So its been a while..a lot has happened. My oldest turned 23, the age that I was when she was born. That started a time of reflection for me. My youngest took her SAT so this Graduation process is hitting full speed. My middle daughter attended her husband's Air Assault Graduation AND he got promoted to E4...in ONLY 18 mths of service!! The BIGGEST event is happening in a few days..My husband is FINALLY coming home for leave after being gone for 10 mths!
3 weeks ago, I wasnt sure if I would have him home for the holidays in addition to not knowing if my 2 oldest would be home. Bailey and James surprised me Thanksgiving Day and came home which was wonderful! I was hoping and praying Sean would be able to make it. He was gone the last 2 Christmases. When he found out he was coming home...my emotions went into a tailspin. I was preparing myself to spend Christmas doing nothing. Getting boxes of gifts ready to mail to the girls. What a difference a few days make because now...ALL 5 kids AND my husband will be home. A FULL FAMILY CHRISTMAS, for the first time in 3 years! I could not be more excited! Having my whole family together is the thing I love MOST! Lots of laughter, chaos, love and family bonding. Im so excited that Im about to burst!
First things first though...HOLY SHIT! Sean is coming home!!!!!! In DAYS!! So many thoughts running through my mind. He is coming home to OUR HOME, our home that Ive lived in for 8 mths, our home that we own that he has never seen except for FaceTime. Of course, I have a Honey-Do list a mile long but it will all come in due time. Its just going to be nice to have a companion again. A partner. My soulmate. Talking to him the last few days, we are both getting really excited. I think Im nervous a little even. 10 mths is a long time. I think our reintegration will go smoothly. But as usual, as soon as we get completely comfortable and in our groove..it will be time for him to leave again. HOWEVER, this time its only for 3 mths. He will be back home in May for Brandys Graduation on June 1. Wild horses couldnt keep him away from that. There will be lots of adjusting to do for all of us. He hasnt been home consistently since Brandy was 15. She will be 18 in 3 mths! They love each other, they will find their niche' and it will be great! Im looking forward to not taking out the trash for a month...not having to lock up and turn out the lights at night...driving everywhere...running small errands...feeding and taking the dogs out...little stuff like that. He does these things, he even does dinner dishes and takes pride that he cleans the kitchen better than me! It will be a nice break for me. Im sure I will struggle with letting go of the control but Ill do my best lol
Im slowly but surely getting my Homecoming prep list checked off. His phone has been taken off seasonal standby, Brady has a haircut appt tomorrow, I bought his manly toiletries lol, got his Shiner Bock, located the rest of his clothes which are hanging in his closet and in TWO dressers in TWO different rooms. The next couple days the straightening up will continue...Gahhhhh Im freaking out! The same butterflies I had when he came home from combat deployments are eating away at me. The nerves, the anxiety...then the down side...I wont sleep through the night while hes home because hes a MAJOR snorer...when hes home and the dogs get out of bed in the middle of the night, they whine on his side for him to get them instead of just getting back in bed quietly. Sean doesnt hear it so I wake up to wake him up to get them...you know, little shit that doesnt really matter lol
This one was hard. I cant even lie. I went into some dark places and felt like giving up more time than Id like to admit. My close circle brought me out of it, carried me through my darkest days. I was so lonely and alone. It sucked so bad. Sean and I had some pretty good fights this round. We went days without talking. With Gods grace, we made it through and here we are. He will be looking for other options as far as work. He is sick of being gone and honestly, I am sick of it too. The money is great so hopefully he can find something where he can make close to what he is now. Overseas contractors (and their families) get spoiled with the pay. Making it hard to find work that will pay them the same. Whatever happens, I know he will do whats best for us and for our family..like he always does.
So next week, the family starts to trickle in...Christmas Day will be amazing! Ill be cooking all day, the kids will be hanging out together and Sean will be doing whatever he wants. With our family so spread out now, the times when we can all be together mean so much to me. It doesnt happen enough so when I get it, I take full advantage of it and soak in every second!
Thankfully, Sean and I will spend our Meet-a-versary together on New Years Eve. 13 yrs...WOW!
I hope all of you have an amazing Holiday season and enjoy all the love and family time! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year to all!!!
ALL MY LOVE!!!!
(I made this card but decided Im gonna make another one to post on my social media after he gets home so I can use a recent pic of us. This pic was taken in Feb, the day before he left to go back)
