THE SKOOG {family}

I’ve been holding off posting this for awhile because I just didn’t know how to.  Just recently, my sister-in-law (Matthew’s older sister), was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.  Without a doubt, this news came as a shocking blow to Jen and all of us.  I, frankly, haven’t known the words to write about it, but just yesterday, Jen started a blog and wrote so eloquently and beautifully about what has happened so far and the amazing grace that God has shown to her and her whole family during this trial.  So, to read about her journey, go here.

So after the initial diagnosis, Matthew and I decided to come up from Louisville to spend some time with them.  It was AJ’s 7th birthday, so what better way to be with her than to celebrate her son’s life.  Before the party, I came over to take some family pictures.  Her chemo treatments would start in a few days, after which she would lose her hair.  So we wanted to do some family pictures before that happened, while she was still feeling good.   I really wanted this shoot to show her in her life.  I really wanted to capture memories of her with her four beautiful children and just remember a time when everything was normal.  This is going to be a long road of pain and suffering, and ultimately we are praying for complete healing, but we are trusting in a sovereign God who sees her, knows her, and loves her, no matter what the outcome.

If it’s possible, she is more beautiful on the inside than she is out.  And that’s saying something.

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

I have known this beautiful girl for longer than I’ve known Matthew.  For those of you who don’t know our story, Jen is the reason Matthew and I are together.  She always told me I’d be perfect for her brother, and I always shrugged her off as if that wasn’t possible.  She does have the ultimate “I told you so” over me as Matthew and I approach our 10 year anniversary. I cannot express in words how much I love her and how thankful I am for her.  It’s really hard for Matthew and I to be 2 hours away right now as we can’t tangibly help as much as we’d like, but we are eternally grateful for other friends and family who are outpouring their love for the Skoog family right now.  Just last week, she had a hair-shaving party where a bunch of friends and family gathered to surround her as Bryan cut all her hair off (after she began to lose it that morning). I cannot tell you just how beautiful she is.  We face-timed in so that we could be “there” with her.  She was all smiles and laughter the entire time.  For something as somber as that, it was a joyous occasion.  The light that is shining in that woman can only be explained by a big and beautiful God.  Jen has never looked more radiant.