We made it!!!

We made it!!! Mike is home safe and sound. He got home last Friday. The welcome home ceremony was at 9:45 p.m., thank goodness we only live about 10 minutes from the parade field.

I want to thank all of our friends and family for the support, thoughts and prayers while he was gone. Especially my on-line friends who I have not had the pleasure to meet yet. Without my fellow army wives it would have been hell. God Bless each and everyone one of you!!! I only hope that one day we get to meet in person.

The weeks and days coming up to homecoming were a huge bag of emotions. You get to hear from your spouse and your told an approximate time frame. Because of security we are not supposed to say anything and let alone post it on the internet so we learn creative ways of doing that. So many trash days, so many holidays, a certain date minus so many days. People just do not understand that we can not release certain information for our soldiers safety and for our own.

The day finally arrived. I took Kyla to school since the flight wasn't scheduled until that evening. Made sure laundry was done, house spotless, all Mike's favorite foods and drinks were bought and stocked in the house, his car was ready for him, camera charged and Welcome Home signs hung up. Finally we are down to single digit hours!! We got to the parade field about 2 hours ahead of time. Had to make sure we got a good parking spot next to the tent where their bags were going to be. We got to see the plane fly over post and tip it's wings. Oh my goodness the emotions and tears just went into overdrive. They had to large TV's set up so we could watch the soldiers get off the plane and once I seen Mike on the runway I knew for sure he was home safely. I can't explain the feeling of elation I had. I had sent out a link so that family and friends could watch the ceremony on line as it was happening. We waited some more and finally we were told they were getting closer to us!! Once we seen the flashing lights of the MP car we knew they had arrived. The white buses pulled, the same white buses that I really disliked 12 months ago, and the cheers, screams, jumping and tears started. Again we waited .. Once they were all of the buses and in formation the buses moved and our soldiers marched onto the field!! Just seeing all of them home finally was the best feeling ever. The CO made a very short speech and then yelled it was finally time for us to get our soldiers. I don't think he even got the first word out of his mouth before the running started. Kyla was holding a poster with her daddy's name on it and we searched the crowd, who by the way all the guys look alike in uniform and when your eyes are full of tears, we finally spotted his smiling face. We ran to him and just held on as tight as we could. We had Peanut with us and she was so excited to see her "daddy"!! Needless to say pictures didn't happen. I had taken some of the buses but my hands were shaking so bad they look like moving pictures. We hugged and held onto Mike and finally he was ready to get his bags and come home.

We walked to the tent which they didn't allow family in there or it would have been a huge mess but we waited again, for those who don't know waiting is the military way, finally Mike had his bags and out he came. Luckily I had parked right by the tent so in went the bags and off we came home. Since it was night he didn't get to see his sign on the side fence but who cares. We were finally home and together again!! All the bags were inside and Mike was in his chair. Peanut still was bouncing all over the place. After we finished hugging and talking Mike was off to shower. I hopped on Facebook long enough to say he was home. I'm thinking he really loved that shower because he was in there about an hour..LOL At least now he doesn't have to worry about running out of hot water or just water for that fact.

The weekend was great!! I can not say how happy it was to look over and see him sleeping in his chair and snoring. You never know how much you miss their noises and habits until they are gone. Even Sheba our cat was so happy to see him. Mike was so happy to get to BBQ finally. It was so nice to have the weekend and not have to get up to take Kyla to school. Kyla could not stop smiling all weekend. Every time I looked over and seen him sleeping I smiled.

Mike had to go back to work on Wednesday which was supposed to be a short day but in the Army fashion that didn't happen but to know that at the end of the day he would be pulling up in the carport and getting out of his car was unbelievable. He has several short days coming up but with Kyla in school it really doesn't give much family time to get reintegrated but we take full advantage of every single minute.

It is so nice to see more and more flights coming home. Even though they get 2 weeks to come home during the deployment that time is their time to rest and relax. This has been one long year and it has shown me that I am stronger than what I thought I was. I am not going to say that everything went perfectly and there was no problems because that is so not true but we managed to get through each hurdle and come out stronger because of it. No Kyla and I did not get along all the time but again we made it through stronger. Between things happening back in Missouri with family and all the lost communications from Iraq and missing my husband more than words can say, life did go on and it made me realize that I can do anything.

I can not tell anyone how proud I am of Mike. He not only had to deal with the sacrifices, missing family, keeping his mind on the task, he pulled through with flying colors. He makes me so proud each and everyday to say that I am his wife. Anyone that knows Mike knows he does not like attention on him but I have already put up his awards and certificates so that we can see them. If that seems like I am bragging, yes I am! He and all the military deserve so much more than what they are given and I am not talking about just money. Please remember each and everyone of our military daily in your thoughts and prayers.

I don't think there are words to say how happy I was to relinquish the remote control! I love to hear him snoring, love to just sit and watch him sleep. We take things for granted but then when they are taken away you realize what you miss. I have a dear friend who lost her husband in Afghan and year ago and she has been such an inspiration to me and to so many. She is now raising two of the cutest little boys and still helping so many and she does it with such grace and flair. She was there when I needed to talk. While I can't say in words the emotions we felt when we finally had our soldiers in our arms, my mind still goes to those who do not have the happy homecoming, the waving flags, the ceremonies and parties. Those are our true American Hero's and their families. Please remember each of them and their families daily. They gave the ultimate sacrifice and will forever be in my heart.

We do not know when we will be going back to Missouri for a visit as we are also preparing for a move to Georgia this summer. The next chapter of our lives will be an exciting one. Love Georgia, Kyla will love being so close to the beach and above all she wants to go to Paula Deen's restaurant more than anything..LOL That is all she talks about. We know as military families that each and everyday we have with our loved ones is a precious day and the time is no longer taken for granted. We make each day count and cherish it because we know that they will be leaving us again all to soon.

Please remember to thank a Veteran when you see them, thank a member of our military and their family and please do not forget to remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice and their families. Please keep each in your thoughts and prayers.