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“i just couldn’t do it j; there is no way.” i came in from my shoot on wednesday and started sharing.

after illustrating verbally the pictures of my heart, he gave me the obligatory head shake of approval, “that would be so hard, for all of us.”

“i mean, think about it babe. think about all the sacrifices they are making.”

“i know. that’s tough.”

“i felt so inspired by them, j, so touched by their story. my heart was beating fast the whole time thinking about the next few weeks and what lies ahead.”

“we should for sure keep them in our prayers.”

“for sure.”

they have been in my thoughts and prayers since wednesday; they will reside there for some time to come.

this family barely moved to southern california.

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they move a lot actually. that’s just the way it works when you are in the military. just when you think you are situated and know a place orders arrive and you are off somewhere new. in my case, my family always moved together. my dad was a chaplain in the air force; we got orders every two to three years. in the beginning it was easier because we were young and always got a fun bag filled with new thrills for the trip, but as we got older it started to be more difficult to be uprooted and start fresh so often, with or without a new bag of tricks. the one thing that was constant was that we always had each other. my dad was sent on tdy’s (temporary tour of duties), but never longer than a week or two, max. because of the way we were raised my sister and i have an affinity for the armed services and the men and women who work so hard to defend our liberties. i don’t think we consider often enough the sacrifices that are made so we can enjoy the freedoms we have.

just consider:

a beautiful and kind-hearted wife

two young and growing children

moments, milestones, memories

birthdays, anniversaries, holidays

home

now image leaving it all.

for a year.

rob is being deployed; he leaves at the end of the month and will be without his family, and they without him for a year.

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and that’s why i have been thinking about them since wednesday. my heart has been full of so much appreciation at the sacrifice for our country (essentially for all of us, strangers to these soldiers. ), the courage and bravery of shinta and rob, and the renewed hope of a return to peace.

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i am just not as brave as they are. i could not do my life, alone, for a year. now consider raising two small children on your own, no break comes through the door at 400pm; no saturdays to run errands by yourself; no reprieve from the ebb and flow of mommy-hood. shinta was so mellow about it all. i of course was peppering her with questions about how she does it: takes on each day, works through the tough stuff, presses on. “i just do it. you get used to it after a while.” she was so confidant in her belief in herself, and so positive about the whole experience; i feel inspired by her and how she is empowering herself as a woman, and a “single-mom”. she has no family here to help with the regimen; when he leaves she will be on her own until she rebuilds their life in a new place. she is  a soldier too, metaphorically: fighting to keep it all together at home while her man is away. she is much stronger and way more courageous than i will ever be.

and way more beautiful too. i don’t know how rob can stand to be away.

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especially with a love like theirs:

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i love this image. it is my favorite of the two of them. i think every couple should have one just like it. i think rob should make stickers of it and put them all over his foot locker and duffle bag. 😉

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the beautiful and the brave:

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may heart aches thinking about the sacrifices that come with leaving these two:

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these next two make me emotional. someday this will all be over and he will be home with his family seeing his gorgeous wife and darling children each day. someday these will just be reminders of how they looked when they were little in comparison to their protective and loving father. but right now these images are what rob has to hold on to. that, to me, makes them priceless:

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just consider the moments:

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and the sacrifices being made to miss those moments.

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now whisper a prayer for those that leave and those who stay behind.

an irish blessing for your family:

“A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.”

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rob, may you be safe. may you be blessed, and may you know how grateful we are for the service you render our country. thank you for leaving everything that is dear to you to defend something so important to all of us. i am inspired by your bravery and courage and your strength to do what you believe is right. thank you from my heart.

shinta, may you know you inspire. may you know your spirit is strong! may your courage prevail when you have changed 5 poopy diapers all before noon, observed a terrific 4-year-old tantrum at target, and left the house with un-observed throw-up in your hair. may you know you have a standing dinner invitation at our house EVERY sunday or whenever you want. please come. we would love to have you. our hearts and home will always be open to you.

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“Missing someone gets easier every day because even though it’s one day further from the last time you saw each other, it’s one day closer to the next time you will.”
— Author Unknown

may the calendar dates tick swiftly by.

may your family be blessed with comfort and peace.

you will be in our thoughts and prayers. thank you again for the sacrifices you are all making; i am so grateful to have met you, kamee

ps alright everyone rally together and leave them some love in the comments section. anything you think might serve to inspire as they prepare to walk this journey. thanks!!