100% down, Zero to go - Homecoming.

Homecoming Day Timeline :

Midnight ("night before") - tossing and turning

1 a.m : More tossing, no sleeping

3 a.m : A little bit of facebooking, no sleeping, some texting

4 a.m : Called my Grandma to chat

Last time I looked at the clock it was around 5 in the morning.... Sleep - EPIC FAIL, But good thing I stayed up that late... I called the deployment hotline and homecoming had been postponed from 8 a.m until 11 a.m, and I was a little thankful because I didn't have to rush as much :)

Aiden got up about an hour after I fell asleep of course so we just hung out and made sure the house was clean and everything was in its place, once I got a shower I realized oh wow, this IS happening today. Heather came over after she dropped Ashlyn off for school to make sure I was still breathing haha, (I thank the Lord for her help the past couple of weeks, from driving me to timbuktoo to helping me hang curtains, pictures and homecoming signs. *Thanks heather!!* )

Mandie met Aiden and I at the house around 9 a.m and watched me fret over my dress, jewelry and everything else, I refused to get Aid dressed until we were leaving... I was terrified he would spit up all over his cute little patriotic outfit :) (which he did, multiple times.. oh, and he included my dress as well) Mandie was also wonderful, she kept me calm the entire day, and I don't think she would've judged me if I wouldve thrown up everywhere (once agian, got close... multiple times)

We got our cars and made our way to the Hanger where they would be landing... I cried on the way there.. KNOWING I would get to see Patrick was really overwhelming, it finaaaally fully hit me that he was coming home.  Home, our home. whew.

They had pizza for the families and a bouncy house for the children and music, it was a really good atmosphere for homecoming, but, in true Marine Corps fashion-homecoming got postponed, again. SEMPER GUMBY. They crowded everyone together to tell us that the guys plane was having issues, and they were going to bus them in from Hickam airforce base, and it would be another 2 hours. 2 hours, are you serious? I refused to be defeated though... I was getting my honey back :) Mandie stayed with Aiden in the hanger and I ran home to get him more food-Good thing I live on base, bc I live like 4 minutes from the hangers haha

Fastforward - Someone said the buses were 10 minutes away!!!! aaaand 20 minutes go by...no buses.
- 1 of the 4 buses got lost, and they were waiting for it (yes, patrick was on this bus..go figure haha)

Once the bus was finally located, they all drove around the hangers and everyone went nuts, these 2 little girls were screaming "DADDYS ON THE BUS!!" and It was giving me goose bumps, because it was real... he was home, I would be in his arms in less than a couple of minutes.... I had SO many emotions.

They were coming off the buses and walking under and archway single file - and I kept asking Mandie if she could find him (her husband is stationed here too, but she went to HS with Pat) and Finally I was like, "Aiden look its daddy!!" Pat totally didn't see us at first, but once he hugged me, the last 6 months were gone in that second. It was almost as if he never left, I was kissing and hugging my husband, Did I cry? No - I couldn't stop smiling... He was home, I had him back.... and Aiden finally got his Daddy.

I've heard women say that seeing their husbands hold their babies after theyre born, makes them fall in love with them all over again....I can say that this is true, but seeing your son squeal and kick at the sight of his Daddy after 6 months.... I honestly don't have words for how I feel. It's been a week and I'm still getting butterflies watching my two guys together.

The Lord has truely blessed my life, and knowing that he loves Patrick and Aiden more than I do, it just makes everything alright.

To sum up the rest of the day, we tried to pick pat up at the armory, (that didn't work haha) went and hung out at the barracks, and then brought him HOME. Finally, he was home.

That is all. :)

SPECIAL THANKS TO MANDIE OF PEACE.LOVE.FOCUS.PHOTOGRAPHY!

Pre-homecoming jitters.

My mind is a bit everywhere right now.

I guess that happens when it FINALLY hits you that you'll be getting your husband back any day now...I really feel like I could throw up any second. Gross.

My mind has been so enveloped in moving,aiden,working,setting up the house,worries & life to stop and think about much. Honestly, I like it that way...when I have too much time on my hands my mind just runs, and then it gets to where I can't sleep and believe me, the world isn't a better place when I dont sleep ;) haha.

Its 10:30 at night in hawaii right now,  and since about 7ish this is what I have accomplished:

• Swept & mopped the floors
•  cleaned my counter tops
• Swept and moped the floors (not a typo, I did this twice)
• wiped down the insides of the cabinets
• did 2 loads of laundry
• Sterlized a bunch of aidens toys, and ruined a couple in the process
• Cleaned the downstairs bathroom
• picked up his toys
• rearranged the junk drawer
• put a picture in a frame
• Took the picture out, switched it....then proceeded to put the 1st one back

I am a nervous wreck, can ya tell?

It might seem silly, and you may be thinking...your getting your husband back! Why aren't you more excited?? HECK YES - I AM EXCITED....but there is more than just excitment; I would be lying if I didn't say I had those "pre homecoming jitters" and had those lingering questions in my head. The "Will he still think im pretty?" "Will he like what I did with the house?" " Does he still love me the way he did when he left?"

Realistically - the answer to all of those is Yes.

