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Strong Like Keaton, St. Louis, MO (2026)

05/08/2026

The Morning Sun | Proverbs 4:18 ☀️

They say I’m strong.
That Keaton got his strength from me.

But the truth is… I think a lot of mine came from him.

He battled quietly. Determined. Never wanting pity. Never shying away from hard work, hard conversations, or hard roads. Even on the toughest days, he still wanted to LIVE. Still wanted to laugh. Still wanted to talk cattle, hay, equipment, weather, sunsets, and what tomorrow might bring.

This morning as the sun came up over the farm, I found myself sitting in the silence realizing how things are somehow so different without him here… and yet so very much the same.

The same sunrise.
The same chores.
The same routines.
The same muddy boots by the door.

And yet everything feels different now.

Last night I was talking with someone who meant the world not only to Keaton, but to our family too. We were talking about timing. About how when it was his time, he created peace around it.

4/18 — 8:34am.

For three weeks I’ve wrestled with why that exact time keeps sitting heavy on my heart. Why those numbers mattered so much.

But Keaton loved numbers. Loved math. We’d spent this whole journey looking for little signs, symbols, and meanings tucked inside moments.

Then it hit me.

Proverbs 4:18 —
“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”

The morning sun.

The very thing I’ve been watching every day trying to feel close to him again.

It stormed all night that Thursday. Keaton hated storms. But do you know what else we’ve seen over and over these last few weeks?

Rain.
Sunrises.
And double rainbows.

Not randomly.
Not accidentally.

God and Keaton reminding us where to look.

Pointing us back toward faith. Toward light. Toward hope.

Keaton’s legacy isn’t that cancer won. Because for the last couple weeks of his life, he kept telling Jason and I the same thing over and over:

“God healed me.”

At the time, maybe we didn’t fully understand what he meant. We were praying for earthly healing. But Keaton already understood something bigger than all of us.

Healing doesn’t always mean staying.

Sometimes healing means freedom.
Peace.
Wholeness.
No more pain.
No more exhaustion.
No more fighting.

And while our hearts are still here learning how to carry grief, I truly believe his spirit is still living through every one of us.

In the kindness we choose.
In the hard work we continue doing.
In the faith we cling to.
In every sunrise we stop long enough to notice.

He is still here.

Not in the way we desperately wish.
But in the way God promises eternity.

So we keep going.
We keep living.
We keep loving loudly.
We keep making hay while the sun shines.

Because if Keaton taught us anything, it’s that life is precious, faith is powerful, and even broken hearts can still carry light.

And maybe that’s what being strong really means.

☀️ 🌧️ 🌈

Lord,
Give us strength for the roads we never expected to walk. Give us guidance when grief clouds our vision and peace when our hearts struggle to understand. Remind us that even in the storms, You are still present in every sunrise, every rainbow, and every quiet moment of hope.

Help us trust Your perfect timing in all things; even when it’s hard, even when it hurts. Let us continue to live with faith, love deeply, and carry forward the light Keaton left behind in each of us.

Amen.

04/30/2026

| The Memories We Hold (4.30.26)

There are some weeks where the words just don’t come.
And this was one of them.

I told myself I wasn’t going to post… because what’s left to say that hasn’t already been felt so deeply?

But when life feels this heavy…
these are the moments I hold onto.

The laughter.
The long days on the farm.
The grit.
The quiet strength he carried so naturally.

These pictures… they’re more than memories.

They’re reminders.

Reminders that tough times don’t just make strong people… they reveal them. And Keaton was one of the strongest I’ve ever known.

It won’t ever be easy doing life without him here beside us.
There are moments every single day where the silence feels louder than anything else.

But I know this…. he’s still here in the ways that matter most.

In every sunrise over the pasture.
In every tractor ride.
In every windrow raked, each bale made, every chore finished, every step forward we take…

He’s watching.
Probably smiling.
Probably shaking his head at us figuring things out the hard way. Telling me I should have had those pliers all along.

That was Keaton though…

faith-filled, resilient, steady.
The kind of strength that didn’t just carry himself…
it lifted everyone around him.

He taught us more than we’ll ever be able to put into words.

