Back in 2005, I documented the wedding of friends Rob & Christine on a beautiful estate in Southern VA. (looking for a wedding pic to post here soon)

This fall, Christine contacted me about a special upcoming date, but without an actual date (for those of you who know the military, you’ll understand that!).   Rob was returning home from his second tour in the Middle East, and he was going to meet his new daughter for the first time!   So we sat, patiently, and impatiently in some cases, awaiting for word of when this would be happening.  I told Christine that the only day that I could not be available was Thanksgiving.   And would you believe that they landed just before 11pm on Thanksgiving Eve?!  LOL   Anyways, it was such an honor to be present and to document this special event for such a wonderful family!

After a few delays and then word of bad weather as we all stood at the edge of the hanger, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and many tears were shed when the plane touched down in front of us and was finally safely on US soil. I had 3 major challenges ahead of me.  1) the lighting situation.  Couldn’t exactly bounce light off the ceiling of a plane hanger or night sky.  2) a news camera man who decided to stand if front of me the entire time (thanks to my private security guard to stepped in finally!  ::wink::)  and 3) trying to get these images in focus through eyes full of tears!

Rob, Christine and girls – THANK YOU!  Thank you for serving us and fighting for our freedom, for your strength of which I don’t think I could ever have, and for the big hugs the girls gave me as I left that night.   Love you all!

Third from the left, I think he just saw us for the first time here.

I loved that she kept touching his face over and over, as “I know that voice…”