Whimsical September

A Family + Lifestyle Blog

Military Life 2 Comments

Goodbye deployment

Jamie’s first deployment is OVER, and we are THRILLED! Jamie was a part of 7-17 Cavalry Regiment, and soldiers from his unit have been returning home since early January. Jamie was on the last flight, so I was oh SO anxious for his butt to get home – FINALLY!
I got the official automated call from the Army on Friday while I was getting my hair done that he had officially left then ‘Stan and was scheduled to touch down in Fort Campbell at 9:50 a.m. Monday! I totally burst into a mess of happy tears. 🙂 That phone call was a DREAM COME TRUE!
I spent the weekend cleaning like a mad woman and soaking up time with some of the precious friends I’ve made up here while Jamie’s been gone. Sunday morning started off right by attending church with Steph. Her hubby was on Jamie’s flight, and we spent most of the weekend giggling with nerves and anxiousness!
I spent Sunday night hanging out with Kim, Kourtney, Kris, and Scott til almost midnight, sleeping for a few hours, then popping wide awake at 2:30 a.m. and never really falling back to sleep! Everything was so surreal; Am I really getting ready for Jamie’s homecoming? This is unreal.
We arrived to the hangar about 8:30 a.m., and the following 75 minutes of waiting for Jamie were TORTURE. Talk about minutes crawling! We finally got word that we could head outside and watch the flight land. We got out there quickly, and we immediately saw the headlights from his plane. Talk about HAPPINESS. Seeing those wheels touch down was indescribable. You pray for something for so long, and the answer to your prayers is right in front of you.
Around 250 soldiers were on his flight, and someone made a comment like “How will we be able to find Jamie?” I sort of laughed and assured them “Trust me! I will know my husband.” 🙂 When I finally did, my heart fluttered a little because he was smiling so big.
The soldiers marched in to hundreds of loved ones screaming and clapping. We anxiously listened to a three-minute ceremony, and then we reunited. ANY military spouse who’s given that welcome home ceremony hug will tell you how amazing it feels to have your spouse home and SAFE. To my friends at other posts awaiting that ceremony – You have SO MUCH to look forward to!
I will never forget coming home (to my parent’s house) last Spring after work, and Jamie was packing his suitcase to head up to Clarksville to work for a few days. I sat down on my bed with him kneeled on the floor in front of me, and we just hugged each other while I sobbed uncontrollably onto his shoulder. I was so completely overwhelmed with fear that he wouldn’t come home, and I don’t ever want to feel that feeling again. To have him home happy and healthy is so incredible.
Jamie was prayed for by SO many churches, friends, family members, and complete strangers, and I really believe in my heart that God kept his hand over my husband. Thank you so much for purposely praying for Jamie’s safety.
I have several friends who still have husbands overseas. The agony of deployment is not over for them. PLEASE continue to keep our soldiers in your prayers!
I’ve also decided to discontinue my blog. I’ve had it going for about four years (two years actively), but it’s become more of a chore than a hobby, and I can’t really dedicate my time to it anymore. My priorities have totally shifted, and I am looking forward to investing into my marriage and spending max time with the people we love. Not a whole lot else seems to matter!
My facebook is under Erica DeSpain and my email is edespain11@gmail.com if you’d like to keep in touch. I will keep this site up for a few weeks, and then down it goes.
Lots of love
and thanks for the all the blogging support. 🙂
Erica

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