Three Years Ago Today {Iraq Homecoming}

Three Years Ago today.. February 3rd, 2008.

This is where I was. I remember it like it was yesterday. I couldnt sleep ... so I woke up super early, 6:30am. Did my makeup/hair (for about 2 hours) - yea I wasnt nervous or anything, right?ha!, I made the bed, cleaned the condo, and was enjoying the Carolina sunshine warming the bedroom through the french doors.

Mathew was on his way home from a 13 month deployment in Iraq.

I was so nervous...excited, butterfly city! .... I didnt get dressed till I was ready to walk out the door because I was sweating so bad! ...

I took a nice drive along the beach towards the Air Base knowing that on my way home.. he would be in the car... right next to me, and Iraq would finally be a memory.

I arrived on base and met another marine wife, who I hired to take all these beautiful pictures, and it was the best money I ever spent. She did such an awesome job, and I have so many pictures, and 2 CD's full!

I had won the "first kiss" award, which meant that Mathew and I got to "kiss" each other first before ANY of the unit was released.

Apparently this was a BIG DEAL.. so much that I even got interviewed for the local paper, and the marine corps times paper ha!

Knees shaking, biting my lip nervous kinda feeling... plus it was a little cold, but I had to look super cute! He hadnt been home in 13 months!

I had to be "escorted" to the front of the crowd, and wait till mathew was called out of line, then released... All very military like. ha!



We waited and waited... and the person kept announcing over the soundspeaker that they had left Cherry Point and were enroute.. He kept giving us updates, 20 mninutes away, 5, they are at the gate of the base, through the gate.. UGH!!!

Then finally we heard a bunch of busses, and saw them come around the corner..

They all lined up, and he had to be dismissed alone,

so he was called in front by his officer? I cant remember...


and then came running towards me so fast... It was a moment I will never ever forget the rest of my life.

13 months was hard, and military life was not the greatest at times, but homecomings.... they are the BEST!!

This was the beginning of us starting our lives together.. We were already married before Mathew left for Iraq.



And now we would live in our little house by the beach in NC, and we had our church wedding and reception in the Fall of 2008. Great great memories in NC, and also.. just 8 months later, we found out we were pregnant with Samantha!

This day was so memorable, and I am so glad I have a whole CD filled with pictures from the day. It is something that I cherish, and love looking back on from time to time, to remind us of how much we've been through as a married couple and how far we've come together.

We've had quite a busy couple years, married again, had a baby, left the military life and our condo in NC, moved to the North, lived with my mother for 8 months, bought a house, and are settling into life as a family of 3.

{this is the picture that was in the town's newspaper}

So hubby o'mine if you are reading this in your office this morning, I still remember this day like it was yesterday, and it reminds me of how much we went through together, and how much I love you, and would do it all over again for us. I know some days and nights (ha!)arent always easy in a marraige, but if we can get through this memory.. we can get through anything and I couldnt imagine anyone but you by my side through it all.