I am attempting to catch up on some much needed blogging and I want to share some really amazing moments I have had the pleasure of capturing just recently.  

Today’s family is amazing in the fact that I have been friends with the mama, Monica, since we were infants. Crazy right??? We have been close our entire lives. We are sisters by heart. So you can imagine when two years ago she calls me to tell me her husband, Josh, who is in the U.S. Air Force, had received orders that he would be deployed to Turkey for 12-13 months. Josh deployed in April of 2016 and then found out that he would be overseas for 15 months. My heart breaks for these families. I cannot thank our military and their families enough for all their sacrifices. 

Fast forward to this past spring when Monica called me up and asked if I would be at the airport the day Josh came home to take photos. She was having special shirts and signs made for the kids to welcome their daddy home. Josh was set to arrive July 19, 2017.

A few weeks later Monica’s cousin, Jennifer, called me up and asked if I could keep a secret? I said “well yeah! Lol” So she tells me that Josh had contacted her and asked if she could pick him up from the Nashville Airport on July 5th…I said WHAT?!!!!! So here began several months of planning and laying the ground work for Josh to surprise his family by coming home, not only early, but one day before their sweet daughter Abigail’s birthday. My heart was so full of excitement, it became harder to listen to Monica's big plans and not say anything. I would just have to laugh to myself and watch what I said….Such a hard, yet fun secret to keep! 

Monica and the kids moved back to Nashville for the summer to spend time with family while waiting on Josh to return home. I saw her at church the Sunday before the homecoming and told her I had a great idea…I said, “Why don't we go to the park and take photos of you and the kids to send to Josh over the next few weeks as a countdown to him coming home?” She took it and ran with it! 

Well the big day came for us to go to the park and “take photos” LOL…But, as fate would have it, it was dreary and rainy. We were worried that our park day surprise might get rained out. Jennifer and I were in constant communication in case we had to make adjustments. I had a plan to get the family to the park for the big surprise and waited, not so patiently. I prayed and watched the weather radar as I gathered up my gear. 

So, the Lord answered my prayers…the rain stopped at 10am on the dot! I started my session with Monica and the kids. They were so much fun! We made fun signs telling Josh to “Hurry Home!” All the while inside I was melting because I knew in about 10 mins their wishes would come true! I started running out of props and ideas, kids were getting hungry and tired…I texted Jennifer and said hurry!! Finally, Jennifer texted back, “we have daddy and we are on our way!” The only stop she made was to get him something to eat. LOL 

Waiting on daddy! Waiting on daddy! Waiting on daddy! Waiting on daddy! Waiting on daddy! Waiting on daddy!

The one thing I was not 100% sure of was how Monica was actually going to see Josh for the first time… Josh wanted to sneak up on them. He wanted them to be surprised and wanted me to capture it all. I sort of just said. “Ok God, you’ve got this one…” In order for the surprise to work, I had to bring my kiddos. Of course, my dear daughter fell and hurt her knee. Well it could not have come at a better time as “Auntie Monica” was bent over tending to C as Josh got out of the car. The Lord planned it all so well!!  Monica was totally oblivious until I said, “Hey lets walk to the car and see if I have a Band-Aid.” 

As she turned around she sees her husband walking up the walk way…She screams and runs! As I type these words, it brings tears to my eyes…The kids looked on in disbelief and amazement. Once it sunk in, they went running into the arms of their daddy. 

If little Ayden told me once his daddy worked for the U.S. Air force he told me 5 times. That is the proudest little guy I have ever seen. It was only appropriate that we had used an old uniform shirt in the photos. Ayden put it back on to show his daddy how much he had grown! Y'all tears were pouring! 

Being part of such a beautiful surprise was truly epic. Helping reunite this family who had been so strong and missed their daddy so much was the biggest blessing. Truly, what an honor! I loved that they each got what they had dreamed of for months!! 

We all cried! We all laughed! The kids jumped up and down, Monica questioned us about how long we had lied to her LOL! It was one of the most beautiful moments I have ever witnessed.  

Welcome Home Josh! Josh, Monica, Abigail and Ayden, thank you for your service and sacrifice!