iheartfaces week 35, Photojournalism :: Fort Hood, TX Photographer

I Heart Faces' challenge this week is to present a photojournalistic image, one that tells a story by itself. So I am not going to say much here; I said it all HERE. I don't know these women but I know the strength they will find within themselves, I know the strength they will find from one another and I know the heart stopping sadness of saying goodbye to a soldier.

Tell your story through a picture (or collage of 5) by clicking the button below:

66 days :: Austin, TX Engagement Photographer

A little over two months away. 9 weeks. A lifetime.

You know all the cliches about good things coming to those that wait. But when you are the one doing the waiting, patience runs thin, doubt sets in and you find yourself wondering why on earth am I the only one?

You were left to wait, my dear friend, because something good was waiting for you. Someone to love you, to laugh with you, to hold you...even in 100 degree heat. You may have waited a lifetime, and feel as though you have another eternity before you are united as one, but in 66 days the wait is over, and you have the rest of your lifetime to love the life you have together.

Best wishes to you both!

Big World, Small Baby :: Harker Heights, TX Family Photographer

The Army stops for no one. Anyone who read yesterday's POST knows this. And this family will know it, too, when this new father has to board a plane and fly away from his 5 week old son. But until that final moment, they are sharing and loving and watching their sweet boy grow. There is so much for him to see and discover and even though his dad will miss some of it, he will return quickly and safely and take his son's hand and show him even more of this great world.

How awesome are these two? Can you even believe she just gave birth 5 weeks ago? Really?! I think it is very important for a Mommy to remember she is a beautiful, desirable woman in amongst all the diapers and feedings and tears. And this Mommy is most definitely gorgeous!

Family, HALT! :: Fort Hood, TX Family Photographer

Yesterday, my family came to a halt. Yesterday, as time continued to tick by on the clock, marching towards the final goodbye, my family tried its best to be normal and to enjoy the moments.

Almost like a death row inmate's request for his final meal, my husband squeezed in one last trip to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. The French toast was delicious, the coffee was hot, but we couldn't escape why we were there. After breakfast, as we continued to watch the clock, Daddy had time for one last round of playtime in my 4 year old's room.

Soon enough, though, we had to drive him to his office, where he drew the weapons he would carry with him into Operation New Dawn. My daughter simply saw a magnifying glass and wanted to see things enlarged. The innocence. That innocence next to a machine of war.

But war is what the Army does. And I am proud of the job my husband does, every day, whether home or away. As much as I know, mentally, he is in the Army, it is still strange to see him holding a gun, strolling about, thinking of war.

After drawing weapons, the soldiers are no longer allowed to ride in their own cars. They cannot let the guns out of their sight, so they have to congregate and ride together on a bus to the gym where they wait for the final bus ride to the airport. We left him to ride the bus and headed over to the gym, where we sat for nearly three hours. Three hours of trying to entertain children, manage missed nap times and still be pleasant to one another. I think the Army views this as the final test for every family with a deploying soldier.

I tried to catch these final moments of Daddy loving his kids. The teenager wasn't much for hugs at this point. The 4 year old was busy making friends with other children. So the baby got lots of kisses. And Mommy got lots of pictures. He is going to miss her first step. Her first word. Her first birthday. But she will know him and he will know her. That is my job.

Then a guy on a bad microphone set up said something about 15 minutes left. 15 minutes until what? Until the soldiers form up? Until they leave? Until we can no longer touch them? A trip to the bathroom with the 4 year old. Another trip with the baby. 5 minutes left?! What? (My heart is pounding as I write this, as I relive this moment. My hands are even shaking. It hurts. It really hurts. And here are the tears.)

I avoided eye contact for fear of dissolving in front of the kids. We all avoided each others' eyes. It is a publicly private moment and it stinks. We say I love you, I'll miss you but it seems so trite. Not enough. No depth. What more can you say, though?

Last deployment (yes, this is number three for my husband), we were able to dash outside the gym while the soldiers formed up inside, then steal one final kiss and word of encouragement as they loaded onto the buses. I expected it to be the same this time. I thought we would have that final touch. It wasn't the same. There was a barricade holding me away from my soldier. My last sight of him was in the gym, eyes red, mirroring my suppressed emotion. But I know he knows everything I didn't say, couldn't say, didn't have time to say.

I pray God's safety on every soldier sleeping away from his or her family tonight. You are remembered and you are honored.

The Fat Lady has NOT Sung :: Fort Hood, TX Military Photographer

Despite the news reports that all combat troops will be out of Iraq by August 31st, that does not mean all troops will suddenly be home with their families. It does not mean the situation in Iraq is not dangerous. It does not mean hundreds more families are not saying goodbye to their soldier this very week. It simply means Operation Iraqi Freedom is transitioning to Operation New Dawn under the extremely competent and watchful eyes of the soldiers of the 3d Armored Calvary Regiment (ACR).

This marks the Regiment's fourth deployment to Iraq in seven years. Each time, prior to leaving their home post, the Regiment cases its colors, or flag, in a ceremony honoring the unit's history and the soldiers who are serving under those colors. Within days, the soldiers themselves board planes and head off to hostile lands.

This blog post contains far more pictures than I normally show, but today's Soldier deserves credit for the sacrifices made, birthdays missed, and comforts of home which are set aside to serve our country. The fat lady has not even risen from her seat. There is no singing yet. The job is not done. And there are Soldiers still in Iraq.

iheartfaces week 34, Beach Fun :: Central TX Photographer

I feel as though the gals at I Heart Faces are being kind to me. Last year's Beach Week totally passed me by, as it had been seven years since my last beach visit. Despite my past of living in Florida, graduating high school in Hawaii, living twice in Virginia Beach and serving in the Navy (the NAVY, for goodness sake!), I really am not a fan of the beach. The sand, the salt, the need to don a bathing suit. Not much good that I can see. However, a scant two weeks ago my family went to Port Aransas on the Gulf Coast of Texas for a few days.

My eldest daughter, who is a waterbug, declared, "This is the best time of my life!" when she hit the ocean water for the first time. My baby was not scared by the water, but was far more interested in tasting the sand. As for me, well, I think I can still do without beach visits, save the early morning walks at sunrise.

My mom and I got up early one morning to watch the sun rise over the water. The clouds turned amazing colors as the sun slowly worked its way up the horizon. I snapped away, ooh-ing and aah-ing as we went along. But I knew I was blessed when two boys came down to fish with their grandfather. And they parked themselves right in front of the sun. And they helped me create a beautiful beach scape.

Be sure to head over to I Heart Faces before 9 pm on Tuesday to share your bit of the beach this week!

Sleepy with a Chance of Rain :: Killeen, TX Newborn Photographer

A clean diaper. A full stomach. A warm room. A sleeping babe. A wonderfully handsome sleeping babe. Who needed to go the bathroom only AFTER we removed his diaper. Twice. With gusto. Any father would be proud. His mother was just wet. But this pair proved they have the best tool any parent can wish for: a sense of humor, as they laughed while drying themselves and the floor. Good luck to you both on the long, tiring, absolutely rewarding road ahead!

102 Degrees of Coolness :: Salado, TX Family Photographer

As I drove to this session last night, at 6 pm, my car was registering a temperature of 102 degrees. Um, yes, that is a tad warm for outdoor photography. But an energetic, extended family was willing to brave that heat for some lovely portraits on a lovely piece of land. You can't even tell they are suffering as you look at their smiles!