Jacksonville NC Military Homecoming Photographer | Camp Lejeune | Fox Family Homecoming

It has been a blur the past few weeks of homecomings! This particular homecoming was so special in so many ways. Most of all, it was special because the Fox family are our neighbors and part of our church family!

Having her husband gone for all those months was a struggle that I can truly relate with experiencing.  I remember how every day felt like years, and how weeks and months couldn’t fly by fast enough!  It is so excruciating at times to just face daily life challenges alone.

Amanda and I spent many nights of the deployment texting back and forth like teenagers, and meeting in the middle of the street for a sanity break.  She has been so strong for her family and faced a lot of challenges all those months…cars and riding mowers breaking down, bouts of sickness herself and with the kids, sending their baby girl off to kindergarten, and even dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.  And through it all she continued to pray and grow and learn to lean on God in ways like never before.  It has truly been an amazing story of love and sacrifice to stand by her husband over time and distance, and the fact that distance means her husband was at war.

Long before I could even join her in counting down to his homecoming, we planned for me to be there to capture the amazing moments when they’d be reunited.  We enjoyed imagining the kids responses to seeing Daddy again, and knowing that their family would be together again.

My heart leaped in my chest as I FINALLY got to drive to Camp Lejeune to meet her to pick up her hero and husband, David!  The butterflies I had at seeing my own husband return came right back…her hero was coming HOME at last!

But before they could be reunited, we had to wait…and wait…and wait!

I’m so thankful that the FROs organize fun things like coloring, snacks, and bounce houses for the families while they wait.  We began our wait inside, and the kids had fun coloring and visiting with some other friends that were also reuniting with their families. Then, when it was time to head outside, they discovered the dirt!

Finally when the wait was truly becoming excruciating, we heard the rumble of the buses coming around the corner! And I almost couldn’t keep up with Amanda as she sprinted toward the formation of Marines to welcome her husband home again!

When the kids greeted their Daddy, I lost it. That moment when Noah turned and smiled at me was just utterly amazing! And to see Amanda able to wrap her arms around her husband again makes me truly appreciate all that they gave over all those months! I am beyond thankful for this family’s reunion…for their sacrifices for our country, and for the ability to watch them become a whole family again!

Thank you again, Amanda & David, for serving our country and giving so much for the freedoms we have. I pray that every day brings you closer together as a family, and this amazing time of homecoming is truly unforgettable!

*Julie

I am an on-location photographer in Jacksonville NC, and my passion is capturing moments of love and joy wherever they happen. From military homecomings to family portraits, children’s portraits and more, my camera and I strive to tell the stories of real life. If you would like more information about booking your maternity portrait session, newborn portrait session, family portrait session, military homecoming or other family event, please contact me for more information. I am booking limited sessions beginning January 2012. Spaces for military homecomings fill up especially quickly and as I mentioned, I won’t double book (this was an exception for frineds!), contact me as early as possible to ensure I will be available to document your amazing homecoming moments!

Jacksonville NC Military Homecoming Photographer | Camp Lejeune | DeMaio Homecoming

Two of my friends had husbands coming home on the same day, and I was beyond thrilled for them…but the dilemma…how on earth do I document two amazing homecomings?!  The answer is truly, I couldn’t…I’ll never book two of these amazing moments at the same time.  (I don’t want to miss a precious second of those first hugs and kisses!).  But God worked this homecoming out in an amazing way!

(To see the full homecoming session from this night, click here).

Madison and Ryne have a wonderful friend that photographed the night’s events, and I agreed I would snap a couple of quick shots if I got the chance.  And this couple is so amazing…even the few photos I quickly snapped are so powerful and really relate how awesome it was to see them reunited again just in time for Christmas!

Madison arrived on base to anxiously await her husband’s return at 10:30pm…figuring it would take just a few more hours until he was in her arms.  But true to the Marine Corps style, things kept happening, and she ended up waiting just over SIX hours with her friends to greet him!  All too well I know that phrase, “Hurry up and wait,” and it was most definitely the night’s theme!

In the excruciatingly long wait in the gym (where thank goodness it was warm!), I had plenty of time to capture some photos of the anxious waiting!  It is something else how slowly time moves when you know you are within miles of the loved one you haven’t seen in 7 months!!

Madison was literally glowing!  It is so obvious to see how strong their love is, even through the time and space spent apart.  I know what a strong woman it takes, and how God has to get you through the long nights and miles between each other!

Finally it was time to head outside, only to wait forever again!  But even though it was a freezing 25 degrees, everyone was still all smiles!  I know this feeling…can you even feel a hint of sadness when you’re just moments from seeing your Marine again!? No! Just anxious checking for a message that he’s done checking in his weapon at the armory and will be walking up any moment!

When they began marching towards their families, everything was suddenly a huge rush of emotion.  The wait was almost over!  All around families were greeting their Marines…and then FINALLY it was Madison’s turn!!

As I said above, these were just a few of their precious first moments together.  Their friend did an awesome job of capturing more photos for them!

Walking away to continue documenting Amber’s homecoming, I couldn’t resist turning back and my heart leaped for Madison as I saw her standing there with her husband.  Thank God for his protection of this wonderful couple!

Also thank you to Madison and Ryne for their service to our country.  I know so much of what it means to be a military family, and don’t take for granted the sacrifices you make to keep our country free.  God bless America!

*Julie

I am an on-location photographer in Jacksonville NC, and my passion is capturing moments of love and joy wherever they happen.  From military homecomings to family portraits, children’s portraits and more, my camera and I strive to tell the stories of real life.  If you would like more information about booking your maternity portrait session, newborn portrait session, family portrait session, military homecoming or other family event, please contact me for more information.  I am booking limited sessions beginning January 2012.  Spaces for military homecomings fill up especially quickly and as I mentioned, I won’t double book (this was an exception for frineds!), contact me as early as possible to ensure I will be available to document your amazing homecoming moments!