My Last Night....

Of sleeping alone! Tomorrow not only do I have a day off of school, but I get to bring my husband home with me! I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to have him home...finally.

I will post pics, and give a story about the Homecoming Ceremony as soon as I can! Lord knows it will be interesting with all of the security and people they are expecting (Last count...5,000) INSANE!

I will be a little busy for a few days ;)

I want to thank all of my friends for getting me through this last year. I couldn't have done it without you.

At the End of a Long Journey

I forgot to post this picture earlier. There were many reporters at the airport as the unit arrived home. There is a certain VIP in the unit that creates this press, but I will talk about that later.

Pictures were taken as the soldiers got off the plane, and Michael was in one. He is third up the stairs...one head is almost hidden behind Major Sullivan (the first on the stairs), but he is the third! This was when they finally arrived in New Jersey, the LAST stop after arrivals in Bulgaria, Germany, Iceland and New Hampshire. Talk about ridiculous!

2 more days until he is officially HOME!

NO MORE WORK

No, I didn't quit my teaching job, although there at times I wish I could HA. Last night was my last night at the restaurant for awhile. At least until Michael leaves for his Captains' Career Course in October. We have trips planned for the next two weekends. Next weekend it's Philly, and the weekend after that New York.

I love the city, and I can't wait to get away with my husband!

Today is going to be spent planting flowers, buying pumpkins, cleaning the yard and house, because my husband will be HOME this week!

Two Hours of Heaven

Today, around 4:13, the three blue bird buses pulled up and returned my husband to me. Well, not really since I had to leave him there, but I got to see and hug him. It was amazing. Leaving wasn't too bad since I know I will see him again in 4 days and I can call him whenever I want if I need him.

But it still hurts to have him so close but not be able to bring him home. Soon...

Welcome Home Love!

TOMORROW!

Tomorrow morning, early, (o'dark thirty) my husband will land in the United States. He will get off the plane, turn in his weapon and start the demobilization process. Because he is not normally full time active duty, he is in the National Guard, when I get to see him he will not be able to come home with me. Instead, he will demob for 5 or 6 days, and then he will be dismissed after his homecoming ceremony.

I will get to see him for a few hours tomorrow afternoon when they give him a break. Those few hours are going to be amazing. I cannot wait to see him and hug him again, finally. I have needed a hug from him in the worst way for the last few weeks, and tomorrow I will get to breath a sigh of relief.

I am hoping that when I see him I don't break down like I did when they told me he was on his way. It is just a relief to know that he is out of harm's way and that I don't have to wake up and check my phone to see if I missed a call or email. Let's hope I can keep it together.

I know leaving him will be sad, but it will be just four short days before I can bring him home after the ceremony. Let's just get through tomorrow....

Geezzz...

This week could not take any longer. Holy cow. I hadn't heard from Michael since Monday afternoon and started to get worried when I hadn't heard anything in over 24 hours. I knew he was getting a flight out of the s***hole to s***hole #2 (Kuwait), but I knew it wasn't a log flight. Thankfully, I heard from him early this morning, that he arrive safely.

Now, we play the waiting game. He will be arriving to his final destination sometime early Friday morning, and then I will get to see him Friday afternoon. Only one more full day without seeing him, but I am sure it will be the longest day on the face of the Earth.

Pray for the brigade's safe return.

This is an Official Phone call...

I got it. THE phone call, the one tell me when I can see, hug, kiss....my husband! At the end of this week ladies and gentlemen, my husband will be in the continental US. After I got off the phone, I immediately started to cry. I have no idea why. The thought of all of this : sleepless nights, worrying constantly, not wanting to hear the news, missing being hugged at the end of the day... being over, was amazing. Just thinking about it now I get teary. I can't wait to have my husband back.

Pray for a quick week, and a safe return...