Magic, miracles, and memories

Linda & Mike’s Story
Guest post written by Linda F.

Photographers play the role of family historians. They dutifully and often beautifully document the births and growth of children, the changing dynamics of a family, the holidays, the important events. These memories are collected, edited, printed, and handed back as pieces of paper filled with the smiling faces of those who are someone’s entire world.

But-Melody is not a historian nor is she a photographer. She is elevated into the same category as the true magicians and miracle workers, those rare few who have incredible gifts and are willing to share them with the world.

In my maternity pictures, my son’s first birthday, and my daughter’s birth, Melody did not just take our pictures, which anyone with a camera can do, but she somehow managed to capture the essence of our family. When we look her photos we don’t see our faces so much as we see the overwhelming love and joy we find in each other. We see the excitement as we navigate parenthood. We see the pride in our son’s face as he holds his sister. Melody doesn’t take pictures. She encapsulates the feeling of the moment, and gives it back to us as a gift of immeasurable value.

There is this undefinable something when you meet the person you are going to spend the rest of your life with- the world shifts, starts spinning a little smoother maybe. And when you and that person are lucky enough to have first one healthy, amazing, little child, and luckier still to have a second fiery, fierce little person, you recognize that blessing and thank your lucky stars for it every day. I may not be able to ever define the depth of the love I have for my family, but I don’t need to. Melody captures it for me.