Homecoming Happiness

After 321 days of being apart my husband is finally home!  He has been home for almost three weeks already & I am definitely over due for a homecoming post! I can't believe how fast this month has gone & that next week his leave will be over & we'll both be headed back to work. Time really does fly when you're having fun. ♥

The whole week leading up to his return I was in a state of disbelief. He had been gone almost an entire year and I just couldn't grasp the concept that in a few short days I would have my husband back again. I wasn't as nervous or stressed as the first deployment. It really didn't hit me until the morning of when Sarah and I were driving to the base and I started to get those infamous butterflies that make you feel like your about to be sick. It was cold and windy when we got there but the sun was shining and it was definitely a beautiful day!

I thought I'd share a few photos from that very special day. I hope you enjoy! :o)

This was the homecoming sign I made for my sailor. He loved it! 

Here's the ship when we could finally start to see it pull in. Probably one of the best things I've ever seen in my life. ♥

Here's Sarah and I all smiles while they are slowly getting closer! :)

At this point I was so anxious for them to hurry up and finish pulling in! Lol

I was waiting very impatiently if you couldn't tell. ;)

And finally they started to moor the ship and I knew it wasn't much longer. ♥

To my surprise my hubby was one of the first to get off the ship since he won Blue Jacket of the year.

Here's our first hug :)

And of course the kiss♥ I waited 11 months for that kiss & it was worth every moment!

I couldn't be happier to have the love of my life home safe & sound again.

Although the obstacles we faced over the last year often seemed insurmountable I am proud & thankful to say we survived our 2nd deployment (and a hell of a long one at that!). I couldn't have done it without God, my family, friends, bloggy loves & of course that man of mine. I have grown so much stronger over the last year and learned so much about myself and love in general. No matter how hard things are when you love someone and are willing to keep going you can get through anything. 

Homecoming Happenings

As my husband's homecoming gets closer and closer it's the little things that have finally made it start to feel real for me. Last night I finished the amazing homecoming sign I made for him, (with the help of the always lovely Brittany, my bloggy & real life friend & her AWESOME cricut) and I am so proud of how it turned out. I hope he loves it and it makes him smile. :) I would post a photo but my dear husband actually reads my blog so I'll have to keep you in suspense until the official homecoming post, sorry to be a tease! ;)

I also got an email last night from our FRG about the end of deployment party and I am so excited. This deployment has seriously felt NEVER-ENDING and so the fact that it is finally almost over is a little hard for my brain to process. I attended a homecoming readiness and reintegration meeting through the fleet and family center and it was actually really great to talk about the feelings this event brings out in all of us wives waiting eagerly for our husbands' returns. The excitements, fears, worries, things we plan to do etc. 

We actually wrote them all out on some posters and the women from fleet & family took them to the ships and had the same meeting with the sailors on board my husbands ship. I got to send along with them a card to be hand delivered and I loved hearing from my husband how much he loved it. Today they had the meeting and he said it was actually helpful and made him feel like it was finally real as well. He also informed me of a few sweet things he has planned for me the day after he gets home. ♥ 

 Although my husband is far from perfect, (as am I) he is the one person on this planet that really gets me. He knows me inside & out and I am always amazed at how hard he tries to show me his love. Sure we've had more than our fair share of disagreements over the last 11 months but any couple who says they "never fought" during deployment or that they have a "perfect marriage" is full of crap. (Excuse my french).

Marriage is hard. You have  to consistently try to be a kind and loving spouse, to make time for one another, to make each other feel loved & valued and all that is hard enough without throwing the military & never-ending deployments into it. The navy has thrown a wrench in our marriage several times and there were a few I'll admit I wasn't sure we'd make it through, but somehow we have.

Were there times we both wanted to call it quits? Sure. Giving up is always easier than trying. But I am so proud of us both because neither one of us did. I love my husband 100 times more today than I did two years ago when we said "I do." We've been through hell and back but it's all part of our journey. The love we share isn't perfect, but it is real. And for me that is more than enough. ♥

Homecoming Outfit...HELP!

So with homecoming only a few months away, I am already thinking of what I want to wear the day my sailor is back in my arms. It's going to be winter and most likely freezing, but of course I still wanna look smokin' hot for my man! ;)

I already have an outfit in my head that I want to wear but I can't seem to find it anywhere I look! I've been scouring online sites to see if I can find anything, but so far there is nothing that really catches my eye.

I also have a hard time online shopping because of my size. I am tee tiny and most the time wear a zero in pants and an xs or small in shirts. It's extremely annoying! I wish I had a more womanly body...

Anyway, the vision I'm seeing in my head is a sweater dress with some leggings and a gorgeous pair of boots! I think that would do the trick...I'm gonna have to wear a jacket but I at least want to look good underneath. I need ideas! So far I've found ZIP, ZILCH, NADA that I like.

HELP!!! I would greatly appreciate any good links or photos of something that fits this description...I still have time but it will be here before we know it.