Hurry Up and Wait! (And a giveaway!)

67 Comments / By / February 6, 2013

Sometimes that is the motto of the army. Hurry Up and Wait!  It can drive an army wife nuts, especially when you are waiting for your loved one to come home.  This weekend, after SIX separate delays, my husband came home to us. I can’t remember the last time I cried so many tears of joy, oh wait, yes I can, it was the last time he came home 2 years ago! I thought I would share some pictures with you, but for those who have never been to a military homecoming ceremony, I will explain how this works.

First you get a phone call saying when your husband will be home, if you are lucky, he comes home on the day and time given, if you are less lucky, you will have multiple changes and delays.  You occupy your time by making welcome home signs, baking, and in our case recovering from being ill.

Anne was up at 6:30 the day her daya came home begging me to make our sign:

When the big day comes you typically go to a gym, most of the wives and children are dressed to the nines (we want to look our best for our loved one) and then we wait. There is a projection screen set up and it is usually focused on an airfield – where your husband’s plane is going to land. You haven’t heard screaming until that plane suddenly appears on that screen.

After the plane lands, the soldiers start to disembark and the screams get a little louder as wives and children start to recognize their loved ones! When Anne saw her Daya, she thought he was right outside the building and took off running to go get him, luckily my mom was faster than her and caught her before she got outside! After they arrive it is another 2-3 hours before you get to see them in person, they have to in-process at the base – luckily they turned a movie on for the kids to watch while they waited for their daddies.

The hardest part of the whole ceremony is when they start to raise the screen and you see those army boots. All you want to do is run and you have to stay put.  I had to pick Anne up and hold her back from running out to her daya.

Then they march towards you and you have to listen to the commander give a speech while you stare at your loved one and wish for him to be in your arms.

Anne was a trooper – she had a little fun while she was waiting.

Then finally finally, when the speech making is over, he is yours! For 48 hours anyways, after that he goes back to work.

So there you have it, there are army boots in my house again! Oh yeah, and I totally missed the first half of the Super Bowl, picking this guy up was way more important 🙂

I would like to say a personal thank you to all of my wonderful friends who have stood by my side this past 9 months. You have made this deployment so much easier and I am so grateful for each and every one of you.

I know I said there would be a giveaway at the top of this post. My wonderful friend Sondra (who has literally checked on me every single day for the last 9 months) from Contemporary Cloth wanted to help me celebrate our special reunion with a giveaway to her store, two of my awesome readers will win a $20.00 gift certificate to Contemporary Cloth!

As you hopefully already know, Contemporary Cloth specializes in unique fabrics not often seen anywhere else, Japanese Yuwa fabrics, organic fabrics, an outstanding selection of solids and so much more!

This giveaway will be open until February 13, 2013, I will announce the winner on Valentine’s Day – which will be extra sweet for us this year!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you haven’t already, make sure you enter your goal for February over on our Lovely Year of Finishes party! Tomorrow is the last day to link up. You only need to set one goal for each month.


67 thoughts on “Hurry Up and Wait! (And a giveaway!)”

  1. Kristy

    YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Celebrate indeed!!!! I love, love that pic of AM looking so proud of the sign she made her Daya! Such sweetness!!!! So glad you are all together!

  2. Lisa

    What a great post! I didn’t know anything about how they conducted the ceremony. I love, love, love the idea of raising the screen far enough for you to see their boots. It brought tears to my eyes and gave me goose bumps!

  3. Kerrie

    I spent 10 years in 3 deployments ….so happy to hear you got to experience that gym scene again! Have fun and make all those food wishes come true!

  7. Irelle

    I just started following your blog and this post brought tears to my eyes. I want to personally thank your husband for his service to our country and you and your daughter for the sacrifices you make that go along with that. Thank you for sharing how the reunions work – I had no idea. God bless you and your family.

