Right before the short rainy California season, I had the opportunity to photograph a beautiful family’s portraits! I met the Sabio family my freshman year of high school! Uncle Ren, the father of the Sabio clan, was my volleyball coach at the time, and his five sons would come to practice occasionally to help out! After some time, my best friend Abi, who was also on the freshman volleyball team, and I ended up attending his church’s youth services, where we grew to serve at in our later high school years! As we got to know their family, and hung out more with the Sabio boys, we all grew together in our faith along side of our fellow brothers and sisters at IVVC (its name at the time). :)

It’s crazy to think that I’ve come to know this family over the course of nearly 10 years! It’s been so cool to see how each of them has grown, and been changed, by the Lord! And even crazier to see that one of them is married & has a beautiful child! Uncle Ren and Auntie Leah are both faithful servants in the church, whether it’s serving directly in their ministries, or opening up their house for various ministries, and times of fellowship! Uncle Ren was a senior pastor for quite some time, while Auntie Leah also served faithfully in the children’s ministry for many years! While they had much fruit in their church ministries, it’s awesome to see the fruits of their labor in their family as well!

While most of their children are here in Murrieta, two of their youngest sons are currently serving on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, so having them all together for this session was a very special time! I’m so thankful Auntie Leah contacted me and gave me the opportunity to photograph their family portraits! :) 

Now, it’s time to meet the Sabio family! From left to right, here’s Nick, David, Brittany, Wes, Cana, Uncle Ren, Auntie Leah, Gail, Aaron, and Joshua!

 

 

Joshua 24:15 is the

“…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

– Joshua 24:15

 

Serving the Lord is serious business to this family.

Uncle Ren and Auntie Leah have been married for 25 years, now. To this day, I still am not completely sure how it all happened, but according to Uncle Ren, Auntie Leah proposed. ;)

“We “met” over a few summers of our respective churches being involved in Summer Sports Leagues for b-ball and Vball.  We got to really know each other on the 1988 PI Summer Missions Trip with Campus Crusade for Christ.  She proposed and I accepted so we got married on 2/11/89.”

 

 

 

Auntie Leah and Uncle Ren were blessed with five talented boys in their family! How it came to be five, you ask? Well… truth be told, they were praying for a baby girl! Haha! But they couldn’t be more pleased with their five sons!

 

 

 

The faces above are the faces we got during volleyball practices… especially when we messed up or let the ball drop without anyone touching the ground…

 

 

 

 

As much as these guys enjoy their serious man photos, the behind the scenes look at the Sabio boys are more like the following:

 

 

 

 

Years ago, they took a photo holding their youngest brother, Josh, when he was a child. They tried recreating this photo and while they succeeded… it’s clearly evident that while he’s the youngest… he’s no longer the littlest… Haha!

 

 

 

 

Little did Uncle Ren and Auntie Leah know how their (already slightly big) family would grow to be even bigger over the years!

“Wesley is a sure and steady leader.

Aaron is naturally funny.

Nick is naturally gifted in all he does.

David has a quiet and perceptive presence.

Joshy is a happy kid.

Gail is strong and independent.

Brittany is a gentle spirit.”

– Uncle Ren

 

 

 

 

Back in 2009, Gail moved in with the Sabio family, becoming a beautiful addition to their family! She was best friends at first with the two oldest sons, Wesley & Aaron, in high school, and was accepted happily into their family as one of their own before she even moved in!

In 2012, the Sabio clan welcomed in another beautiful daughter when Brittany married Wes, and became an official Sabio! And from Wes and Brittany came in the first Sabio daughter to be birthed into their family: sweet little Cana Grace. :)

 

 

 

 

Wes & Brit have been married now for two years, and it’s been so sweet to see how God’s been blessing their lives together!

 

 

 

 

One of their biggest blessings that their entire family enjoys is their sweet baby girl, Cana, who is greatly adored by each of their family members! My Instagram feed is always flooded with sweet pictures of her and captions of how proud they are to be her family, or how much they love her! She is one loved child!

 

 

 

I loved the next few pictures of Cana being loved on by her dad and her uncles! I’m sure this was one of her favorite parts of the session! :)

 

 

The day of their session was a bit rainy. Right before their session it was raining quite a bit, but thankfully, it had stopped raining just in time for their session! But in case it happened, Auntie Leah and I thought it would be fun to use umbrellas during their session as both props, and for use! :)

 

 

 

& That’s a wrap! :)

 

 

I had so much fun with the Sabio Family! Thanks so much for letting me photograph your sweet family! May God continue to bless each one of you in your individual ministries! :)

Also, special thanks to my dear friend, Sam, who also helped me with during their session!

Happy Friday!!