Welcome Home!

Some people never truly understand what it is like to have a family member to serve in the US Military. There are so many sacrifices both from those who have been deployed to those staying at home. My dear friends, the Arroyo’s, just wrapped up what they might describe as the longest, hardest, most trying 9 months of their married lives.

Nathan would travel to Syria where he was planned to stay until January 2020. Nikki would still be at home - working, taking care of their twins, keeping up the house, and now to their delighted surprise be growing the newest Arroyo in her womb. God’s timing is never wrong and this is something that this family needed. A growing surprise to keep Nikki and the girls excited and to keep Nathan even more motivated to stay safe.

But, that didn’t mean it would make it easy. Not being together during this exciting time was hard on everyone. Especially since Nathan’s leave was denied to come home for the birth of baby Adriana.

But again, God’s timing is always perfect. With the help of their wonderful OB, Dr. Drake, Nathan had the absolute best surprise for his family.

November 14: Nikki’s C-Section is planned for Nov. 18 but she is having contractions. The doctors want to go ahead and schedule her C-Section for noon that Thursday. But, Nikki is unable to contact Nathan to tell him the news and has a feeling of uneasiness about proceeding with this plan without talking with her husband first. So, she opts to try for a VBAC (natural birth after having a cesarean with their twin girls). So, around 7pm she heads to the hospital with more severe contractions. She still isn’t able to contact Nathan.

With the help of their dear friend, CJ, Nathan is being picked up at the airport around 6pm. He turns his phone on to numerous messages from Niikki about going into labor so they head to the hospital (not his original plan but remember God’s timing is perfect). Nathan ended up being granted leave and wanted to surprise his entire family by arriving home in time for the scheduled C-Section. Little did he know he would be able to witness something even greater.

I received the news from Nikki that evening of Nov. 14 that she was trying for the VBAC so I packed my camera and gear and headed for the long night at the hospital. And WOW, y’all I’ve never cried so many happy tears over another families birth like I did that within that 24 hours.

Nathan walking in to surprise his wife who is in labor was all God’s timing. It was magical, glorious, and so inspiring. We all prayed so many times, thanking God for this gift and His timing.

And the tears kept coming. She delivered a little after 4am on November 15 and with no sleep I met Nathan at 8am at the girls elementary school. The school was so wonderful, they set up a fake event to get every student into the gym. Their principal even did a fake contest so that he could get a few select students up to the front (including their twin girls). When Nathan came through the doors, EVERYONE was screaming, crying, hugging, and just simply in tears over this wonderful homecoming. And those girls just rushed to his open arms and did not want to let go of their daddy.

I told myself not to cry while writing this but I just can’t help it. This story is something that is out of our control and yet managed to be the best day for this family.

And it just kept getting better. After the school surprise, Nathan headed to the hospital with the girls to surprise one more special person - his Mom! She had been keeping the girls while Nikki was in labor and had no idea her son was home. So que more tears, more hugging, and more love :)

It was a perfect day with zero sleep for everyone involved that ended with the SWEETEST new baby being brought into a world where God does love us, He cherishes us, He listens to us, and He knows our deepest needs and desires, and HE has the absolute most perfect timing.

Meet Adriana :)