  8. Pam

    This had me in happy tears as I read. So glad he is home and you are all together again. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

  12. Carrie P.

    Goodness! you have to wait such a long time once they arrive. So glad your hubby and the other guys are home safe. Tell your hubby thanks for serving!

  14. Kellie S.

    I am so happy for you that he is home safe! My hubby is retired Army so it has been a very long time since we did a homecoming. We only did one as a matter of fact. From Desert Storm. But one was enough. My best friend’s hubby is still active duty. He just got home in September from his 3rd deployment. It is such a blessing when they come home safe.

  15. Sondra

    I have tears..but happy ones! The images say it all. And, Shanna, I totally agree with you, Melissa is a beauty! As always, these image tug at my heart. I am so glad that Aaron is home…Gregg and I want them all to come home.
    This post made my day! Love you, Melissa!

  16. Becky M

    Aww, your post made me cry happy tears! Great to know how this all happens for military familys. That you guys so much for all you do for our country! 🙂

  17. Lisa L.

    (: I am beyond over the moon that he is home and you are together again!! I love you all!! 🙂

  20. Lori Smanski

    How absolutely wonderful. I really had no idea how all that worked. Im literally crying tears of joy with you. I pray that the three of you have a fantastic time. You all have been in my prayers. Thank you so much for sharin this with us.

  21. Nancy Angerer

    So glad he is home with you again. I have never experienced myself, but our son-in-law is in the navy. Our daughter has sent us similar pictures.

  24. Kim

    Wow! I can only imagine the love and excitement in your home right now. Thank you for sharing the homecoming process with us. I had no idea it was so involved. Hoping you and your daughter and hubby are having a great time together.

  26. Chelsie

    Congrats! My dad never deployed with his squadron so the last time he came home we got to meet him at the gate at the airport. Now that I’m an Air Force Wife I can’t imagine how much harder it is going to be when my husband deploys. I’m glad he is home safe 🙂

  27. Karen O

    I am reading this at work with tears in my eyes. I am so very happy for you Melissa! I know it has been hard these past months. Loneliness, your lovely health issues, making sure Anne remembers her Daya, etc. Many blessings on all of you.

  28. Eileen

    Can totally relate. Dang, those generals sure do manage to drone on, don’t they!! Glad your sweetie is home. Great pictures and writing

  29. Persimon Dreams

    I’m so happy he’s home to you and your beautiful daughter! I can’t imagine what it would be like and I think you are amazingly strong to be an army wife! WOW! So happy for you all!

  31. Michele W

    I feel so blessed to have been at Aaron’s homecoming. It was a really heartwarming to see all the families reunited! An experience I will not soon forget.

  34. Susan

    Oh, Melissa, I am SO happy for you! I well remember just how all that feels, and reading this brought back so many memories. Welcome home, Aaron!

  35. Snoodles

    Wow, I had no idea that their homecoming was like that….oh, I’m in tears, just reading, and I want to thank your hubby for serving and for protecting. And thank you and Anne for being such troopers while he has been away. My prayers have been with all three of you, and what a wonderful answer to my prayers — lovely pictures, and girl, you are rocking that blue! You look gorgeous! (Where are my kleenexes……)

  38. Sarah

    Thank you for sharing this heartfelt moment. We have a much smaller military in Australia so don’t know any wives personally, or even live near any military housing. So, it was excellent to understand the process. Your husband was away for 9 long months. I cannot imagine the anxiety this induces. You are so brave and strong. How long does he get to spend on home turf before he deploys again?

  40. LJ

    I like Contemporary Cloth and I want to try some Japanese fabrics – I hear so many raves about the fabrics.

  42. MaryBeth

    Welcome home to your dear husband and thanks to him and you for all your sacrifices. My son is slated for deployment to Afghanistan any day now – their advance unit left last week. I know how difficult it is to have a loved one far away and in harm’s way. I’m so glad your hubby is home safe.

