Meet Jason and Minti and their beautiful family. I was so excited to photograph this family, a family that I also am privileged to call “friends.” Since the first time I met Minti, when we had first moved here, they have been such a blessing to our family, taking us “strangers” in and welcoming us into their home and their lives.  So, more recently, when they were ready for some family portraits, and wanted to do it at the location they had been married out over a decade before, I wanted to create something so special and representative of their story. Minus three bee stings on one of the twins’ feet (eek, ow!), we had a really great time.
Before their photography session, I worked with Minti on the clothes to create the look that matched her vision, look beautiful on the walls of their home, and I’m so glad she was as excited as me for the finds.

Minti used these three words to describe her family, “Real, relational, and fun.” You’ll see that here. And anyone who knows them would agree.  Although I think many of us would add, “generous.”  I know these portraits will look beautiful in their home. But I also know that these tell their family’s story.

They don’t have it all together, nor pretend to, but there is also redemption, forgiveness, and a foundation of love that comes from Jesus.  And that is so stunning.  When Minti was sharing with me her hope for her children she said, “through their love for one another and actions towards one another, and to other people, that the world would see Christ through them.”  Three girls, that isn’t easy to do.  (I have two and attest to that.) But they are diligently training up, stumbling and getting back up, encouraging each other to fly, playing together, standing by one another, and fixing their eyes on the Author of amazing grace.

And one final note, Jason and Minti had a really really rocky marriage for awhile.  Not one singular point of devastation but as she says, “it was just two selfish people with very different upbringings, and a deep need to grow in Jesus, and come together.”  I didn’t know them then, but I’ve heard stories, and also how their community rallied around them, prayed, how mentors mentored and friends spoke truth in love.  And they persevered and chose forgiveness, each other, and love.  Minti told me, “To have a marriage that is ok, and good, and solid, and committed is a testimony to the miracles that God performs.”

She went on to say, “I think what I cherish most about our right now, is that we are ok.”

I’d say so, ok and beautiful and with so much love.  So maybe, it would be better to say, “They are more than ok.”

Check out this photo featured in the family photos interactive by Shutterfly!