There is Nothing Quite Like a Holiday Homecoming

The morning was cold but being December in Tennessee, that wasn’t a surprise. When we arrived at the hanger, I knew this would be different than our last deployment, which ended on a hot day in July. Our deployment was over and I only had to wait a few more hours until my husband would be in my arms again. This 4th deployment had been one of the hardest. I was so glad that the deployment was going to end. What made things even better was that my husband was coming home about a week before Christmas. For us, that year would be magical.

That year, we had the best Christmas ever. That year we didn’t have to miss him. We didn’t have to worry anymore. We weren’t lonely and we were together, the way we were supposed to be. We didn’t have to experience the deployment ache over Christmas and we fully enjoyed the holidays together again.

Image from DVIDSHUB on Flickr!

There is something so beautiful about a holiday homecoming. Knowing that the deployment will end and that you will be celebrating the holidays together instead of apart. Knowing that you won’t have to wake up Christmas morning or start Hanukkah alone. Knowing that they will be there to wish you Happy New Year and that you won’t have to videotape your children opening presents just so that your spouse can see them do so from afar.

Image from DVIDSHUB on Flickr!

There is nothing quite like a holiday homecoming. To be together again during the time of year you want to be with your family the most.

As I stood out watching the runaway on that December Day, I was so cold. But that didn’t matter. All that did was watching that plane land, watching my husband get off the plane and running into his arms, knowing he was home, that the deployment was over and that we would be back to the way things were meant to be.

For those getting ready for holiday homecoming, know that you will be in for a treat. All homecomings are amazing but you will always look back on this homecoming as such a special one. Whether there is snow on the ground in upstate New York or the sun on your back in Hawaii, there is nothing quite like a holiday homecoming.