He's HOME:)

***It's been the longest break I have ever taken from blogging. Between Tom coming home, a move from FL back to OK, two girls who keep me completely busy among other things, computer/blogging time has not been a priority in my life. But I have missed it everyday. I have fallen so behind with it though that everytime I have wanted to write, I dreaded that "catching up" part and shutting the computer was a lot easier for me. I have a ton of posts to write and I am going to mark the dates accordingly instead of having them all be in the end of September...so bear with me as a I complete two months of our lives over the next week!***

Back to one of the happiest days of our lives...our man is home! I drove out to Ft. Benning, GA on Sunday morning with the girls to pick him up as he was due to arrive late that afternoon or some time in the evening. When I was about an hour away from post, I got an email from him saying he was delayed in Germany and he wouldn't be arriving until the next morning. Can I just say my heart sank? Literally. I looked in my rearview mirror at two excited little kids and knew that another 24 hours without their dad was going to make them as sad as it made me. I hated the thought of checking into the hotel, staying by ourselves, finding things to keep our day occupied, and waiting. Waiting, waiting, waiting. But I simply let them know that we were on our own for another day, but when they wake up in the morning, we will go pick up their daddy. Ella said "don't be sad, mom. There's a pool at the hotel to keep us busy." Oh Ella. I want your simple mindedness. But more than anything, I wanted your daddy in my arms so this year would come to an end. 

We did enjoy the hotel pool (very thankful that both girls can swim on their own now. Makes swimming a bit more fun with them!). We took a trip to Wal-Mart and bought nailpolish and some other goodies to give ourselves manicures and pedicures and picked up dinner. As I left Subway, I kept  thinking "I am so happy I don't have to do this alone anymore. So happy. Last time. I can get through the night." 

Tom called in the middle of the night to let me know he arrived in GA and at some point in the morning we could pick him up. I set my alarm for 6 to be prepared. I got up before the girls, showered, got ready and then woke them up so we could go downstairs and get breakfast. They were bouncing off the walls with excitement and I didn't mind the craziness one bit. Sometime after breakfast, we got the call to pick him up and I don't think I could have gotten out of that hotel faster. All three of us giddy as can be, jamming to music and hoping our GPS would lead us in the right direction to Tom:) Once we parked, the girls were out of their carseats and waiting in the front with me until Tom came out of whatever building he had to sign out of. I am not even exaggerating that when the girls saw their daddy walking toward the car the screaming and excited giggles could have broken the windows. They could not have jumped out of the car more quickly and into their daddy's arms. It was all such a blur, but I'll never forget the way my heart pounded, the way the tears fell down or the feeling of such relief as my husband hugged me. There's no way to describe such a feeling of pure happiness. 

I do remember taking a deep breath on the long drive back to FL and thinking to myself "There it is...I am breathing again." He's home, safe and handsome as ever. We are blessed. So very blessed. 

PS. I cried writing this post just re-living the emotions from that time. It was overwhelming, but a moment I will never forget. 

On our way to Ft. Benning! 6 hour road trip and the girls were awesome!

Is there anything better?

Madeline's happiness is awesome.

Our first photo of the 4 of us!