:: 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 :)

:: Laura + Ali = Hitched ::

Little Miss Laura is an honorary sister in our family of many. She started out being a friend of my youngest sister's 18 years ago and quickly became part of the family. We all love her so much. The man to marry our sweet Laura would have to be AMAZING. And guess what, she found him. Her perfect match. I just met Ali yesterday, but it is obvious as soon as you see them together, they are soulmates. I'm so happy for them and for their families. Yesterday was truly a celebration of the joining of two families, not just two individuals. Laura and Ali, I wish you a lifetime of love, laughter and so much happiness.

this is the moment when Laura explained to her mom that she used her old wedding dress to make her veil (don't worry, Mom had given it to her to use however she wanted, but didn't think she'd actually be able to do anything with it. Such a sweet moment)

made them wait just a little bit, for added torture, before the first look

first look

OH the tears in his eyes…he made ME teary!!

the blue sock brigade

beautiful Laura and her oh-so-handsome big brothers

Georgetown walkin'

the wonderful parents (Ali's mom came all the way from Morocco to share this day with him)

this...

how amazing is this cake???

extraordinary beauty…inside and out

and the winner of cutest family is….

can't take it…just can't

sweetness

nothing better than a beaming father walking his daughter down the aisle

mama watching her husband walk their baby down the aisle

many photographers at a wedding these days

THEY DID IT!!

first dance

:: Mama I'm comin' home ::

…it has been a long time since I've had an Operation: Love ReUnited homecoming. I didn't realize how much I miss shooting them until I went last night to meet this wonderful family. Dad has been deployed to Afghanistan for the last 6 months while Mom took care of their 4 kids. And let me tell you, even though I've just met them, she's done an AWESOME job. These were some of the nicest, most well behaved kids I've ever met. They were put to the test last night too…Dad was originally supposed to arrive at 8pm so they got to the airport (an hour and a half drive) around 7, only to find out that the flight was delayed until 10!!! All I have to say is thank goodness for the USO club at the airport. These kids never complained, they never misbehaved, were very kind not only to everyone else, but also each other…anyone with siblings and/or multiple children understand what a feat THAT is!! I was thoroughly impressed. Great job Mom and Dad!!! So then the plane finally arrives…a bit earlier than 10…and I'm not kidding when I say we must've stood there for an hour waiting for him to come out. I thought the anticipation was going to kill Mom! Again, the kids (and Mom) were wonderful. I could see it wearing on them as time passed and more and more people came out but the relief and excitement when he finally walked through those doors was worth all that waiting. I get teary every time I photograph one of these homecomings…I have so much respect for military families and the crazy sacrifices that they are expected to make without complaint. And they do it! They are all heroes…the ones deployed and the ones at home. Every member of the military family is simply amazing.
Thank you {L} family…and welcome home.

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

these kids had the most awesome signs!!!

look at the anticipation!!!

there he is!!

Dad was every bit as excited as his family

not only a homecoming, but their 10th anniversary as well!!