2017 - Page 4 of 7 - Melodee Lynn Photography

October 12, 2017October 12, 2017

Donjae | Boyce Thompson Arboretum Senior Session

“Describe what you felt in one word.”

He stares at me, eyes twinkling, trying to describe what he felt in just one word.

“Okay, okay. Maybe not one word. Two, no, three words. Describe what you felt in three words.”

That was easy for him to do.

“Dream. Come. True.”

Since he was 10, Donjae dreamt of playing football for Stanford University. He played and fought hard and despite having an “off season” his sophomore year, he caught Stanford’s attention. After attending summer camps, pushing himself and with the support of his friends, family and coaches, Donjae received his verbal offer from Stanford at a weekend camp he attended right before school started his senior year. What a way to start the school year!

What’s remarkable about Donjae, isn’t his ability to play football on a full ride at a Pac-12 school, it’s his attitude. Does that sound cliche? Because I’ve never been more sincere. In the two hours we spent together at his senior session, which started at his high school and ended at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, it was made very apparent that Donjae is kind, genuine, patient, so very grateful and is one humble individual. I know for certain, as a momma of boys myself, that he must have one proud mother!

Donjae,

I gotta be honest, I’m a little nervous about my boys growing up in the world that we live in. But after spending just a small window of time with you and Brianna, I know that it’s possible to raise a modern day knight who fears the Lord. You could easily take all the credit for your skills and abilities, but you don’t. You publicly claim Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Thank you for not only being an example for today’s generation but for a generation that will quickly follow in your footsteps.

You are driven, you are genuine and you are one classy guy. Good luck at Stanford next year! We can’t wait to watch you play! #GoCards

October 6, 2017

Brianna | Boyce Thompson Arboretum Senior Session

Out in the middle of nowhere, nestled at the bottom of a little mountain, sits the Boyce Thompson Arboretum and it made the perfect backdrop for Brianna’s senior session.

Every year her family would get an annual pass and would spend their free time walking the trails, counting the butterflies and soaking up God’s beautiful creation. It wasn’t just beautiful location, it was sentimental.

Brie’s senior year is well underway and she describes it as “crazy” and “stressful” but even though there’s a lot going on and so much to decide, it doesn’t keep her from soaking up every minute of it. She is one driven young lady, heading to community college next year to pursue the nursing field, which I have no doubt she will dominate.

Brianna,

It was such a pleasure spending the morning with you, walking across football fields, down trails, and keeping the bugs away from Donjae. My favorite thing I learned about you was the story behind your elephant necklace. It left such an impression on me. Elephants are big, they are strong but they can be the gentlest animal when they need and want to be. I have no doubt that as you step out into the world that you will be each of those things and it won’t be just because you wear the reminder around your neck. It will be because it’s who God has made you to be. He made you strong, He made you gentle, He made you perfect.

I can’t wait to see Him establish the work of your hands.

xoxo,
Melodee

September 16, 2017

Emily + Daniel | Flagstaff, Arizona Engagement Session

The sun had set. The temperature had cooled, way to cool for us Phoenicians. We made the drive down off the mountain, our final location for their Flagstaff, Arizona engagement session. We pulled into a little burger joint, where the health code was certainly questionable. But when the food is that good, who cares that the workers were eating the left over milkshakes behind the counter…right?

We sat down with our plates of burgers and fries and that’s when he prayed. Not a solemn, everyone bow-your-heads-before-your-plate-of-food-prayer. But a simple prayer. He blessed the food and ended with the sweetest words, “I’m so excited to marry her. Amen”. I think I could hear their hearts leap from across the table.

I’ve loved watching these two grow. They’ve been dating, two years today and have one more year before they tie the knot. These two are disciplined and driven in relentless pursuit of their dreams.

Emily is currently student teaching (which brings back so many memories for me) and as we made the winding trip up to the peaks she shared with me her daily motto, “be the person you needed when you were little.” She wakes up every day, determined to be something to someone. Emily, I want to be like you when I grow up. Never let the weight of the world rob you of your sweet spirit.

Daniel has his sights set high in hotel and restaurant management, and no doubt he’ll achieve his goals in record time. Daniel, your leadership, determination and integrity will drive you to the top!

Emily and Daniel, whatever expectation you have of marriage and the life together after, “I do,” crumple it up and throw it away. Whatever ideas the world have standardized as normal, forget about them. The perception that has become your reality, forget it all.

Because it’s so much better.

It’s better because it’s what God has designed. It’s better because marriage is a direct reflection of how Christ loves His church.

Daniel, love her fiercely. Emily, love him unconditionally.

Emily, love him intentionally. Daniel, love her sacrificially.

Daniel love her honorably. Emily, love him patiently.