About faith.
About grit.
About showing up even when it’s hard.

And now… we carry that forward.

We honor his last request—to LIVE.
To keep going.
To find joy again.
To build something that matters.

That’s where his legacy continues.

Through the stories we share.
Through the way we choose to LIVE, really LIVE life.

And through the scholarship foundation in his name, supporting those chasing a future in agriculture and the medical field—two paths that shaped his journey and his heart.

That’s how we make sure his impact keeps growing.

Not just here on the farm or social media but in the lives of others.

Some days will be heavy.
Some days will feel impossible.

But we’ll keep going.
Because he showed us how.

We are forever,
Strong Like Keaton. 🤍

04/22/2026

Today, as we gather for one last church service with Keaton, we know not everyone is able to be here in person—and we want you to know you are still a part of this. Near or far, or for many of us farmers sitting in a tractor seat.

If you would like to join us, the service will be available to watch live this morning at 10:00 AM CST through the Bienhoff Funeral Service page (link pinned in comments).

Though miles & acres may separate us, we will all be together in spirit—honoring a life that meant so much to so many.

Thank you for continuing to surround our family with your love, prayers, and support. 🤍

04/18/2026

🩶

Saying goodbye is never easy.
Saying it when you don’t know when you’ll see someone again… is something words will never fully hold.

Today, we share that Keaton is no longer here on this earth with us.

But if you knew him, you know he’s not gone from what he loved. He’s just been called to higher ground. We picture him now tending cattle in Heaven’s pastures, whole, free, and at peace.

Our hearts are broken, but there is also a quiet peace knowing he’s no longer fighting, no longer hurting.

We ask for continued prayers ~ for peace, for strength, and for the days ahead as we learn how to navigate life without him here beside us.

Please keep JaeB and Rex especially close in your prayers.

Thank you for loving Keaton.
Thank you for walking this road with us.
Thank you for being part of his story.

We will carry him with us, always.

With love,
Jason, Kayla, JaeB & Rex

{4.18.2026}

🔗 to the full obituary in the comments.

04/15/2026

4.15.26 | Life Long Pals 🐾

A lot of messages, calls, texts… and a lot of unknowns in between. I know so many of you have been checking in and asking how Keaton is doing this week.

The simple answer is — he’s exhausted.
He’s sleeping a lot.

We were able to get out this morning for a quick adjustment with our favorite, Dr. Ashley. Since then, he’s been resting comfortably at home. And while he’s tired, he’s not in a lot of pain — and that alone is something we are deeply thankful for.

After a full week of visitors, we’re now honoring Keaton’s wishes to keep things quiet. Slower days. Fewer voices. Just rest.

Thank you for continuing to walk this road with us — through the unknowns, the hard, and the quiet moments in between. Please continue to pray for peace, grace, and understanding.

🤍

📖 “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you…” — 2 Peter 3:9

Lord, we may not understand Your timing, but we trust Your heart. Bring peace into the waiting, grace into the hard moments, and comfort into the quiet. Wrap Keaton in rest and strength, and help us lean into You when answers feel far away. Amen. 🙏🏼

04/09/2026

4.9.26

Obviously by now you might have heard or seen a post on either my personal page or my CoK page asking for prayers & strength.

Our MRI results from Mondays scans came in with hard appointments on Tuesday morning. While the radiation did indeed work on the tumor Keaton has battled since November 2024, the disease has now spread to other areas. All in a matter of a very short time.

As we know from numerous times over the last 16 months that this is an extremely aggressive disease that did not respond by any sort of chemotherapy.

This is one of the most difficult posts I’ve written. Because I know there will be questions. That I just don’t have the answers too.

Only God does.

Only God knows our true timeline.

We sat Tuesday in the mist of an appointment no one was expecting the outcome. Besides God. Keaton has lost his ability to hear. Making to difficult for him to communicate but he stopped Dr Perkins mid sentence to pray. It was one of those times I wished I’d of just pulled my phone out.

He asked God for Strength, for healing, and when one door closes another will open. And I have to hold onto those words and let it carry me through the next stages.

There is no exact timeline to life. But God already knew this before Keaton ever decided he was going to be a tractor driving, Hay Raking, Farm Kid.

