:: Happy Birthday Homecoming ::

Fair warning...these pics may make you teary. Yep...it's another Operation: Love ReUnited homecoming!!! This amazing couple was married one month before he deployed. ONE MONTH. Let that sink in for a moment. Can you even imagine?? Crazy.

So his plane was SUPPOSED to come in around midnight last night. Apparently the weather in Dallas had other plans. Delay, delay, delay. D.E.L.A.Y. Finally, at about 3am, this wonderful couple was reunited and it was incredibly sweet. And yes, I got teary too. I just can't help myself!! And...the cherry on top? Today is his lovely bride's birthday. So even though she had to wait through the agonizing delays, she got the perfect birthday present...her new husband back in her arms!

**The photos and other content of this publication do not constitute or imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Defense**

she was such a trooper!!

for those of you who are wondering, this wait is excruciatingly long

SHE SEES HIM

fighting the urge to run straight through security is impossibly difficult

he's here!!

go ahead, you can cry too

so sweet

that moment when the rest of the world disappears

so happy!!

guess who else is celebrating a birthday today...her twin sister who came along for support :)

:: surprise homecoming ::

This was a new one for me. A lot of times the person coming home doesn't know I'm going to be there, but they always have known that some part of their family/friends was meeting them. Not this time! This Marine was under the impression that someone from his base was picking him up for the 3 hour drive home and then his family would meet him on base. WRONG! Sneaky wifey arranged everything and surprised him with their 2 year old at the airport. And boy was he surprised! Such a sweet moment…6 months in the making. No matter how many of these Operation: Love ReUnited homecomings I do, they never get old…and I get teary every time! What a gift to be able to witness such amazing moments and meet such wonderful people. 

Welcome home, Marine. Enjoy that beautiful family.

**The photos and other content of this publication do not constitute or imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Defense**

I mean…come ON with those eyes!

kisses for Mama

yep

a sucker makes everything better

awww...

this girl was waiting so patiently too…not with us, but we got to love on her

again…the eyes!

SURPRISE!!!

6 months is a LONG time

welcome home

it's Daddy!!

how's that for a look of relief?!

so sweet

love

beautiful family!

they go through more than we can ever imagine…it's a lifelong bond

:: coming home ::

First of all…HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!! In the spirit of the day, I thought I'd share an airman's homecoming from this past week. This dad of two beautiful girls was "vacationing" in lovely Kuwait for the last year. If you haven't been through it, it's hard to fathom just how difficult a year long deployment is on everyone involved. Actually, the pictures I'm going to share are pretty telling…pay attention to the older daughter's face. While they were waiting, she would smile for me, more of a grin actually, but it was fairly forced. And who can blame her?? Waiting is so hard. But after he walked through those doors, there was a light in her face that had been missing. It looked as though a huge weight had been lifted. 

This amazing, finally reunited family is getting ready for yet another move. Thank you, {T} family…for the sacrifices you make daily. You are ALL appreciated!!!

**The photos and other content of this publication do not constitute or imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Defense**

everyone needs a little lip gloss

Grandma came in from Maine to welcome her son home

that pretty much sums it up

WOOHOO!!!

look at that smile