Woooo Freedom! Thank you Veterans!

What is it like to see your husband for the first time in 7 months?

For me, the weeks and days leading up to the big day, Homecoming, were filled with what can be best described as a roller coaster of emotions (oh wait... that was the entire 7 months he was gone, lol).  One minute, I would be jumping up and down excited, the next... it was really just another day.  I kept myself busy/ distracted most of the time because I knew if I focused only on Homecoming Day, it would NEVER get here.  Assuming you were as enthusiastic about Christmas and Santa as I was as a kid, go back to that inner 6 year old on Christmas Eve and multiply by a million = best description of pre-Homecoming feelings I can come up with.

How I Kept Myself Distracted:

Friday, October 8

Happy Surprise Birthday Honey G.!!!

Saturday, October 9

Semper Fi 5K with Chandler

Benefiting Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund

Chandler 40/158 Females (28:06)

Me 71/158 Females (31:37)

My first 5K and NO training = not bad if I do say so myself

Sunday, October 10

Apple and Pumpkin Picking at Baugher's in MD

  

Friday, October 15

Engagement Party for Kim and JD!!!

Congratulations and Much Love!

Sunday, October 17

Flight to CA!!!

Thanks to Brittney for letting me hold down her couch in Newport Beach for a few days.
Great food, amazing company and a good distraction from the countdown.

Distraction to include: BOBCAT encounter on my run.  Thank goodness Mrs. Bobcat was more interested in the bunny rabbits running around than this girl.

Tuesday, October 18

Road trip from Newport Beach to Twentynine Palms!  Woo hooo!

I took the trip slowly and stopped in Palm Springs on my way.

Once arriving in 29 I kept myself busy treating myself to dinner and making Welcome Home signage =). 

(Future Note to Self: Shower curtain liner is much easier to paint than a sheet although I must say, I surpassed my ar-tist skills.)

Wednesday, October 20

HOMECOMING

I tired to make the day as normal as possible.  I treated myself to a nice long breakfast, a run and some gym time.  Being the only girl in a gym on a Marine Corps Base = priceless.  I hung the Welcome Home signs I made (key to not letting the wind ruin your signage - put the zip ties not only on the corners, but also in various inside portions of the sheet/shower curtain liner as well).  I even managed to squeeze in an appointment at the DEERS office to update my military id with my new name in the hour I had to kill before the buses rolled in.

The local radio station was tracking the buses journey from March Air Force Base to Twentynine Palms encouraging folks to line the roads and Welcome Home 3/7!

A military homecoming is an overwhelmingly happy/awesome experience to be a part of; I am privileged to have been a part of several.  Definitely should be on every America's bucket list.  Even if you don't have a direct connection to a Marine/ Soldier - GO.  Watching a Marine meet his new baby boy/girl for the first time is indescribable... I get choked up just writing about it.

Several of 3/7s wounded Marines (even a few that had been wounded a few short weeks before) were there to Welcome Home their brothers as well.  AWESOME.

Since it rained the two days prior (who knew it rained in the dessert), our Homecoming was in a gym.  It wasn't until I parked my car and started walking inside that I finally let the excitement really set in and boy did it!  Once the buses were through Main Gate, the Marines were taken to the armory to check in their weapons (I only know this because luckily, I was texting with Parks the whole time). 

It's when the trucks of gear show up and start being unloaded that the reality that they are home sets in even more and the suspense mounts!

Knowing Mr. Parks all too well, I knew he would be the last one off the bus (no way would he allow himself to go inside before his Marines).  I sent him a text telling him that I would be standing towards the back of the crowd welcome line (think Tiger Walk set up minus the barricades for you AU fans) near the moon bounce.  Since it was just me (all of our friends were on later flights), I was my own cameraman/ videographer and decided that video would be the best chance for me to capture the moment.

Suddenly, the cheering, crying and jumping up and down began and one by one, the precious faces of those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice began walking through the door. 

One by one Marines walked through the crowd to their families.  Hug after hug after hug - embraces of, "I am never letting you go again" all around me, but still no Parks.  I made a sign and wore heels in an effort to make my shorty self visible in the crowd.  Noting my sign and clearly my anxious face, Marines started assuring me, "ma'am Lt. Parks is coming."  My eyes were filled to the brim and my heart was racing as I anxiously stood on my tippy toes trying to catch the first glimpse.  All of a sudden I saw our friend Lt. Brewster standing at the doorway point towards me.  I dropped my camera* and ran... so much for getting that first footage of Parks.  I got footage of everyone else though - hahaha.

It's funny - as soon as he was back, it felt like he never left.

*No cameras were damaged in the making of this Welcome Home moment.  Thank goodness for camera wristlets.