March 25

Tomorrow is March 25, to me this day now has two meanings. For 23 years, this has been the day I celebrate my birth. It is the day I turn a year older and the day I usually look forward to every year. But now this day has another meaning to me and my family. This year, March 25, marks the two year anniversary of Shane's second return from his deployment to Iraq. Two years ago our family became whole. It is a day that we will always remember and a day that still brings so many emotions. I remember this day like it was yesterday, but at the same time it feels like a dream....

For seven months, one pregnancy, one c-section, and many visits to the hospital, the only thing that kept us going, was looking forward to this day. We lived for the day that my husband would return and meet his son for the first time. I know in the military lifestyle, missing births and childhood memories is normal. Having a parent deployed is an everyday thing that everyone deals with. However, just cause so many people have to deal with it, it doesn't make it any easier. My husband missed the birth of his first child and the first two months of his life. This is time he will never get back and memories he didn't get to be a part of. Two years later, and it still makes us emotional. Although it is something we still deal with, we are grateful for the time we have together now and the new memories and traditions we have created as a whole family. To keep in memory for this day that has so much meaning to us, we did a mini photo shoot. A shoot of just daddy and son. To celebrate their precious relationship and the bond that no one will ever be able to break again. And so I will share some of these:

I also want to take the time to thank all military personal and their families for all the sacrifices they make to ensure the safety and freedom of our country.