family Archives - Melodee Lynn Photography

This Salt River Maternity session gives me all the feels and squeals. Not only was the light enchanting, but the subjects just happen to be my favorite people in the whole world, my sister and brother-in-law.

You guys, I don’t think I’ve ever had a session where the photos speak for themselves. I’m staring my computer screen feeling so giddy and wondering just what exactly I should say. And then my eyes glance down and meet my sister’s piercing blue eyes and I think, oh my gosh, I’m obsessed.

This is my sister.

The most selfless, kind hearted and beautiful person I know and she’s having a little girl! A little girl to inherit her laughter, her ginormous heart and her thoughtfulness. Oh Mary Grace, you didn’t just luck out with the best mom in the world, you have the best dad too! If you know Ralf, you know he has a heart of gold. He possess patience and gentleness that seems so rare today.

Sis, do you remember that one Sunday morning, you were sitting in the middle section about 6 rows from the back of the auditorium? Your head was down and tears were in your eyes because you were terrified and excited about where God was leading you. Terrified because you knew change was coming, excited because you knew change was coming. And we prayed together. It was then that God was preparing your heart for the incredible journey you would go on to meet Ralf.

And it wasn’t long after that morning that you met him.

And it wasn’t long after that until he was taking you for street tacos.

And it wasn’t long after that until he was down on one knee on those tennis courts.

And it wasn’t long after that until you were walking down the aisle.

And now it won’t be long (hopefully a week from today) when you’ll welcome your baby girl into the world.

You’ll be able to look back and see how the Lord has been so good. How he has directed your steps and led you to this time and this place.

Sis and Ralf,

I saw the joy that radiated from you on your wedding day. It was contagious. But it’s nothing compared to what I see reflected in these photos. Mary Grace is the luckiest little girl in the whole entire world to have you two as parents!

Click here to see my sister’s baby shower!

Dress: Pink Blush
Maternity Belt: Gold Coast Chic
Make-Up: Jessica Hamblin

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.

Tag: family

Salt River Maternity Session

If These Walls Could Talk