But, I'm a girl. (Stating the obvious)

I know how Pat feels about me, and I know he loves me, of course. I can't explain it...it runs through your head anyway. I guess it just comes with the territory

 

So without completely throwing OPSEC out the window...I can  hang out with him this weekend... I can text him, I can finally wake up beside him.

I thank the good LORD ABOVE for all of those things.

Pat,

See ya at homecoming ;)

I Love you, this you know.

Kels xoxo

2,792 & "Fair weather fans"

There are 2 discussions in the post....

 & Im getting on my soapbox. Apologies.

1. I don't understand why anyone would ever make a joke about September 11th, 2001.

 2,792 people died that day.

People all around the world, people just like each and every person who is taking the time to read this, lost someone important to them. Brothers, Fathers, Sons, Wives, Daughters? Someone's best friend is no longer alive because of that awful day. It is a date that will be burned into our minds for eternity.

I just wish people would have a little more respect for THOSE people.

The death of Osama bin Laden was enough to bring back the flood of emotions and tears that many of those people will never let go of, they don't need you to say awful things about that day, or to make a joke, or even a play on words about that situation?

Can you imagine your husband,the person you love more than anything in this world....calling you before his death? Calling you to telll you the plane he was on had been hijacked...and he wanted to hear your voice one last time....? and those people may be the lucky ones....because they got one last I love you from the family and friends that mean the most to them.

What about the 10 year old little girl who lost her daddy that day? Would you taunt her with a joke about how her father died?

Call me crazy, or dramatic.... but it really bothers me when others intentionally cause others pain. Stop & think about what your saying, or put yourself in their shoes.... how hard is that? Im not perfect and I dont claim to be, I know ive hurt others-and I've said things I should.... but to flat out be that disrespectful is beyond me.

no.. you may not know anyone who lost a loved one that day, but look at the reprecusions from 9/11,

"U.S Casualties in Afghan soar toward 15,000 dead and injured."

I don't care if you support the war or not, but look at the people THAT DAY has affected. Besides those who lost family members on September 11th, many other people have lost loved ones in the 10 years we have been fighting this war.... have.some.respect.

You don't know who is around when your saying it, or you may not realize the impact it has when you post it. It boils down to something I learned when I was tiny, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" You can bet your butt I will teach Aiden this saying.

2. On tuesday it was announced Osama bin laden was dead. My newsfeed was blowing up with :

"Heck yes military" 

 "Way to get em troops"

"So proud of our troops"

But, I have seen some of those same people bash them? and say horrid things about how we don't need to be over there... and even go as far as to chuckle at the Westboro baptist members? (thats a whole different discussion) So, why now? Why be a "fair weather fan" to the military....because our country is responsible for his death...yea, so what? Where is that patriotism and support for them EVERY OTHER DAY? The day he was killed wasn't the only day in the last 10 years that these brave men and woman have been risking/losing their lives - looking for this man so that the US can stay safe. Just as a heads up.

<3

Updates Updates & Updates!

We are officially in hawaii!

this was a HUGE step in ending this deployment.. thank the good Lord!

Aiden and I arrived April 18th and Heather Villareal picked us up from the airport....did I mentioned she lea'ed me? ;)  She was kind enough to open her home to until our house was ready on the 21st, (we ended up getting the keys the 20th) and my car wasn't supposed to be here until April 28th and it got here the 19th! (Early works for me!)

Ill go ahead and some up the 16 hour journey in 10 points :

1. Yes, when on a military PCS flight you are allowed 3 suitcases that are each 70 lbs and I somehow managed to overpack.
2. Aiden thinks its funny to poop all up his back 2 hours into our 2nd flight.
3. He ended up riding in his jacket and a diaper.
4. If you  have a cute baby, random flight attendants may steal him from you.
5. People in 1st class don't enjoy screaming babies.
6. In 1 day you can start out with 60 degree weather, stop and see snow, then end in mass humidity
7. Make sure you read car rental policies btwn the lines before making a reservation
8. My white white baby doesn't adapt well to the heat
9. Starbucks is amazing, wherever in the world you are
10. When being awake for 30 some hours plus, you tend to get a little delerious

The movers got here on the 21st and started to fill my house with our HHG :) I was SO excited for this, for obvious reasons haha. They banged up/lost some stuff...and Im still pretty annoyed with this... I had to go and buy a new crib for bug because the hardware to his went MIA, and our bedroom furniture is scratched to pieces. Yay for TMO claims! haha :)

I have been SO busy since we got here and moved in, trying to set up/organize the house and get everything in its place. I really wanted Patrick to be able to come home and just relax... and not worry about painting this, or hanging that...or moving a bunch of stuff.... so instead, fellow Marine wife Heather and I have pretty much tackled my house haha (thanks to Mandie for her help as well!) Between watching best buy employees slam the trunk on my new tv, twining her trunk closed because the entertainment center wouldn’t fit and busting out her power tools… we’ve been on a role, oh-and putting the crib together….that was SO much fun. (sarcasm noted) so Big thanks to her!

Also-we’ve been doing multiple walks a day… and I’ve been alternating 30 day shred and p90 the last couple of days, Im down to 132! Whoop whoop!

Today is May 2 which means we are RIGHT at 95% done with this deployment, HECK YES.

"May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other” 

Genesis 31:49

Pat,

Come on home, we're waiting on ya babe.

I love you more than words can say,

Kels.