Christmas came early in our home. We got the best Christmas gift we could ask for – having our family back together again!
The USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) returned from a 7-month deployment on Saturday.
My friend Audra of Simple Soul Photography braved the cold and wind to document the occasion. She did an absolutely amazing job capturing the joy of homecoming.
Jarrod (and my dad who had met the ship in Mayport, Florida and rode back into Norfolk on a tiger cruise – more to come on that in another post) was on the flight deck, and he and I were on the phone with each other so that he could find where we were standing in the huge crowd and move to a spot directly in front of us.
(My dad is next to Jarrod with the circle going through the middle of his hat)
My mom was holding Charlotte for a while, and I had her for a little while too. It wasn’t long before she started saying, “Stroller! Stroller!”. She was warmer and more comfortable in the stroller. It didn’t take her much time to settle in for a nap.
Trenton also found ways to pass the time while waiting for Daddy to come off the ship: finding and playing with a random button found on the ground, eating a pop tart, and hanging on to Mommy.
I am so in love with the next sequence of photos. Trenton saw Daddy, ran up to give him a hug, and then ran back to me to make sure I saw Daddy too!
And then it was my turn. After seven long months, I had my husband back.
And Charlotte? She was napping through all of the excitement!
Since Sleeping Beauty didn’t show any signs of awaking soon, Trenton got a gift from Daddy. Trenton is so proud of his new “Daddy Ship”.
And then it was my turn again. Oh how I missed this man.
We finally decided to wake Charlotte up. She was a little shy at first, but it didn’t take her long to warm up to Daddy and wrap him around her little finger.
We are so happy to have our family whole again!
There are many military families who are not as lucky and don’t have their families together this holiday season. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
48 comments:
i don't think i have loved a post as much as i love this one! the pictures are A-MA-ZING! made me tear up all over again!!! so happy y'all are together again at last! Merry Christmas to all of you :)
Beautiful! God is definitely good! I do admit I teared up several times, seeing all the happiness on everyone's faces! I know you all won't need any presents this year, as being together after so long is the best gift!
stopping by from Kelly's Korner -
love all these photos and what a very Merry Christmas gift indeed! I completely understand...my hubby's deployment just ended a few weeks ago - I think our families have A LOT to celebrate this year. Welcome Home to your husband and much thanks for your family's service to our country =)
This is my first time at your blog and i balled my eyes out at these pics. What a wonderful early Christmas present! I got out of the Army right after the birth of my son (now 17 months old) because I just couldn't bear to leave him. God bless your family!
I found your blog via Kelly's Korner and I just had to vote for your beautiful post! Thank you to your family for all you give up to keep American's safe! I hope your lovely family has a Merry Christmas!!!!!
Your post made me cry - So happy your family is together for Christmas! I am your newest follower from Friday blog hop.
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What a beautiful series of photos and how wonderful to have your husband back right before Christmas! I hope you & your family have a most wonderful Christmas!!
I'm sobbing over here now! Gorgeous pictures to capture such an amazing day for your family! I recently met a friend through twitter who was in Hawaii but moved in with her inlaws while her husband is deployed right now and it just happened to be where I live that her inlaws live. I love getting together with her and will miss the day that she moves after her husband returns home. I'll of course be happy for her and her family being back together, but will miss my new friend! It's amazing what technology can do nowadays! I can't wait for her to have this little homecoming in a few months, too! Merry Christmas!
Thanks, everyone! We are so happy to be back together! What a wonderful Christmas season!
can't say enough how I admire navy and military wives. You girls are such heroes, when i think of you I'm so ashamed of my winning when hubby goes on a business trip for a day or two. Enjoy your holidays, you definetly deserved it!
Oh these photos are just gorgeous! Absolutely sweet. I am so happy you got your man home :) Happy SITS day and Merry Christmas!
What a wonderful day - and how amazing that you captured it all with such photos! Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!
What gorgeous photos! Brought tears to my eyes!! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!
How sweet!! I loved this post!! So precious to see a sweet family reunited.
Happy SITS Day!!
Wow - that even brought tears to my eyes. Explain that when I don't know you!
So sweet! I'm totally tearing! Happy SITS Day!
This brought tears to my eyes! My hubby was in the military when we were first married and I remember those cold mornings in Yokosuka waiting for his ship to pull in! I couldn't wait to show him how much the babes had grown (we didn't have Skype!).
Have a wonderful day sharing your story today on SITS!
