SERVICE.

Many serve our country. Many. And I am blessed to meet some of them up close and personal through my work with Operation Love. When I got this call for this deploying servicemember, I was in Las Vegas for WPPI. There were all kinds of reasons why I simply could not do this session: my husband was out of town; the servicemember was deploying in less than 5 days; I was taking the red-eye home the next day and was about to be dog-tired. So, I said no. And I apologized and wished them luck and then…. And then. I listened to my gut. I try to do that. And my gut said “Do it.” So, before I could hang up that call that was breaking-up all the way from Virginia to Las Vegas, Nevada, I said, “You know what, nevermind. I’ll do it. But, I can only do it Friday morning. Will that work for you?” The answer was “Yes.” And then, oops, small detail, I remembered that my camera (my main body) was in the shop (getting serviced before I sell her). “Umm,” I said, “Hmm. I forgot I won’t have my main camera. But trust me, I’ll bring my old film cameras, and my old digital, and we’ll make this work.”

Every time I do one of these sessions, I meet the most incredible people and families. People who sacrifice for our country. Families who sacrifice for our country. They sacrifice for me. And for you. And for our FREEDOM. Doing these sessions is the least I can do as a genuine heartfelt “Thanks.”

And now I want you to meet Major B and his family.

But before you do, you need to know that this is Major B’s third deployment.

Yep, THIRD.

He has already served one year in Afghanistan and one year in Iraq.

I cannot tell you where he is headed now (I know where, I just cannot tell you).

But if you’re the praying kind, prayers are always appreciated.

When I arrived to do this session, everyone was dressed very formally.

Though this is usually not my style, it is what the family wanted, and in OpLove sessions, I do what the family wants.

We took some very beautiful family portraits.

Ones that I know they will treasure for years.

And in between those images, I took a few of those shots that I love to take. The family in action.

Living.

Laughing.

Loving.

A family.

And then I heard by happenstance as our session was ending

that tall stoic Major B would be playing guitar and singing

at his “going away” at a local pub that evening.

Immediately, I knew I had to go.

Come, meet the man behind the uniform.

The cowboy-hat-and-jeans-wearing man.

He hangs out with friends.

Oh, how he laughs.

And smiles.

And sings Johnny Cash like you wouldn’t believe.

The loving father places his cowboy hat upon his daughter’s head.

And dances the unicorn.

And there, a son, trying to fill daddy’s hat.

Within every soldier in uniform is the person himself.

He (or she) isn’t just a number, another troop sent overseas.

He is a living breathing person with a family who loves him dearly.

This husband/father may be gone for the next year, but his presence is everywhere.

Lingering yet oh so missed.

THANK.

YOU.

Love you guys.

xo

A