December started out taking forever because I knew that Eric would be home on R&R and some point. I tried to count down the days until I would get to see him again but since the Army cant stick to anything that was really hard. It was December 12th sometime in the evening and my phone was ringing and I went to answer it but I couldn't hear anything. I figured it was Eric trying to call but as usual the phone wasn't connecting. He tried calling several more times but no such luck in being able to connect to each other. Two days later the phone rang again and this time he was there. He frantically told me that he was in Germany on his way to me but he couldn't talk long. His flight would be in on the 15th at 10pm.
Talk about a MAJOR FREAK OUT!!! I screamed inside my house that Eric was on his way and he would be here the next day! I called everyone I knew to tell them that he would be here in LESS than 24 hours. I was on a high and I couldn't believe that I was actually going to see him. The following day my good friends Amanda, Kaila and Kaitlyn came over to help keep my calm and get me looking hot to see my wonderful husband!
I wanted to be at the airport early because I was not going to miss him for anything! I had ordered a welcome home sign on the Internet to have to welcome him with. If you know Eric at all, he is very shy and does not like to create a scene in any way shape or form. We still had over an hour until he was supposed to arrive. So I found my spot in front of the escalator, held my sign and just waited.
My mom, younger sister Lexus and step dad Rich were all there to help me welcome him. I was so surprised by how many people came up to me just to say thank you or offer me a hug. It was such a neat thing to experience and I was so full of emotion the entire time. As time drew closer I started to get more and more anxious. I had to remind myself to breathe and I could barely think because my heart was beating so fast. People slowly started to trickle down the escalator and I was patiently awaiting my solider. People saw me with my sign and told me he was on his way and then I finally saw him:
It was just like the movies, when he finally got down we hugged each other and cried as everyone in the airport clapped and cheered. It is by far one of the best memories of my life and I will never forget it.
Eric really wanted pizza and an ice cold beer so we headed on over to BJs Brew house and all hung out together. It was as if we were never apart and it was so great to see that we clicked so well again. During the two weeks he was home we went all over the place. San Fransisco, a road trip to Disneyland for Christmas, hanging out with my family and friends. It was fantastic! We had such a great time but it passed in the blink of an eye and it was time for him to go back.
For some reason this good bye was easier than the original one. I took him to the airport and was able to stay with him at the gate until he boarded the plane. It took everything in my power not to cry the entire time, but I held it together only for him. We said see ya later and off he went. I silently cried the entire way back through the air port and with each step my heart getting heavier wondering if that would be the last time if I ever got to hold my husband.
I went home and spent the majority of the time in my bed. The past 2 weeks after he left were even heard than the first two when he left the very first time. I found myself being very angry and feeling as though he had abandon me on purpose. Needless to say we didn't always have the best talked. Once again January came and went but I was more depressed than anything. I had started seeing a psychologist and that helped a lot.
During the month of February I rarely heard from Eric. I went 37 days without hearing a single word, talk about heart wrenching. For some reason in March, I woke up with a whole new out look and could finally see the finish line. I was working out and spending plenty of time with my friends and sisters knowing that it would be over before I knew it. I went to Las Vegas with my mom and her sisters and had the time of my life. Eric was jealous but I promised him we would go sooner rather than later.
Before I knew it, April was here and it was time to get my stuff together and pack up to move back to Washington. I was so exited to go home but also super sad to leave my sister Lexus that I had gotten used to spending every day with. I moved into my new apartment found a job and starting working by the end of the month.
May flew by in the blink of and eye and June is half over too. This is the happiest I have been in a long time and I can finally start getting a little excited that Eric should be home in less than 30 days.
There are many emotions that I went through and experienced through this past year. There were times when I felt so close to Eric that I knew nothing could come between us. But there were also times when I felt scared, alone and abandon. I learned what arguments are worth arguing about and which ones are not.
When this whole deployment started, I was angry with everyone and everything for the fact that I was going to have to spend a year away from my husband. Looking back now knowing that it has been over 11 months apart I feel as if this was in God's plan for both Eric and I. I am so grateful that we were able to spend this time apart only to realize how important Eric is to me and how much I do love him with every part of me. I am still going through lots of different emotions about him coming back and us living together again but at the same time I really cant wait!
