Welcome Home, Bill!

What a day we had, welcoming Bill back into the United States and into our lives again. He just spent 4 and a half months at Balad Air Base, near Baghdad, Iraq. Deployments are not fun, but the Homecomings are so exciting!

Our day began with the kids jumping into bed with me, ready to see their Daddy! Mary kept saying, "Daddy coming! Airplane? Base!!!" Grant said, "I just can't wait to see my Dad. I want to run up and wrestle with him!" Ivan said, "I think I'm just gonna go crazy when I see him. It makes me want to cry!" He's pretty verbal with his emotions and got easily choked up just seeing a photo of Bill over the last 4 months.

We made it to the base (after being on a crazed hunt for Mommy's keys) just in time for the plane to land. A few families, officers and enlisted from our squadron, all came out to welcome him home. It was so exciting to see that plane hit the ground!!!
As the plane taxied in, I could not even speak. I was flooded with emotion. And as soon as Bill's commander said we could go out to meet him, the kids took off... Ivan first, Grant second and little Mary not far behind her big brothers! These are the sights that make it worth it... and make the military mom's heart soar. He is home... and the deployment is over.
Ivan, in true form, said, "Man, I think I'm going to cry!" ... he already had tears streaming down his face. Bill was crying too... Grant and Mary were all smiles!
Here's our family - back together again. We did it, but not without a lot of prayers, help and support from our family and friends. Thank you so much. You will never know how much that helped us all get through... the calls, emails, cards, prayers, warm wishes, gift cards, packages to the kids and to Bill... thank you.
And a big THANK YOU to the 45th Airlift Squadron at Keesler AFB. We love you and appreciate you so much - you are our family "away from home." And to the spouses... I just can't say enough... you are the best.
Let's go home!
This sign was supposed to be hanging on our garage to welcome him back, but it was such a windy day! So, we opted to hang it in the playroom.
The terrorists couldn't take him down, but within a matter of minutes... these three had him on his knees! "Wrestle Daddy!!!"
And... time to celebrate! We had a little party at home, just us. I made him a "cookie cake" (his favorite treat) and the kids each gave him a hand-made card. It was just nice to be home together.
Bill had a few surprises of his own! A pretty back-pack bag for Mary, and two wooden frog-boxes for the boys. Mommy's gift (a requested purchase) is coming soon... a rug for our front entryway!
And one last "thank you" to the Canlases for the wonderful "Welcome Home" gift basket. We will enjoy this for many nights to come. We are so thankful for both of you and feel so blessed that you are leading our squadron.
Hooray for the U.S.A! And a big "Thank you" to all who serve!
And we won't forget the date Bill came home from his deployment, as our nation was also celebrating the inauguration of the 44th president, Barack Obama. May God bless him as he leads our nation for the next four years, and continues to lead our troops in the Global War on Terror.