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angel whisper

C A P T U R E D  blog followers may recognize those big beautiful blue eyes from the Barnes family portrait session last fall.   Gina was so thrilled with her C A P T U R E D experience she was excited to return for Jake’s 2-year-old portrait session.   I was delighted to spend time with this sweet family again!

Jake is a bundle of curiosity.   He’s his Momma’s Little Angel and Gina wears her heart on her sleeve when it comes to her surprise blessing.  She just plain and simple gushes over her kids in a way that resonates from deep within her. 

 She melts into a puddle when Jake says, “Mommy hold you!” and “Mommy lay down with my Jacob!”   I have a feeling Gina’s just the first of many women whose heart will be melted by Jake’s tenderness.

(I got Jake into position and asked Gina to quickly grab a handful of blocks—look at the block he’s playing with!  Those who know Gina know she’s affectionally called G by those close to her.) 

Gina and Erik have been tenacious about instilling kindness and courteousness into their children, which was abundantly evident on our session last fall.  What was really sweet was to see Jake now, at just two, using please and thank you without any promptings from mom! 

Jake may be just turning two, but he’s already following in Alex and Sophia’s footsteps with a quick learning curve.  He’s already singing his alphabet and counting to 10, sometimes to 20 with help!   

Erik is passing on the Barnes men charm to Jake.  He’s taught Jake to say, “Hello Ladies,” in a deep voice when he sees a group of women!  Man, I want to be there to see that sometime! 

(Jake demonstrating his La Bamba dance…for a moment anyway!)

Life is a great teacher for those who will pause to hear the lessons.   Gina is a vibrant, healthy mother of three who is in love with her family.  Gina is also a wife and mother who recently began the fight of her life with a recent diagnosis of stage III colon cancer. 

Nobody was more surprised about this than Gina and Erik—the woman who does P90X and eats healthy should never hear those words.  What Gina is finding in this battle that forces her to summon all her reserves, shored up by family and friends, is that family is everything. 

She’s clinging tightly to her kids and soaking in her time as they cheer on her battle, determined to beat this cancer battle into submission and have it begging for mercy with a kick to the teeth a year from now! 

Gina shared this story about Jake on her Lifebridge site, “This weekend I was putting Jake down for his nap.  Usually, when I put him down for his nap I read a story and then he leans toward his bed and says “bed”.  This time, I read him a story and the little bugger squeezed his hand between the rocker and my back. He started patting my back and then looked at me with his big blue eyes and said, “Mommy, it’s gonna be okay!”  He repeated this several times to me.  I thought, what is he talking about?  I honestly try to put this whole thing out of my mind, but at that moment it hit me.  I said Jake, “Are the Angels talking to you buddy?”  And, again, he repeated “Mommy, it’s gonna be okay!”  WOW, talk about moving.  As I have always said, the Lord works in mysterious ways and I guess he was working through my Little Angel Jacob Anthony!”

Is it any wonder, God tells us to become like little children to experience true life?  

“Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”  Psalm 8:2

how i’d paint you…

  1. Tammy says:

    I read this post and just got chills — the good kind and watery eyes. My prayers are with you and your family. Your big blue eyed Jake is truly an angel. BTW – my favorite photo is the one where he is sticking out that cute belly — made me giggle.

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