{Homecoming} Nicki & Shane

As promised I can finally share Nicki and Shane's Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort homecoming photos by Alexis Sweet Photography. If you missed Nicki's military wedding post click here. This post is going to be loooooong since it's such a huge deal and I hope you bear with me as I write our/their story. I'm very excited and emotional to share these photos today since Nicki is my best friend, we've known each other since middle school! I was actually there when she met Shane for the first time, I was a reader at their wedding, and I've been there to visit them in the hospital to welcome their two babies. Wiping tears, and now I've moved away from this amazing friend and family. 

Long story short is that I was instumental in getting Nicki inspired by photography in high school and we both took many photography classes, which then led to Nicki going to college for photography and I for design & photography. You can actually see the styled shoot we collaborated on here. Nicki was also instrumental to me moving south (She lives in Beaufort, and I lived in Savannah) and now I've moved back north since my husband was offered a job near his hometown (New York) that we couldn't refuse. Nicki and I helped each through deployments her husband and mine. When she asked me to come to Shane's homecoming, I warned her I may be a mess! I actually didn't cry since I was so busy capturing iphone videos but then when Alexis shared the images I bawled!! 

Alexis is a good friend as well, and she did an amazing job capturing this beautiful homecoming. Alexis and I have worked on a few other weddings and styled shoots, so I knew she would be perfect to capture Nicki's homecoming. She has also become one of A Military Story vendors which you can see by clicking on the VENDORS link at the top of the page.

I found this gorgeous song "I Will Be There" by Steve Curtis Chapman which I felt the lyrics would be perfect to join together with Nicki and Shane's homecoming images. Oh man, get those tissues out!!

I Will BeThere ~ Steve Curtis Chapman

 Tomorrow morning if you wake up

And the sun does not appear,
I will be here.

If in the dark we lose sight of love,
Hold my hand and have no fear,
‘Cause I will be here.

CHORUS
I will be here when you feel like being quiet;
When you need to speak your mind, I will listen.
And I will be here when the laughter turns to crying;
Through the winning, losing, and trying, we’ll be together,
‘Cause I will be here.

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
And the future is unclear,
I will be here.
As sure as seasons are made for change,
Our lifetimes are made for years,
So I will be here.

CHORUS
I will be here, so you can cry on my shoulder;
When the mirror tells us we’re older, I will hold you.
And I will be here to watch you grow in beauty,
And tell you all the things you are to me;
I will be here. 

I will be true to the promise I have made,
To you and to the One who gave you to me. 
As sure as seasons are made for change,
Our lifetimes are made for years,
So I, I will be here. 
We'll be together and I will be here.

I had to insert a couple of pictures with me too. Miss You Guys!!