Schipper Family

What is it like to do a photo shoot with a family of seven?  Well, it was a blast, and the children were amazing and so full of beans and joy that the hour flew by so quickly.  It helped that we were in a beautiful orchard with incredible weather.  It was warm, the apples were delicious and this family was gorgeous…

Let me introduce you to the Schipper family.  Ryan and Carlena met at University.  After promising herself to not date in her first year, Carlena found herself intrigued by this boy who kept finding excuses to hang out on her porch.  Within the first month, they were dating…

 

They were married in 2003, after dating for four years, and lived in Toronto for the first year while Ryan taught at a local high school.  After moving to Charlottetown, PEI, they bought their first home, had their first two children, two little girls.  In 2007 Ryan left Carlena for 6 months to train for the RCMP in Regina.  The family followed him out west, and their two children, boys, were born just outside of Edmonton, Alberta.  In 2012, the family moved to Ottawa, Ontario for Ryan was accepted as part of the RCMP Musical Ride.  Their fifth child, another little girl was born in 2014.  This is where they remain at this point, with many people around them hoping that they’re here to stay!   

As a family, the Schippers love to go for bike rides, spending lots of time outdoors, entertaining people at their home, caring for others, and just settling in for a movie night together.  

If you were to talk to anyone about their encounters with the Schipper family, the overwhelming response is that they are filled with love and this is evident in their actions.

As a couple, there can’t be a lot of time for ‘just the two of us’, so Carlena and Ryan find moments in regular life to spend time together, and to embrace the business of their life!    

“While dating…just talking…getting to know each other was so fascinating. Watching sports is a big part of Ryans life…so just snuggling up on the couch beside him makes me happy. Before kids we always loved to play beach volleyball together. ..hanging out with good friends. Now that we have kids we live vicariously through them in the sport aspect.“

When I asked Carlena to comment on life as a mom of five busy children, this was her response…no edits, just real.  Thanks Carlena for sharing!

“The toughest job I have ever signed up for. You don’t know until you have been in it what it really takes. I have never cried so much…loved so much…hurt so much…trusted God so much. 5 children…I remember before Ryan and I were even dating we were talking about having kids (not necessarily together 😉)…and all I ever wanted was to be a Mom. We both wanted 4 kids…God has richly given us 5…wouldn’t want it any other way. But when I rewind back to that conversation with Ryan 17 years ago…we had no idea what it was even like to be parents. It was this romantic ideal in our heads…and yes it did turn romantic…but we are still on the path of life. Daily striving to be better parents…better partners…seeking righteousness, a righteousness that only come through Christ.”

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