The lives & Light Keaton has touched over the last almost 2 years is and what Gods purpose for him was. Cancer was not that purpose but sharing his faith. His grit. His grace. His courage. His hard work & determination.

God doesn’t send testimonies to hurt us but to use us. God calls unto us. To lead. And Keaton has led. Yesterday he canceled breakfast club for the first time in over 6 weeks. But that didn’t stop those friends from showing up when he needed them.

I am thankful for each and every parent who signed their student out yesterday to stop in and be here to lift Keaton up. I am grateful for the faculty & administration of our School District that has stuck by our family from the beginning. Personally driving the breakfast club out during the school day so we didn’t have to stres about one of our beloved girls driving the crew.

We have said it from the beginning Keaton is one of a million. He’s an old soul in so many ways. Would have rather talked to an adult about field work and tractors than go hang with his buddies.

This will not be an easy road to navigate - we ask for special prayers for baby sis Jae. Keatons been her big brother hero since the very first day he put his hand on her NICU “incubator” & became her hero & protector. For Rex who will have to learn to let go in a way animals don’t always understand these sorts of goodbyes. For Jason & I - but also for every person Keaton has impacted, may you feel God’s love through him.

Thank you for the messages, the meals, the coffees, the memories, the prayers. It means a lot to us

Jason, Kayla, Keaton & JaeB.

🩶🩶🩶🩶

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…” — Revelation 21:4

A Prayer for this morning, will be in the comments 🩶

Take a walk back of jus some of my fav moments 🩶

04/06/2026

4.6.26

It’s MRI & Lab day 🩻🩸- Keaton said “I’m prob the only kid who still “works” and brings Hay to a client while going to the hospital”.

Thankfully today we got to see one of his favorite nurses, Tami at West. She port accessed him & drew his labs before sending him down to his MRI. This was the full Brain + Spine MRI, to compare what things looked like post Radiation in March.

Things we do know:

☀️ Every Day is a Blessing. Even on the harder ones.
👩‍⚕️ We have an amazing Team that honors Keaton
🐕 Rex is one of a kind & learning new skills
🚜 Keaton still plans to be in the fields in a few short weeks
💛 We are incredibly thankful for the support & prayers (and mom’s iced coffees!)

One of my favorite Bible verses instructing to "be strong and courageous" is Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go".

We ask for specifically in prayers for this week:
+ continued drop in AFT & hCG Tumor Markers
+ rest from decreased steroids
+ peace & understanding

04/02/2026

4.2.26

🐕 🐾 🧠 🩶

Not a whole lot of excitement happening around here. This is the longest stretch in what feels like months that we’ve had an almost 2 week break in having an appointment and driving to STL. Although Rex had to go visit his own Doc Ashley for his yearly shots & checkup Tuesday.

The rain has been nice & relaxing, allowing Keaton to fully rest and catch-up on much needed sleep. He’s nearly off his steroids (prob another 2 weeks to full come off). And handling the weaning down well this time.

He will go Monday for an MRI & follow up appointments to see where his AFT, HGC & scans are at. When we met with Dr Perkins last it was a very simple statement - we go by how Keaton feels & looks. Not so much the number game. That’s a hard pill to swallow. But also the real reality right now.

Make the memories. And live while we wait for Hay Season around the corner. He’s determined to get back into his own 5S.115 this spring and that gives me some much needed hope 🤍

🙏🏼

Lord,
Right now we sit in the waiting — in the quiet moments between appointments, between answers, between what was and what’s to come.

Thank You for this stretch of rest. For the rain that slows us down. For sleep that heals what we cannot see.

We lift Keaton up to You — every cell, every scan, every unknown. You know it all. You hold it all. And we trust You in the middle of it.

Give him continued strength as his body adjusts, and peace that settles deep in his heart. Be with the doctors as they review results this week — guide their eyes and their decisions.

Help us not get lost in numbers, but to hold tight to what we can see — his strength, his spirit, his determination.

Lord, let us make the memories. Let us find joy in the simple moments. Let hope rise again like the promise of a new season coming.

And as hay season waits just around the corner, remind us that You are already there — preparing the path ahead.

