Getting ready for Toby's return is one of the funnest but slowest processes in this deployment. I had to keep my excitement under wraps or on a lower key that is. I had to wait until the sunday before to hang the sign and start getting the house clean. Toby wouldn't have cared either way but I turn into a freak about everything being perfect. The kids were definitly annoyed with me getting the outfits ironed and ready and the house staying clean. I made pulled pork in the crock pot to be ready when we brought him home. Toby knew he just wanted to come home whatever time he got in, so I didn't want to have to fuss over food.
I got the kids ready to go and house was clean when we found out that he might be coming early? Yikes.. get me ready and pack the bag to keep kids busy. Bag: my heels, to put on before we saw him.. wore my flip flops there.. (if you know anything about the military, you know you wait for everything, so wearing heels for hours on end was not a good idea, and chasing kids for those hours was not practical.) I got us all ready and looking AWESOME and wanted everything to be so perfect for his return that I had the kids stand outside and I vacuumed behind us so the house was clean as ever for his first steps in.
Drive up the the place we pick him up and take the kids in... find out it will be a least an hour later.. no problem becuase I have old friends I want to catch up with before they come in and I don't see anyone anyway. The girls started getting bored so I went outside with them and we ran races against each other for about 20 minutes to keep them busy. They love running races, and just go back and forth. They had things set up for the kids and I get the jumpy things, but I had my girls in dresses and hair cute so then I get to fight the kids to not do anything fun. There was this Major there that (migrated) if that is the best word towards me. He just kept saying what a great wife and mother I was and asking about Toby. So then someone gives the call to go ouside and see them come in.. I put on my heels and got a wave of emotion! It had been 7 months since we had hugged and I definitly longed for him to hold my hand. Again, we waited outside for about 15 minutes to see the plane. It was AMAZING.. I remember just seeing this plane and knowing that he was HOME>>>
I was bawling my eyes out and then all the wives started and then we couldn't stop laughing at ourselves and hugging each other for making it to this point. The night started to drop and the plane comes taxiing its way I think as slow as it possibly could. They walk the flag out and open the plane and guys start coming out..
I could almost not contain myself and the news was there and getting us all on film screamin.. The guys start walking our way and they have their weapons, this is when we find out he can only wave at us until he has turned his weapon in. So there he walked we just screamed "Daddy" and I could tell he was so tired.
We get herded back inside to wait again for about 30 minutes. That same Major came and talked to me and told me he had gone and met Toby and just knew we were called to be in the military life and said that he felt like we both had a huge example to set other families. I told him about my book and he told me that he wished his wife could have been there to meet me and if I even need anything or Toby to come to his office and see him.. it was so random, but he said he felt drawn to me. I have that thing about me (just wish I knew what to do with it).. sorry that is a different post all together.
Here it comes.. the door opens, the smoke machine is on and they are formed up to make their arrival. Someone says something that I am sure was not very important and releases them to their families. (Toby and I had decided that I would stay put and he would find us instead of me pulling the kids everywhere in the craziness.... I couldn't WAIT...I left the kids in their spot and jumped on him.. gave him a huge hug and honestly.. it felt after two seconds like he had never left.
God has made our brains like that I think. I remember every kid thinking I would not go through that again and then I did anyway. From that point on it was all business.. making sure the kids got to be a part of all the excitement. Getting his bags and meeting a couple friends he had made. Going out to the car to go home. I could have just sat there in awe all night. We made it home and ate a bit of food and then he got to put the kids to bed. He loved that. Cera was not wanting a part of it, but we knew that would happen. Carmen was scared he would have to go back the next day and be gone. What an amazing experience. I definetly believe we both grew and got what we put into the deployment and am thankful for all the things I learned and mostly that Toby is home safe with me!!! I love you honey
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