I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that this homecoming was harder than the last deployment. You'd think nine months would trump a measly twenty-one days, but I was able to talk to him throughout the deployment, had an idea of his mental state, and didn't have three weeks of irrational thoughts and fear running around my brain.
But let's go back, because the planning for the homecoming actually started before the school began. As we've been learning lately, his new position comes with spousal responsibilities that I have not had prior experience with, and one such 'job' finds us responsible for throwing a homecoming for the class. It was a little surprising to know that a group of about ten of us would have to come up with the funds, plan, and execute a homecoming for 80 soldiers, but it turned out to be a bonding experience and helped us pass the time while they were all gone.
As usual, I also spent weeks working on his pile'o goodies, and I may have outdone myself...The beer selection was impeccable, there were snacks galore, and I pricked my fingers a million times on those dang roses. You know my motto: "Let the wife make the husband glad to come home & let him make her sad to see him leave."
Obviously, I take it seriously...
I found the banana idea on
Pinterest, but my little sayings are the best part.
Just sayin'.
"Report for booty and peel me like a banana" and
"Your Banana is banana's for you" are quite appropriate if I do say so myself.{ Insert self high five}
Okay, so after we spent a month and a half working on this homecoming, guess what happened? It stormed all morning. We were already extremely nervous picking up our husbands from the hardest training they will EVER experience, and we probably weren't even going to be able to show them what we had worked so hard on. You'd think after all the planning, volunteering, baking, and legitimate blood, sweat, and tears we would be devestated, but between the relief of having our soldiers home and realizing that the whole process brought us all closer together, we understood that it was all worth it regardless.
And you know what? Seeing the smiles on their faces when they laid eyes on us showed that we were what they were looking forward to, and then hearing that thoughts of us were what got them through the rough times made it ALL worth it. It was clear that the traditions and goodie bags were the last things on their mind, and we really can't complain about that. You can't complain about much of anything when they wrap their arms around you ;)
You'd think I couldn't love my husband anymore, and then he goes and slips the following into a conversation we were having:
"As I walked through the woods talking to a Tech about being away from you, I told him 'I was thinking it sucks to be away, but then I get to fall in love with her all over again when I come home."
I mean, I feel this way every time he comes home, but I didn't know he did or at least that he would have voiced the feelings to a stranger in public. Just when I think he can't be anymore perfect on the scale of human perfection, he makes me woozy like a school girl... That's how you keep love alive, people!
One last final shout out out to thank
Chik-fil-A for their amazing generosity in donating thirty gift cards to a bunch of soldiers that had to forage in the woods for weeks at a time. They were happy when they got to eat in the DFAC {dining facility}, so you can only imagine how excited a warm, hearty chicken sandwich could make them. And to the Army...you may take my husband away more than I like, but I can't deny that I enjoy falling in love with him over and over again.
