Dear Sister,

We grew up together.  We’ve shared everything together.

And how precious, when we were pregnant together.

Oh, we were both pregnant for the very first time, at the exact same time.  God is so good!

And then, my baby went Home, early.

How painful this is for me, and how painful this is for you.  I’ve prayed that you would place your hand on your belly, feel my sweet niece, and feel such joy, and release, and love.  That you wouldn’t feel any complicated feelings.  And how secretly I have found comfort, knowing that yet, you do.

You invited me over to your home, for a private gift.  Sister, I knew it was about my baby.  I admit to you now, at your invitation, I was supposing you might have for me a small keepsake, though I hadn’t expected anything at all.  Sister, you owe me nothing for your joy, for your joy is my own.  Yes, something tangible, I was supposing, with the message I already know from your heart – the fullness of pain, of hope, of love.

I wasn’t expecting what you’ve done.  You gave me this photo.

And, even more, you allowed me, Sister, the tremendous honor of selecting the middle name for my beautiful niece.  The name I chose is deeply meaningful, but even more, that my niece will grow up in the love and guidance of her dearly precious parents, to carry out not just the name you allowed me to adorn her with, but with the everlasting love between us, this is a gift more precious than I can convey.

I am reminded of Mary and Elizabeth in this Christmas season.  Cousins, who were drawn ever closer by their children.  May the bond of our children, cousins, draw us and all ever closer to our Creator.

Our bond will never end, not even in death.  We know this now.

Love, Always,
Your Sister,
Marissa

cousins, babies of sisters           photo: Jenny Hopperton Photography

Dear Sister,

You didn’t know when you hired me, how much this simple request would mean to me.  I must address you as “Sister” rather than your name because Sister is so very much of who you are.

I am a photographer, and you are a mother.  It might seem standard enough, that you hired me, allowing me the tremendous honor of photographing your beautiful newborn daughter.  But, oh, what a blessing it is, to capture God’s beautiful children when I can.  Because you see, I can’t always.  I can’t always capture them.  Sometimes, like your own sister’s beloved baby, sometimes God’s beautiful children just seem to flitter up and back to Him, much sooner than we imagine, and even before we ever get to really hold them, bundle them up snug, sing to them and tell them how very much we love them.

I know, because I’ve had my own struggles, praying, trying, grieving, waiting.  I am blessed with living children who I am able to hold, to bundle up snug, to sing to, and to tell how very much I love them.  I am certainly blessed and this is certainly a joy, and it just may be especially so, because my heart remembers.  My heart knows.  And it was the honor of a lifetime to hear your own Sisterly heart, and to capture this moment for you.  Thank you, for letting me.

You both will learn how to be an aunt and a mother in a very special way, and you both will learn, together.  Your hearts will always remember.  Your hearts will always know.  And because you’ve allowed me to capture this moment, mine will, too.  And for that, I thank you.

Your Photographer, at
Jenny Hopperton Photography