MISSION COMPLETE -- OUR HERO IS HOME!

After 14 long months, our wait is over! Buck's mission is complete; our hero is home!

He arrived Wednesday, the 27th of May, one day before our 5th anniversary! I couldn't have had a better anniversary gift than to have the man I love more than anyone else in the world, my best friend home with us, where he belongs.

The welcome home ceremony was supposed to be inside, at the Hall of Champions gym, but for some reason, when we arrived, we found out it was being held outside! Wednesday, was no day for outside ceremonies. It was so cold! The high was around 55 degrees and there were some major cold winds blowing! I know...it's May...but this is Germany and apparently it's always cold and windy here. I wore a strapless top because (I thought) we were going inside and I could brave the cold parking lot to look cute when I got in the warm gym. Instead, me, Brady and my friend Monica, who took most of these wonderful pictures, waited in the car with the heater on until the last minute!

When we finally got to the field the guys were standing about 100 yards away on the other side of the fence. We spotted Buck early, (which isn't so hard to do when the guy you're looking for is a head taller than anyone else there) and then, nothing else mattered. I didn't care that I was shivering and chilled to the bone. I didn't care that my hair was blowing wildly all over my head and in my face. I didn't care that my tears were streaking the mascara I had so carefully applied. I didn't care that anyone else was on the planet! My HUSBAND, Brady's FATHER, our HERO was home!!

We watched as the gate opened and those brave men marched onto that field and I thought that I would burst with pride! To be honest, I don't remember anything about the ceremony except that it felt like an eternity before we heard the word we were all waiting for..."DISMISSED!". With that, Brady and I took off running across the field and fell into the arms of our hero. I sobbed and Brady just had this bewildered look on his precious little face. It didn't take him long to warm up to his daddy though, and by an hour after we got home, they were best buddies!

That day, those first moments we had together as a family, will be forever etched in my memory. Not a day will go by that I won't say a prayer of thanksgiving that God brought us together again. More than ever I realize that He is faithful to his promises and that His word is true. He has given me so many moments to cherish and to be thankful for, but this one was one of the greatest. "Your LOVE O, Lord reaches to the heavens; your FAITHFULNESS stretches to the skies..."

Father, I thank you that you are a God of your word. Thank you for being faithful and true. Thank you for covering us with your divine protection, for arming us with your mighty strength and for wrapping us in your holy love. Today, I celebrate that you brought your son, my beloved and Brady's father home. To God be the glory!



We decorated our little part of the stairwell to welcome home our hero!

Before we left for the ceremony, Brady wanted to practice waving his flag for Daddy...

And then, he was ready to go!

We waited in the Jeep with the heater on.

And in they marched!

We spotted Daddy!

Waiting out the ceremony.

Finally...our next chapter begins!!

When we got home, we let Brady play with the balloons...

He was thrilled to finally get his chubby little hands on one...he had been begging me for one all day!

Showing Daddy some love!

The perfect ending, to the perfect day!

*On a side note...I want to thank you, Monica for the wonderful pictures! You made these precious memories possible to share with our family and friends and for us to enjoy for years to come! (Monica left her husband, who had come home only days before, on her anniversary, to be there for us! She's a better friend than most, and a better friend than I would have been!) Love ya' girl!

Reflections From A Deployment

As our 3rd deployment draws to a close I've been doing a lot of reflecting. I've asked a lot of questions of myself and come up with a lot of answers. I find that with each deployment I grow. I find a strength that I didn't know I had. Maybe because each one has presented it's own unique set of struggles and challenges; it's own obstacles to overcome. With each one we've been in a totally different phase of our lives. The first, we had known each other for 2, yep that's right, 2 months, and got engaged the day he left for Iraq! The second we had been married for just over a year, so were essentially newlyweds. I, had just a few months before moved away from home, and for the first time in my life, truly lived on my own. And this time, we had a precious gift from above. I got to briefly experience life as a single mom and tackle this deployment as a new mom. Brady was 10 weeks old when Buck left. So, needless to say, a lot of changes have transpired over the last 14 months and I have once again, molded by my circumstances, become a different woman. Here are some of the things I've learned over these 3 deployments and 5 years of marriage (this week) to my most amazing husband and the Army...because you can't marry a soldier and not marry the Army too!