And always, always, keep Christ in the center. He will direct your steps. He will establish the work of your hands. He will bring hope. He will bring peace. He will bring joy.

Get ready for the best time of your life.

July 11, 2017July 11, 2017

If These Walls Could Talk

I’m taking a break from business blog posts today and writing about something that’s personal. I don’t write near enough personal blog posts. But today, I am, and it’s through tears that I write.

I talked with a teary eyed Mim today. They’re having to make some more unexpected updates to their home. I guess that’s what happens when you’ve lived in a home for 40 years. But the last few years have been so hard on them. Having to fix up their upstairs, to last month their bathroom (oh and by the way my grandpa fell twice during that renovation setting them back even more) to today, having to add pillars and beams to support their sagging second story floor. It’s been emotionally exhausting for my grandma. She’s having to care for the home and my grandpa at the same time and today, she called me discouraged about her house, which always seems to need work more and more. She said, “Mel, does my house look bad? I just do what I can with what I have. I don’t have a home like everyone else does.” And I said, “No, Mim, they don’t have a house like you do.”

Oh, if those walls could talk.

They would tell about a couple that devoted their lives to serving others.

They would speak about countless prayer meetings, where our family wept and cried out together for the prodigals to come home.

You would hear the echos of children’s laughter as we ran up and down the stairs.

They’d sing Christmas carols and recite Luke chapter 2 by heart.

They’d resonate with the cries of heartbreak and would sing of healing, restoration and reconciliation.

They’d tell the stories of visiting missionaries, pastors and evangelists.

They’d echo my grandpa’s whistle and his constant “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” as he spends most of the day in prayer.

They’d tell you about all the shared bowls of ice cream, back scratches and bunny stories.

They’d speak of 67 years and counting of a faithful and loving marriage.

They’d tell about four generations and growing of Christ-followers.

I think the stories would be endless. But they’d all center around one thing: Jesus.

It’s because of Jesus that the walls speak the way they do. It’s because of Jesus there are four generations of Christ-followers, it’s because of Jesus the prodigals come home, it’s because of Jesus that every ounce of healing occurred. It’s because of Jesus that a legacy lives on.

Thank you Mim and Papa for loving Jesus the way that you do.

July 7, 2017July 7, 2017

Southern Illinois Wedding | Matt and Shaunda

It was at my cousin Garrett’s wedding that I first got the low down about Matt. Of course, I had started hearing a few things about this before then but it was at that wedding when I was able to see Shaunda’s face light up whenever Matt was mentioned.

They talked for hours, just like you’d expect from young love. Then she’d get off the phone and tell us all the sweet things he’d say to her. And we all has a pretty strong feeling, this was it. My grandma, the hopeless romantic that she is, was even thinking there would be a Christmas wedding.

The friendship between the Bakers and the Hales goes back 40 years, that’s right FORTY years when my parent’s were in their twenties. They all went to church together and spent a lot of time getting in trouble. The years came and went and are finally joined together by Matt and Shaunda.

Their special day was a blur of family buzzing around trying to get everything in place before she walked down the aisle. I think that’s what I love most about our family. Every one pitches in and does what’s needed. I think it’s where I learned to put others first, to love and to serve. My family has loved and served others my entire life, helping meet needs is what we do and it’s what I loved most about her big day. Matt and Shaunda’s wedding took place right in the middle of our very first family reunion so everyone was there to help in one capacity or another. Hair and make-up, cutting lemons, setting up food, moving furniture, whatever was needed, someone was always there from beginning to end. Loving a serving is a part of the incredible legacy that my grandparent’s have created and I hope that it’s something we can continue to pass down to our boys.

I can’t possibly even begin to recall every detail from the day, but here are my favorites:

-Watching Adrienne do Shaunda’s hair and make-up. (That girl is so talented and we’re so lucky to have her in our family!)
-Brittany styling my aunt Kim’s hair (Tease, hair spray, repeat)
-Seeing Shaunda’s brothers all dressed up in their fancy suits (Two of them are single ladies, wink wink)
-Watching Justice come down the aisle in a wagon pulled by Matt’s son, Collin. (Totes adorbs you guys)
-Matt’s daughter twirling in circles in her flower girl dress (She couldn’t keep her floral crown in her hair!)
-Hands outstretched, my grandpa praying over the meal (His memory is slipping, but I don’t think he’ll ever forget how to pray)
-Eating the best BBQ!! (Made by Matt’s uncle Joey, can I have more please?)
-Stuffing my face with the best.cupcake.ever. (I think it was chocolate but it may have been red velvet, it was dark and I ate it too fast to notice!)

There are so, so many wonderful things about the day that I know we’ll all treasure forever! Congratulations Matt and Shaunda! We pray for many, many blessed years!