We trust You. Even here. Even now.

Amen. 🤍

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” 🦅 🙏🏼 🤍

03/25/2026

Strong Like Keaton Update 🩶 {03.25.2026}

You know that phrase… “make hay while the sun shines”?
If you’ve followed us long enough, you know that used to be Keaton’s job, out there raking hay, doing what he loves.

Yesterday, we met with Dr. Perkins, his radiation doctor — and we are now 2 weeks out from Keaton’s final radiation treatment.

His AFP & HCG tumor markers are continuing to go down, which is a sign that the radiation has impacted the tumor. To what degree, we don’t fully know yet… but when we look at Keaton & see how he’s slowly improving over this last week — there is so much hope sitting in that space. We continue to wean down the steroids, which is also helping us all to get a little more rest & help his body start to return to a more normal balance. We will continue to monitor, work with both OT, PT & Speech Therapy in the meantime, our next MRI will be 4.6.26 to see how much the radiation truly shook the tumor.

🧠 👩‍⚕️

Back in September, after his first round of radiation, Keaton reached what was as close to remission status as he could. But with the rarity of his tumor, there are still so many unknowns.

We do know this~ this tumor doesn’t respond to chemo.
It doesn’t care about clean eating or cutting sugar. I don’t typically go into a lot of the science & research that has went into this tumor the last 16 months. It’s a lot to process. To understand. It’s been a lot of 2am reading, digging & learning that it’s not my job to truly make sense of something that he’s had in that space his entire life. It plays by its own rules… and that’s a hard reality to sit with.

☀️ 🌱 🚜 📸

So right now… we’re choosing to make all the hay we can.

Make the memories.
Take the photos.
Soak up the sunshine.
Live each day for exactly what it is.

That’s not always easy to say out loud… let alone understand.

Dr. P has become one of Keaton’s favorite doctors. Yesterday, he told her “thank you for taking a chance on me in July… and not giving up on me again in February.”

Of course, we all want to hear the word “cure.”
But on the drive home, Keaton looked at me and said,

“God knows. God’s handling it.”

And he’s right.

The truth — the hard, honest truth — is that none of us are guaranteed time here. This world isn’t our forever home. And that’s a heavy thing to carry… unless you’ve placed your trust in something bigger.

Keaton gave his life to Christ on June 29, 2025 — and I truly believe that’s where his peace comes from. He’s always been wise beyond his years… more likely to be talking farming with adults than running with kids his age.

And right now, that same steady faith is what’s carrying him — and all of us.

His therapy team is also working on getting him a new set of wheels 🛞 The wheelchair we have now was always meant to be temporary — and at first, Keaton was determined to send it back as fast as possible. That fire is still there… but we’re also learning to accept help where we need it.

We’re looking into something a little more rugged and off-road ready — because if there’s one thing we know… it’s that Keaton belongs outside, on this farm.

Every single day is a blessing.
And we’re going to keep soaking up every ounce of sunshine we’re given.

☀️ Making the hay.
🩶 Holding onto hope.
🙏 Trusting God with the rest.

We thank each & everyone for the prayers, the kindness, the meals being dropped off, the support of our community (rurally and online) - the pal breakfasts in the principals office each Wednesday, the evenings that my house hears more stories and laughter from a group of teenagers, the moms running these kids around & a special thank you to Chloe who’s keeping us going in ways - I’m not sure she realizes 💕 we couldn’t do this without you guys supporting Keaton & our family.

- Kayla, Jason, Keaton & JaeB

🩶🩶🩶

Scripture:
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Prayer:
Lord,
We come to You asking for strength on the hard days and gratitude on the good ones. For resilience when the road feels long, and peace in the unknown.

We pray for healing — for remission — and for more time.
Time to make memories, time to laugh, time to live fully in the moments You’ve given us.

Remind us that You see the full picture, even when we can only see today. Wrap Your arms around Keaton and carry him forward.

In Your name we pray,
Amen.

💙🩶💙🩶💙🩶💙

Strong Like Keaton

05/08/2026

04/30/2026

04/22/2026

04/18/2026

04/15/2026

04/09/2026

04/06/2026

04/02/2026

03/25/2026

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