Most of the women I know are incredible, independent, strong willed individuals but the best ones always seem to be military spouses. These ladies in my life inspire me, drive me, and welcome me into their worlds, like a family member. We all share something beyond words, a way of life that is hard to explain and hard to understand but it is ok. We all seem to be a part of a clique almost bound by the job choices made by our loved ones. It is these choices that often leave me wondering how we get through this because in the outside world (the civilian world) a spouse gone for an extended time every few years is not the norm. But for us, military spouses it is something we expect, we understand (though sometimes I truly do not), and get through with grace (most of the time). We all understand the deployment curse all too well but we are also better for it because we find each other in the time of need and that support is worth more than gold.

Alex & Irma came into my life this exact way - from the first day of meeting them with their realtor looking at a house next door I learned Alex is deploying soon and before I even realized it he was gone on a 9 month deployment while Irma was left to unpack the boxes from their moving in. As time went on, more husbands on our street left, some returned, but through it all we had each other, we looked out for each other, sometimes even without each others knowledge. And somehow these 9 months flew by and I noticed that Irma pulled through with the biggest smile on her face, knowing that the day of reunion is almost here. And if a stranger passed by they would never know that her heart was half the world away and her soul missed every piece of him.

When the day finally came to go to the scheduled ceremony it was like every emotion hit at once. Nerves were shaken, eyes constantly filled with tears and yet laughing at the silliest things, stomach in a knot, hands cold one second and hot the other, cheeks burning and freezing at the same time. Surrounded by strangers, in the dark, on a cold Texas night, counting seconds till the buses show up - all of it feels longer than the 9 months of waiting for this exact moment. The one thing that Irma told me stuck with me - it didn’t feel real. It was almost like an out of body experience where you are watching yourself, standing there on a dark field, so small and yet with love so big. I truly believe the amount of love that is felt in that moment makes the air a little warmer, the night a little brighter, and the heart a little fonder (if that is even possible).

The rest is hard to describe in words without taking away from the moment. The happiness felt in the second you embrace your loved one is unlike any other so I will let the photographs speak for themselves.

Thank you Irma & Alex for letting me be there for your special moment!