[juli2]

I've just read Lisa's post about the emotional separation many of us make at the beginning of a deployment. Got me to thinking, how do y'all handle the end?
I get all giddy, emotional, excited, and I don't rest much! I think everything's got to be perfect. I clean and organize like I'm bringing a new baby home. I make more room for his stuff than he could ever use (being the man that he is, he only needs an empty drawer and a few hangers in the closet!). I stock up on his favorite drinks and foods, and for some reason, I stress for days on what I'm going to wear and what the kids will wear, when we meet him for the first time. Oh and of course I make welcome home signs that I plaster all over the place!
Now logic tells me that he doesn't care about any of this, he just wants to get home! But I can't help it! Do y'all do this too?
That being said, this is my last post for awhile. I've just got to get ready for my Marine to come home, he'll be here in a week! If I could peel myself away from this computer, imagine how many thousands of welcome home signs I can make and post somewhere! HAHA! Looks like there's going to be a story about him in the local paper here too! That will be so nice for him, what an ego builder. He certainly deserves it.
Don't y'all just love this little guy?!

[TMarshallBowler]

That's what everyone told me at least. I remember a wide array of emotions from the day my husband called me from Kuwait. He was really out of Iraq! I was still afraid to trust that he was coming home.
Like you I cleaned everything, many times, of course got my hair cut and all the other things that seemed important at the time...I don't think he ever really even noticed nor did it matter.
I also went through panic. I needed to drop weight, I looked older than when he left, you name it and it ran through my mind. Of course I wanted everything perfect and a huge snowstorm took perfect and blew it out of the water the day they came home. But guess what? It was wonderful and I wouldn't change a thing.
The final few hours will be the longest of your life. Give that Marine a big hug and much thanks from me!

[juli2]

Safe and sound. Phew!

[Emiliana]

Congrats on having your hubby home. I only lived through one 15month deployment and I hope not to have to live through another one. When he came home on leave, I cleaned and cleaned like crazy and then cried like a baby when I saw my husband cry as he fell to his knees and said - he's so big - he's so big - when our son ran to him saying Papa! (He left on his 2nd bday). When he finally finished his deployment, and he arrived a day early at the airport in his hometown, I don't remember anything except hugging and crying and smiling from ear to ear.
God Bless you folks that do this full time. I know it has to be so tough. We appreciate your service. (and that goes for the whole family!)
Emily