Sunday, March 13, 2011

Happy Homecoming Post! :)

Everyone knows by now that Joe came home on the 9th. He got in early that morning. His ceremony was supposed to be at 0800. And the Special Events Center opened at 0600. So I was there at 0630, after getting slightly lost on the one way roads on post. But in true Army fashion, they were about an hour and a half late.

Special Events Center

I don't have any pictures of the guys coming in the doors. I was too busy *trying* to tape it for my family that couldn't be here. They warned us that the buses were pulling up and we all needed to be seated. Finally they were introduced and the doors flew open and the smoke machine started blowing and our guys started marching in. The noise we made was deafening. The video I made shook the whole time. I looked up at my camera to see my hand shaking uncontrollably! But in the sea of camo, I couldn't spot Joe. I found out later than he was in the back row so I never had a chance. When they dismissed everyone, we all stumbled down the bleachers. I walked towards the group of guys we had spotted as E Company, still not spotting Joe. The random smoke didn't help anything. All of a sudden he popped into my field of vision!! I have never been so excited in my life. Literally. I've been on this Earth for just over 27 years, and nothing compares to the feeling of hugging Joe after a year long deployment. Home. He's home. I will never forget the look on Joe's face. He had the biggest smile on his face. I've never seen him that purely happy. We immediately went to look for his bags. Which was a task all in itself!
Joe hunting for his bags


While walking to the car with the first load of bags, I gave Joe his wedding ring back. It's made of titanium and cannot be cut so he's not allowed to wear it downrange just in case there's an injury. I've been wearing it since the day he left a year ago. I will never forget him slipping it on my finger on the day he deployed. I was SO happy to give it back.

Joe has been home for 5 days now. I cant believe it's been that long! It seems like he just got here. He had the 4-day pass. And I took time off of work so we've had lots of quality time together. It still feels like I have to give him back soon. It dawns on us both, he's home. We have to touch each other constantly. Even in the grocery store, Joe grabs my hand. He watches me sleep. And is even nice to Rigel! :) I'm sure getting back to normal will be strange, but I think we're on a good track.

Joe paused in the kitchen and turned to me with a smile on his face, "Sara, where do the measuring cups go?"

My man is home. :) It's been a long year. A VERY long year, but we did it!! We made it through!!

17 comments:

Erin said...

Yay!! Welcome home to Joe!

Jenna said...

Congrats on your homecoming! Welcome home Joe!

Tammy Munson said...

I'm so happy for you and Joe (and yes I cried reading your Homecoming ceremony story) Welcome home Joe! He better be nice to Rigel otherwise I know 2 little girls that will not be happy with him! :)

Congrats on making it my friend and welcome to the Deployment Survivors Club!

XOXO!

Unknown said...

So happy for you! Glad you have Joe home :)

❈ Annie - Blonde Glambition ❈ said...

So happy for you chickadee!!

Lisa said...

Hooray for having Joe home! Enjoy it!!

Samantha said...

yay, happy homecoming!! :)

Field of Dreams said...

So happy for you:)

Mrs. F said...

Yay!! So happy for you guys!

Patty said...

WONDERFUL NEWS!!!!!!! =) =)

Shana said...

Thats fabulous news! Good to knoe he is nice to the baby... my biggest frustration is my hubbys LOVE (pure sarcasm!)of the pups.

Welcome home Joe!

Renee said...

Yipee!!! I am so excited for both of you! We are in day 6 of my husband being home and it is just amazing! The feeling of seeing my husband's faces for the first time in so long, truly was breath taking!!

Mandy said...

Congratulations!! I've been reading your blog for a couple of months now and have loved it. My husband is gearing up for his own year-long deployment (our first...leaving me by myself with 3 small children. Ack!) and reading your story makes me feel like I really can live through this. Thank you!

Sierra Echo said...

Woohoo!! Yay for homecoming!! Hope you and your DH are enjoying each other!

Ashley Lynne said...

Welcome home to your Hubby : ) We are stationed at Fort Carson as well and my Hubby came in that FRIDAY !!! Hope you are loving every minute with your husband, I know I have. I love reading your blog : ) What company is your husband in and what does he do ?

Sara said...

Hi Ashley Lynne! You should def send me an email sometime willow162001@yahoo.com. We should do coffee or something!

ArmySwthrt said...

I was looking for other "army wife" blogs today and ran across yours and as I was looking at your blog, the picture of the Special Events Center caught my eye and I realized that you guys are stationed at Carson too. That is exactly where I welcomed my husband back home last May and remember it almost the same except my husband is REALLY tall so he's easy to spot. But of course I'm really short so once I got off of the bleachers and everyone was storming around I lost sight of him. haha Congrats on the homecoming! I agree, nothing can replace that feeling! Hope all is well and look forward to reading more of your blogs! :)