(_l_) (__) (_l_) (_/_) (_l_) (__) (_l_) (_/_) (_l_) (_l_) (__) (_l_)

I am doing my Happy Dance! He finally made it home, I am done, I survived......and my kids did too. My hubby coming home did not include the ceremony I had always wanted to attend or all the fanfare associated with a larger airport. But all that matters is that I got to run to him and jump into his arms. He is home , here with me and home safe and in one piece!

The army did not make this easy for me as they were more than difficult and in the end I did have to road trip it 5 hrs across the state to Benning. But I was so fortunate to have a great friend accompany me. She made a nerve wracking day into the best girl time I have had in years. We had the best conversations and tons of fun. She even kept me from getting freakishly lost a few times. Plus she saved me from having to eat alone at the Applebee's and wait alone at the airport, because man, that last hour felt like a hundred years. And the airport was small and empty and there was nothing to do to fill the time, no souvenirs to browse or things to look at. So instead she indulged me in my silly picture taking and listened to me talk a mile a minute about god only knows what....she was absolutely incredible. I am blessed to have her as my friend :)

We had a fabulous time our first night back together, we all 3 celebrated his return with Champagne (the cheap kind) and the finest wine glasses a dollar could buy at the dollar tree (no expense was spared)  and then retired to our rooms.

It was incredible and sweet and beyond my most hoped for expectations. And it was so nice to be in his arms again and to kiss him again and ..................

I am so happy he is home.   :o)

Things I have learned.........

I am finally nearing the end of this stupid deployment, if you had told me a year ago that I would actually survive this in one piece I so would have whined and cried like a 5 yr old . And I can honestly say the pessimist in me won out in the end over my emotions and I was not someone anyone wanted to be near for those first few months.  Fast Forward, (hindsight is alwaaaaaays 20/20) and I can look back on it all and see where I was wrong . I could and have survived.....everything annoying or ridiculous that has happened I have survived.  But anyways here is a short list of the things I have learned this year, starting from the beginning....

1. Some people who claim to be your friend are NOT
2. You should make real life friends,  too. Internet friends are not always who you think they are.
3. You can make that road trip alone with 2 kids and a cat, just don't forget 2 redbull shots and your ipod
4. You will survive the funerals and other hard things that come along
5. Skype and magic jack are incredibly awesome
6. Do not watch schmoopy sappy army movies early in deployment, they will only make you bitter and sad
7. the news is never good
8. staying busy really is the best way to get through it.....volunteer for everything and never say no to an invite no matter how much you want to
9. family is really important , so glad I reconnected with all of mine this year
10. take time for yourself.......
11. it is ok to leave dishes in the sink over night, heck you can leave them until you need them or they overflow the sink
12. soup and sandwiches is totally a healthy meal
13. Campbell's has a ton of new varieties :D
14. Ask for help (do not wait until your 9 months in, either)
15. You can watch schmoopy army homecoming shows at the end of deployment, and it is ok to cry
16. Daniel Tosh can make you laugh after the show has made you cry
17. Once its time for Hubby to come home, do not watch the episode of MASH where Henry Blake leaves to go home. Period.
18. once your hubby is in your arms it will all be ok. The rest is just small stuff. (At least I am hoping on this one as he is not home yet, I will let you know once he is....)
19. Oh and last but not least it is NOT really like it is portrayed on Army Wives.
20. If you put yourself out there you can make some of the best friends ever. Thank God for MOPs.


This is most of what I have learned, feel free to add to it though :) ......