No matter what your beliefs are in, this is a true story and I think you should hear it.

In the middle of an ordinary photo session, right between the chasing of a two year old and the posing of the mommy and daddy, A butterfly landed. First he swooped by daddy, and then he landed on the ground right in front of the daddy’s shoe. When the daddy bent over and with no hesitation picked up the monarch butterfly, he stayed. Like any other butterfly he was golden and simple.  He opened and closed his wings a few times. He stayed. He rested unaffected by the camera’s shutter sound or the parents calls to the young child to “hurry come and see”. He stayed. Then Mommy spoke ” Look Jack, it’s Deuce” and my heart skipped a beat. Little Jack peeked to see the suddenly uncommon butterfly and off little Jack skipped away. Shortly after the butterfly took off from the daddy’s fingers and flew away. Leaving us all remembering.

Baby Deuce wasn’t going to arrive for another five days, but when mommy felt like he was arriving sooner than planned she went to the hospital expecting to bring Baby Duece home. When the doctor told mommy and daddy that their 38 week baby had no heartbeat, their lives where changed in an instance.  A few hours later mommy brought Duece into the world for everyone to see how amazingly beautiful he was and we continue to remember.

When I volunteer for a NILMDTS session, they are never easy, they are hard and sad and emotional, but they are real. I know that this Mommy or Daddy is someone’s friend, or sister, someone’s cousin, someone’s uncle and that baby is a precious gift. It’s a call on my heart to do what I only pray someone would do for me.

Although I was not there to meet you little Deuce, I know you were in my yard that day. As fleeting as the moment was you found us in the midst of a family portrait session and you stayed. I will continue to watch for your return.