I don’t know what YOU are getting for Christmas… but I got my MAN back from his 7 month deployment!

Badass!

I’ll set the scene:
Homecomings are a wonderful thing. My favorite part is the energy. Wives are nervously tugging and readjusting their dresses purchased just for this occasion. Parents of Marines are beaming with relief that their child is coming home safely. Children of the deployed Marines are on their worst behavior – because they don’t understand why mommy is smiling and crying at the same time. You hear the helicopters in the distance … and you know… in a few minutes you’re going to smell that familiar scent of hydraulic fluid and engine exhaust wrapped around your body in  an embrace that you’ve missed for 7 months.

The anticipation builds as the crowd inches closer towards the flight line

The engines all shut off dramatically at the same time. Your heart stops as you watch the Marines get into formation. The Commanding Officer shouts, “Job well done.” They respond, “Hoorah!” and then… he says, “dismissed.” The crowd runs toward the sea of sexy uniformed Marines.

This is where TStorm turned into a CrossFit badass.

The last time it took me 20 minutes to find Nate. I vowed to do this homecoming as RX’d and beat my last time by at least 5 minutes.

I think I elbowed a baby on my way to find Nate in the crowd.

First Hug

It was an amazing homecoming… the Johnson Family was there. Tarrah took photos – I can’t wait to see them! My mom was there as well as Nate’s Dad and step mom.

Then… some drama:

Nate rode with me back home and my mom got into Nate’s dad’s car with Elaine… we we’re on our way home (we live about 40 minutes from the base.) Then my phone rang… my mom called me crying. I heard the ambulance in the background. They had gotten into a car accident.

Nate and I had to get his truck first, then we rushed back to Jacksonville. Elaine and my mom were already at the hospital. Nate’s dad was with the totaled vehicle. Elaine was hurt and all we knew was that we had to get to the hospital as soon as we could.

We were there until about 11pm. It was a rough night… but it turned out that everyone was okay – or as good as can be expected.

Sad Nate - he comes home to have a night at the hospital - worried about the family.

We still had the steak dinner that Nate wanted when we got home… and we were all safely in bed by 2am.

Of course…

I had my Saturday MBA class the next day from 9 to 4… I couldn’t get out of it!

So I was in class all day – like a spazzy puppy – too distracted to pay attention and wanting to get back home to play.

My friend Jennifer set up my house beautifully and Nate ran errands — so we were able to have a kick ass party Saturday night… almost all of our dearest friends made it! The house was packed. We celebrated with cigars from Brookeynn Cigars. Steve, the owner, brought cigar cutters and coupons for everyone who came. It was an amazing evening.

Now today is Sunday and I have to study for Financial Accounting… I have my final exam tomorrow. Then I have an exam in Macroeconomics on Thursday.

Whew! What a whirlwind, right?

But… we’re all safe, healthy and happy. What more could we ask for?

He’s back! (And already doing muscle ups in the garage!)

Silly boy gets back from deployment and sets up rings in garage so he can do muscle-ups