He's BAAAAAACK!

Four months.  
Four months ago it was still summer here.  There were flowers everywhere, leaves on the trees, the days were long, the school year had just started and Mike left for Qatar.




Four months later, summer has become winter, the flowers are gone, the trees are bare, the days are short (but getting longer, thank goodness!), semester finals are next week and.....


Mike is finally HOME!!

He arrived by rotator on Saturday.  Travis, Colonel Vaughn and his wife, Nipha and I were all at the terminal to meet him.  It was fun to see some of the other families waiting for their dads and husbands to arrive and also there were some sponsors there waiting for new arrivals to Ramstein.   It was a little different to welcome him home this time, since he wasn't deployed with his unit...just by himself.  We are used to watching him arrive in an A-10 , instead of being flown in but it was still a very exciting moment seeing him through the glass in the terminal for the first time and then waiting and waiting for him to get luggage and clear customs.   

All smiles!

There weren't any flags waving, bands playing or posters with yellow ribbons.  It was what it was...business as usual.  Something that plays out here everyday of the week, every month of the year.  Even though these rotators pick up and drop off military members and their families everyday...there was still such a feeling of pride in our servicemen and women and respect for the jobs they do.  Jobs that take them away from their country and their families, but that make the world a safer and better place.  I am so proud of Mike and the job he did for the last four months.  His job involved directing search and rescue efforts downrange.  I know he made a difference in so many lives. 

Family photo

Headed for the car.

 We were hungry so we stopped by Johnny Rockers for a late lunch.  Mike was looking forward to eating something he hadn't had for four months...how 'bout a philly cheesesteak!?

ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz...snort!

Then we came home and he jumped right in  his favorite chair and it wasn't long before we heard that old familiar sound that I can't say we've missed...his snoring!


It's so good to have him home that I'm not even complaining about that one bit.


That's it for the blog this week.  I can't spend his first weekend home with my nose in the computer.


Next week the blog may be a day late.  Daughter Codi and grandson Palmer are coming for a visit and we will be in Garmisch next weekend with them.  We can't wait for the fun to begin!!


love and miss you all,
-corri