Oh my Lord, I am totally crying reading this post and looking at these AMAZING pictures! What a perfect way to capture such a wonderful reunion! Happy SITS day! :)
What stunning photos to capture such a beautiful holiday return! Happy SITS day :-)
What wonderful reunion! I love the hug series of pictures too.
Having been in the Navy, I can totally feel what it's like to come home. I remember waiting on board counting the minutes until I could get off the ship and see my parents. Glad you get to spend Christmas with your whole family together! :)
Beautiful pictures! Brought tears to my eyes. :)
Best pictures/blog I've seen in awhile. what an amazing gift for you all. Beautiful! Thanks for the heart-warming today:)
Absolutely beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful moment with us! Happy SITS day.
Oh those photos tell the story so beautiful! What a wonderful way to capture that day. Thanks for including us all in it. I feel like I was there! Happy SITS Day! Kudos to your friend on the photography too!
Beautiful pictures of a beautiful homecoming! Merry Christmas indeed!
These Pictures are beautiful! Merry Christmas! Happy Homecoming! Hope you all enjoy the holidays together!
Congratulations on having your family back together. Your photos are beautiful! What a wonderful day well documented.
I'm sobbing, too! What beautiful pics! Thank you for all you do for our country. It is a sacrifice for both of you, and I am so grateful.
Happy SITS Day Sistah!
Someday your son will have a Tiger Cruise with his father, too. The photos are awesome. I especially loved the first black and white one of you and your son smiling. You couldn't smile any bigger. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, count the hours, and just about every good wish you could have.
Enjoy your SITS Day, too.
What a beautiful memory you and your family will have for years to come. I'm wiping away the tears that fall down my face. You've moved me so deeply with your pictures and words. Thank you for sharing! Have a very Merry Christmas.
Oh LOOOOVEEE!!!! What a nice holiday gift!
That is such a precious holiday gift, thanks for sharing!
OH what PRECIOUS pictures to hold on to and cherish!!! I am so touched by your family and all you do to sacrifice for our country! GOD BLESS YOU!!! What a beautiful homecoming... Happy SITS day!!!
Great pictures and Merry Christmas to you and yours!! What a wonderful feeling!
Girl, you brought tears to my eyes! I want to save this post like it was my own family album!
My son has joined the Navy and leaves for training Jan.16. I'm so proud of his choices and happy to be a Navy Mom.
TracyAnn from www.crochethappy.com and http://asktracyann.crochethappy.com
HAPPY SITS DAY...what wonderful post.. .so beautiful...I was crying as I read.
My heart filled with joy as I read your story. Your photos are amazing and I am in love with the black and white ones. They capture so much in such a short moment!
Congratulations to you and your family on being able to be a family again.
You can read my blog at http://sexyonthedarkside.wordpress.com/2012/12/18/feeling-stuck-in-emotion/
God bless all our military families!
Hope you have a wonderful holiday this year, too!
Happy SITS day!
In tears! Thank you SO much for all your husband AND you do for our country. I am forever grateful. Thanks for sharing your blog today!
Those pictures are amazing!! Happy for you that you get to be together for your christmas time :)
♡ Jill
These pictures are amazing! It was so smart to have someone else there to take photos.
The ones of your son seeing his daddy are priceless. I cried.
Thank you for sharing!
Oh my goodness, how this made me cry! I was that little girl nearly 40 years ago when my dad came home from overseas. Those photos are amazing. How lucky you are to have that special moment captured!
Lovely post that made me tear up - perfect timing on this post (albeit last year) but for this year - reminds us how thankful we should be for what we have!!!
This is awesome! I am three weeks away from my husband's seven-month deployment. I've already got a photographer friend on board for the reunion. The boys will be so excited. What a great Christmas gift. :)
I loved your post! The pictures are fabulous. My son is in the Navy and stationed in Guam. He is coming home January 9th for 3 weeks. I have not seen his precious face in 1-1/2 years. You pictures just made me all the more excited for his homecoming!
Awesome! so sweet. You have a beautiful family. happy SITS day!
Beautiful and very moving story. I hope many more military families have a joyous reunion for the holidays. Thanks to you, your husband and other military families for the sacrifices you make for our freedom and way of life. New fan here from SITS!
Brought tears to my eyes! Incredible photos. So much emotion <3
-Sarah
www.sweetandsavorylife.com
www.facebook.com/sweetandsavorylife
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