*I've learned that that strength I spoke of really isn't my strength. Rather, it's the awesome power of Christ, made perfect in my weakness!

*I've learned that the power of prayer is real and that when you call on the name of Jesus he always gives you an answer.

*I've learned that I can carry every single grocery bag and a 25 pound toddler up 3 flights of stairs in one trip...and juggle those bags and that toddler and unlock the door simultaneously.

*I've learned that I'm more thankful than ever for the friends, both new and old, and family who have supported me and gotten me through.

*I've learned that though not desirable, you actually can make it for over a year without cooking a single meal! And that when you finally do get around to cooking again, it can make your food taste as good as Paul Deen's! (Don't worry! I've been cooking for Brady. This was a lesson learned from the previous deployments.)

*I've learned the true meaning of pride.

*I've learned to understand the motto, "Duty, Honor, Country" on the deepest level.

*I've learned that the house is easier to keep clean (that was true for the first two...I never thought that anyone could be as messy as Buck, and then he had a son!)

*I've learned that necessity truly is the mother of invention.

*I've learned that even from half way around the globe, over a static filled line, the sound of my husband's laughter can brighten any day!

*I've learned that a deployment is an incubator for faith, hope, strength, determination and love.

*I've learned that you can get to know someone, fall even more in love and get glimpses into their heart and soul through letters. You don't need phones or email, even this day and age!

*I've learned that it's not a matter of if it breaks, but when, and that when it does, you can fix it yourself or find someone who can!

*I've learned that I enjoy yard work.

*I've learned that military wives are the most resourceful, proud, brave, funny, emotional, and wonderful bunch I've ever known.

*I've learned that, if founded on the rock of God, long periods of separation can lead to a better marriage.

*I've learned that no news is good news.

*I've learned that I don't need sleep, food, a shower or a quiet moment for 72 hours! And I can endure painful screams for that entire time! Isn't it amazing that a precious newborn baby can teach us such lessons. And we thought we parents were the only ones imparting wisdom!

*I've learned that though most nights I miss him beside me, others it's nice having all that room!

*I've learned that it helps to turn on the stove and/or oven when you cook.

*I've learned that I'm more independent than I thought and that I enjoy being so.

*I've learned that I can manage a baby/toddler complete with stroller and carseat, diaper bag, carry on, purse and 4 overweight suitcases in an airport alone.

*I've learned that flying alone with said toddler is not a good idea!

*I've learned that when my husband is gone I...eat less, exercise more, pray more, watch all the chick flicks he won't, take out the trash, pump my own gas, play mom, dad, the repair man, the mechanic, the housekeeper, the nurse, the cook, the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker... and everything in between!

*And finally, I've learned that I am more thankful than ever for the Godly man, awesome father and best friend I have in my husband. And, that I am more thankful than ever before for this life we've been given. Though dysfunctional, abnormal and crazy it may be to most others, it's the perfect life for us!

WELCOME HOME!!!

It's not often that I find myself at a loss for words, but today I can't seem to find the right ones to describe the overwhelming emotions I have experienced. Today, Brady and I attended two welcome home ceremonies. The first one we welcomed some of our Bravo family and a good friend home. The second, just about an hour later, we saw in the second group of our Bravo family.

Those doors opened and the soldiers started marching in with their heads held high and an indescribable look on their faces. Both times, as soon as I saw them, the floodgates opened and I could not stop the tears! I cried more than anyone who actually had a husband there! Hours later I'm still crying, just remembering the day!

I felt incredibly blessed to be able to be there for my friends. Each of you are strong, brave incredible wives, moms and women. I am blessed to know you and to call you friend. To your amazing husbands who have so honorably served their country, WELCOME HOME!

I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story. They speak more than my words ever could!

The first set of pictures is of our friends and neighbors, John & Jessica Craven.

The rest are of our Bravo 1-35 family...

The Mittleman Family

The Abada-O'Malley's

Chrissy and Meghan

The Ellis's

The Elling Family