  46. kimberlee

    Melissa,
    This brought tears to my eyes. I cannot believe 9 months has gone by and Ann is just growing so fast! She looks like a beautiful young lady, so much different already. Crazy!
    I really appreciate what military wives endure during the separation. I can’t imagine how hard it is to be a single mom during that time.
    Love you guys!!

  47. Michelle

    So happy that your hubby is home! 🙂 We are patiently waiting for our nephew to come home. Should be home next month! Thanks for a chance at the giveaway!

  48. Lisa M

    I got teary eyed reading this… I somewhat know the feeling as my husband is away a month-month and a half at a time working in camps but I can’t imagine him being away for 9 months! So glad he is home safe and sound…

  50. Vicki

    Great story! I too, teared up and got a big lump in my throat! So happy for your whole family! Thanks for sharing this tender moment and for the glimpse into the “army world”.

  51. Elizabeth Johnson

    Being a military wife can be very hard, I spent 10 years in the Navy, and my husband 20. I spent many a day sitting on the pier waiting for a ship with 2 girls. Once there you never forget those long deployments. My heart goes out to you and your family. Enjoy your homecoming. Thank you for your service! Your job as a Military Spouse is one of the hardest in the world.

  52. Cynthia

    It was thrilling to look at your blog today and read about the homecoming! You have done a tremendous job at home while your husband was off defending our country. It has been such an honor to share this part of your life with you. Thank you for being so honest and genuine with us. I am so glad he is home! Praise God!

  53. usairdoll

    I’m so happy that finally your hubby is safe at home! I know both you and Anne must be over the moon. Enjoy yourselves!

    Thank you and Contemporary Cloth for a super giveaway and a chance to win.
    Two winners! Woot! Woot! You guys Rock!

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

  55. Susan

    Thank you for your family’s service to our country. Deployment is difficult and you certainly appreciate them when they come home. I’m so glad he came home safely!!

    Army Mom

  56. CeLynn

    Melissa,those ear to ear smiles say it all my friend 🙂 So happy for you,AM,and your hubby too! May God Bless all three of you. Thank all three of you for your service,and enjoy your family time!

  58. Katie

    So wonderful to see a family reunited. Thank you, all of you, for your service and sacrifice.

    Katie

  59. Susan

    Thank you for sharing such a great personal experience with us. My dad was a Lt. Col. in the Army. He only had to go to summer camp during my life time with him. He had to go to Japan during WWII when my older brother was little. I just can’t image what you wives go through for us. I was lucky enough to be able to go with my mom to a couple of summer camps with Dad. I asked my dad why all the guys were saluting him – lol Now I understand the respect of it.

    You have a beautiful family.

    Oh, I remember boots. Dad brought home boots from the PX for both my brothers to wear on the farm. They loved them for work boots.

    I saw your hints on cutting during Mrs. Pickle blog hop. I just found it and read it. Thanks for tips.

  61. Kelly

    Thanks for sharing! My hubby is Army too, and everytime I see a homecoming, I feel ours in my heart all over again. I hope you are enjoying every moment and that the adjustment was smooth. 🙂

  62. Judy Blinkenberg

    I learned alot from this post. I am happy for you and so thankful for your husband. I will keep you and him in my prayers. Maybe he will be home for good very soon.

  63. Mary Burnette

    She is just the cutest doll giving her little sign to daddy! Takes me back 30 years when my own little girl was that little. lol giving my age away! Mary

  65. Teresa

    Welcome home!!! I know the feeling. My hubby was in the Navy and was gone on a submarine. We would not know if they were coming back or not until that plane landed at the airport. It was such an awesome feeling to see your man standing a few feet away, but also nerve wracking when you couldn’t get your arms around him fast enough.

  66. Kate Brown

    Congrats to you and your husband finally getting to see each other. I know the feeling of hurry up and wait. My son was deployed twice to Iraq. Please thank him for his service and all his sacrifices to ensure peace and freedom in the USA!

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