{Mine} on Monday – He’s in the Army Now!!!

If I’ve photographed your wedding or if you attended any larger event I’ve photographed or if we’ve had a location session, then you just might recognize this young man. This is my nephew Sean — he’s worked for me periodically over the last four years. Mostly he was my bag handler and my 6ft, 3in human light stand {those are very hard to come by}. But he’s also been my office assistant when I needed him, made deliveries, at times he has run the photo booth and I’ve even strapped him with a camera occasionally to get a few candids when I couldn’t be two places at once. But now {and I’m very PROUD to say} he works for the United States Army!!! Today was an emotional day for my family as we watched this young man give his pledge to United States of America — I’m very heartbroken to lose my assistant, but also proud of Sean and happy he has made this commitment. I look forward to the first letter I get from him and to the first time I get to see him after the Basic Training he’ll receive at Fort Jackson — I can only imagine the transformation that will take place!

Here are a few images taken while Sean recited his oath and some random ones while we were at the military processing center in Downtown Houston (MEPS — the military has so many acronyms:). At 6 foot and 3 inches, Sean has always been taller than his peers and always looked a few years older. But when I look at these images, I see a scared little boy {as write this the tears are flowing}. It breaks my heart to look into those brilliant blue of eyes of his and not see the 19 year old man that I’ve come to know , but more like the 9 year old I remember when I put him on a roller coaster that scared the begeezus out of him. But although today was a tough day for our family – it was also a happy day, I know Sean has made the right decision — he’s had plenty of time to think this through and it’s always what he has talked about. I know he’ll be extremely homesick and Army Basic Training is no walk in the park, but I know in the end it will be such a positive force in his life.

I’m proud of you SeanE & Love You!!! Hooah!!! And remember… God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9