He's Home!!!!

Deployment numero uno is in the bag! Michael is home!

Yeah, this post will probably have a lot of exclamation points in it.  I can't help it.  I'm ecstatic!  These last four months have gone by both quickly and slow as snails.  It's weird how time works that way sometimes.  But now he's home.  And our family is back together.

Evie is ecstatic. She couldn't keep still while we waited to meet him at the Passenger Terminal this morning.

There is always a lot of hurry up and wait in the military, as you've heard me say before.  This morning was no different.  I called to get the arrival time, and I was told an hour earlier than I had anticipated for.  So I had to rush around like crazy because I was also told to arrive early to ensure I'd have a seat on the family bus to meet him getting off the plane.

I arrived at the terminal only to be told the plane would be there later than I had been told on the phone.  So I hurried, and would now be waiting quite a bit longer than expected.  And as people trickled in, those running the desk disappeared. 

And suddenly I received a text message from Michael saying they would be landing in a few minutes.  At the original landing time.  

We never did get bused to meet them.  Men overloaded with baggage just suddenly started filing through the door, looking tired and disheveled, but glad to be home.  And of course, Michael wasn't even one of those people on the first busload of those returning.

After what seemed liked forever, Michael finally walked through the door.  Evie was over the moon excited to see him.  As soon as she saw him, she took off running, yelling "Daddy!" and gave him a huge hug as he swept her into his arms. She's not letting him out of her sight for a long time, I can assure you.

Evie and I colored a welcome home sign for Michael last night.  Evie was super excited for him to see it.  As soon as we pulled on to our street, she yelled "Welcome home, Daddy!".  It was too cute. 

After doing some paperwork tomorrow morning, Michael is all ours for a couple weeks.  It will be fantastic to get to spend all our time together for awhile, getting us all used to be in the same place again.  It'll be an adjustment for sure, but well worth it.  He's HOME!!!

Little Girls & Their Heroes

Michael has been deployed for a couple months now, and we've finally found a good groove.  Our days have a good flow to them, and I feel like these summer days may fly by.  But we're definitely missing our lost family member.

We're lucky to be able to talk to Michael a few minutes each day which helps keep our lives from feeling too separate.  This has helped Evie tremendously during this first deployment because he still feels like a constant presence in our lives.  He may be halfway around the world, but Evie can still see his face every day.

Deployments affect children the hardest.

A massive understatement if there ever was one.  Her friends Daddies are gone too which is sort of a silver lining because they talk to each other about the deployments.  It helps that Evie's friends are a year or two older because they can comprehend the absence a little better than she does.  It is the sweetest yet most heart-wrenching thing to listen to them talk amongst themselves about missing their Daddies. The children didn't sign up for this life, but it will affect them tremendously nonetheless.

Evie has been coping with the deployment very well.  Better than I had anticipated, actually.  It's not that she doesn't miss Michael.  I think it's more that she handles change very well.  She knows that he's off working on airplanes, and that he's "far, far away".  She knows that he'll be coming back one day.

When she talks about her Papa, you know that he's her hero.  I asked her if he was a Superhero, and she gave it serious consideration.  I could see the wheels turning in her little head as she tossed the idea around.  She even started to agree, that yes he was a superhero.  But then she decided that since he doesn't have a cape, there's no way.  And besides, superheros don't wear hats.  Duh, Mom.

But she did concede that he is a hero even if he hasn't been granted super status.  And it's obvious that she believes this wholeheartedly if you listen to her talk.

Her Papa can accomplish anything.  I can't find the outdoor push broom?  "My Papa will find it when he gets home."  Her doll's head fell off?  "My Papa will fix that when he gets home."  I tell her that drinking her pool water will make her sick.  "That's okay.  Papa will give me medicine and make me all better when he gets home." 

I'm not sure whether to feel offended that my daughter thinks I can't do anything by myself or just smile because she has unending trust that her Papa can do absolutely anything.

Not to mention all the fun things that Evie will get to do when Michael returns.  "I get to go to preschool when Papa gets home."  And "I'm going to show Papa the butterfly garden when he gets home" since she absolutely loved the Botanica gardens we visited last week--especially the butterfly house.

I may be the one cuddling her while we watch her favorite movies, playing Barbies for hours, and tucking her in at night, but I am not her Papa.  No one can ever fill the place of a little girl's hero.

Deployment Playlist

I love music.  No matter what genre you're a fan of, the music always seems to find a way to seep into your soul.  No situation hasn't been sung about at some point in time.  Deployments and separations aren't an exception.

A Deployment Playlist is essential.

Military wives may be some of the world's strongest women most of the time, but even we need to wallow in sadness every once in awhile.  My list has songs that make me cry until snot comes out of my nose.  I know, pretty picture right?  

But there are songs here too that just make me feel like I'm not alone.  And when you're half a world away from your sweetie, not feeling alone is pretty much the most important thing.  

Enjoy this hodgepodge of genres.  I'm pretty sure there's something for everyone here!

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"Don’t you Wanna Stay" by Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson

"Freeland" by Miss Willie Brown

"The Longer the Waiting" by Josh Turner

"Broken" by Seether & Amy Lee

"Come Home Soon" by SHeDAISY

"Lucky" by Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat

"I'm Already There" by Lonestar

"The Chain" by  Ingrid Michaelson

"Far Away" by Nickelback

"When I Look to the Sky" by Train

"Miss You" by Blink 182

"Wait for You" by Atreyu

"Wait for Me" by Theory of a Deadman

"All or Nothing" by  Theory of a Deadman

"Alone in this bed" by Framing Hanley

"Thinking of you" by Katy Perry

"Never Gonna Be Alone" by Nickelback

"Dear God" by Avenged Sevenfold

"Calling You" by Blue October

"Just a Dream" by Carrie Underwood

"If I Die Before You Wake" by  Dustin Evans

"I'll Be" by Edwin McCain

"The Distance" by Evan and Jaron

"I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz

"Photographs and Memories" by Jason Reeves

"The Other Little Soldier" by Josh Gracin

"Never Alone" by Lady Antebellum

"My Hero" by Paramore

"The Call" by Regina Spektor

"Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx

"Kiss Me Through the Phone" by Soulja Boy

"Letters" by Stellar Kart

"Dude (I Totally Miss You)" by Tenacious D

"Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down

"Start Saving Me" by Mike Corrado

"On My Watch" by Mike Corrado

"Stand" by Mike Corrado

"The Rock" by Amy Jayne McCabe

"When You're Gone" by Avril Lavigne

"Keep Holding on" by Avril Lavigne

"Leaving On A Jet Plane" by Chantalz Kreviazuk

"Letters from Home" by John Michael Montgomery

"Sleeping with the Telephone" by Reba & Faith Hill

"Travelin' Soldier" by Dixie Chicks

"American Soldier" by Keith Urban

"Letters From War" by Mark Schultz

"Love Uncompromised" by Jason Castro

"Possibility" by Lykke Li

"Missing You" by Black Eyed Peas

"I Never Told You" by Colbie Caillat

"Stay with me" by Colbie Caillat

"How Sweet it is" by James Taylor

"Need you Now" by Lady Antebellum

"Sweetest Goodbye" by Maroon 5

"Last Kiss" by Taylor Swift

"My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion

"Somewhere With You" by Kenny Chesney

"Kiss Me Slowly" by Parachute

"I Won't Let Go" by Rascal Flatts

"Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts

"It's Been Awhile" by Staind

"If You're Reading This" by Tim McGraw

"The Angry American" by Toby Keith

"Bound to You" by Christina Aguilera