestle, play with tractors, pretend to be a variety of animals, and do anything with his cousin. However, his short life has not been typical. His daddy, Aaron, my husband of 5 ½ years, was diagnosed with cancer when Ben was 4 ½ months. That doctor appointment changed the course of our lives forever. Over the next 18 months of surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, emergency rooms, and hospice, Aaron displayed bravery, grace, and lived out his faith in Jesus.

Aaron’s legacy and love has not been lost on Ben. Ben has been heard begging for a picture of Daddy to make Mamma change her mind about no candy for breakfast. He insisted that the beautiful quilt made of Aaron’s favorite shirts be placed on his bed and his bed only. When he reaches for a baseball cap, it is always one of his daddy’s. When Ben misses his daddy, he immediately smiles at the thought of Heaven.

When Ben was born, he was an exact replica of Aaron down to the big cheeks and the furrowed brow while he slept. The cheeks have thinned as he has grown but I am so grateful that God has preserved many of Aaron’s features like that cleft chin and awkward forced smile. As he grows I can see more of myself in his brown eyes and expressive eyebrows. He is an observer, emotional, and a snuggler like his mamma. He is goofy, thoughtful, curious, kind, all characteristics his daddy passed on to him. What a joy it is to find myself laughing and saying, “Well, hello Aaron” as Ben busts out another “Aaron face.”

When Jason and Emma came to our new home to take Ben’s 4 year pictures, I was thrilled. It was an opportunity to use items with dear meaning as backdrops and capture our life in this colorful chapter. Ben and I are still working our way to and through our “new normal” and we are having a blast." -Jenny

You can read more about Ben and Jenny's journey on her blog  http://theadventuresofbabymoeller.blogspot.com. She's eloquent, reflective, and full of strength. I admire EVERYTHING about her, especially her steadfast faith. I hope that one day, I can be half the mother she is. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your lives, Jenny!

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Ben's Favorite Quilt made up of his Dad's favorite shirts

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