A Love So Strong

Have you been in love, or in love? Or maybe just have a crush? Think to the time when you got to go on a date with that person for the first time, the first phone call, texting, that first hug, and that amazing first kiss. Remember how it gave you butterflies and time may have stopped for those first few seconds and all that was there was you and that special person? That is exactly how I feel each homecoming reunion.

Those butterflies start fluttering hard, the nervousness of seeing your loved one after over 7 months, the first kiss, and that first hug filled with an unbelievable amount of love. Even though there are hundreds of people all around being reunited it only feels like two. me and him.  I really can't even explain half of the emotions and feelings it brings and how exactly it makes me feel - it's really something that a person has to experience for themselves. Just know, those days will always be remembered, as well as the ones where he leaves.

So on homecoming day, I woke up and got his sign ready to go on the garage. I used glow sticks and taped them on to make a sweet message. Even though he was scheduled to come in the afternoon, I was hoping they would still glow a little bit a night but they never did :( thought that matters though.

 I also added some red, white and blue tinsel with stars around the garage.

It was red, white and blue glow sticks.

After I got his sign ready, I made his poster and then I decided to check the hotline for when they are scheduled to come in and the time got pushed up from 2:30pm to 1pm!! That made me freak out because I was really counting on that extra hour and a half. So now it was around 1130pm and I had to quickly text our photographer to let her know of the time change since she lives further away and then hopped into the shower, got ready and left to go to the air station. (below are some of the photos)

His sign I wrote on both because I loved each of the ideas I thought of.

I got there and met up with my photographer and we stood around for awhile waiting. Then Matt text me telling me he was in the air, I was so happy reading that, I knew just in a matter of less than an hour we would be in each others arms. So there were a few times when I thought it was him flying in but it was just Marines training with the other helicopters that day since it was during working hours. It got a bit confusing, haha.

Finally.. I knew because there were 2 big groups of 6 large helicopters. It was so awesome to see. I have never witnessed anything like that. Well, the helicopters landed, then they had to taxi around and get in their marked spots. Then the engines had to cool off and shut down. Then they finally lined up, marched over and got dismissed.

I was looking everywhere for Matt. I couldn't find him and all I saw was people hugging and kissing around me and he still was no where to be seen. I probably looked like a crazy woman Lol
Finally, I saw him and ran towards home.  And instantly, all those days, weeks, and months apart was nothing compared to having him back with me, having him hug me, pick me up and give me the sweetest kiss.

He showed me inside the helicopter then we looked everywhere for his bag because there were so many and they were scattered around a bit.

Overall, homecoming was awesome. Oh and did I mention it was on his birthday?? So I got hit with a double whammy   a birthday and homecoming.  It was great celebrating the two.
Once we came home, he talked to family for a bit, then we went to hubby's birthday dinner of choice (buffalo wild wings) and came back for the ice cream cake I made and he opened his gifts.

 Ever time I decorate for him as a little "surprise" homecoming gift… but it seems like I always somehow outdo myself…. .worried about next time haha

 Christmas and birthday gifts since he left in November lol

So during this deployment, I felt like I grew into who I am and want to be, learning more about me and my future. Started my career and continuing my education, and as well as Matt thinking more of his career and accomplishing his goals we both set for New Years resolutions. I think good things are to come in our future, isn't that what everyone hopes for anyways?
We left off where we were, maybe even better! and it felt wonderful.  I love having him home, but it's sad to say I already don't want him leaving again. I felt like that the first night. You just never know when and how long…. you want him to stay forever.  but for now, I think we both are enjoying the time together

Such A Large Ocean

To continue on with the 30 day fun photo challenge, here is day 8 through 10.

Fresh fruit

Sunset (I couldn't decide between the two)

Animal.  Yep, a bird. I don't see animals that often so this will have to do. 

When I went to the beach the other day, it was such a great feeling to just sit there in the sand and look out into the ocean, feel the cool breeze and hearing the waves crash and think about nothing else except for in that moment.  It actually helped relax and rejuvenate me a little bit. Of course thinking about nothing only last for so long with me (haha) so I started to think about my husband and even though the Pacific Ocean is very large, at that particular moment it didn't quite feel that way because I know he's coming home soon and that we were looking out into that same exact ocean just thousands of miles apart.

And speaking of hubby, here is an article from the ship he is on that he was quoted in. Apparently, one of the female co-workers he works with, her mom made a bunch of quilts for each of the people she works with, with their names on it and Matt said a few words.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=67722#.T9VPdlPdgMg.facebook

June Gloom?

Those two words will never be in my sentence this month! I am happy to say…… hubby and I will be reunited this month!!!! So so so excited.   I cannot believe this month is finally here. I mean, I can believe it, but I can't! This deployment went by fast for the most part with occasionally slow areas and I am so happy that it will finally be over.  With that being said, instead of Gloom - It's Bloom. I just have so much happiness going on, so I think I need to write a list of all of them.

Here are some things lately that have me feeling happy and put a smile on my face.

1. It's June!
2. Feeling sore right after working out; I know I had a succesful workout
3. Knowing we will be together in a few weeks.
4. Eating healthy 
5. Knowing good things are coming in the future
6. Having a paycheck in my name
7. Finding an insert of cologne Matt uses in the mail
8. Looking out into the ocean on my drive home knowing I'll be able to see his ship before I see him
9. Planning a vacation
10. Next time Matt calls my phone, it will actually say "hubby" with his picture!
11. Getting paid time + half for Memorial Day
12. New and LAST color on the deployment chain.
13. Selling items online that I don't use or wear anymore to get some extra cash 

and I am going to go ahead and apologize for no make-up and wearing pj's Lol, but I was so excited to get a picture of it. That's all there is left!!

Stats Report

Here are the stats as it stands today..

Today is 200 days in the deployment.
We are finally at 90% down! We're so close, it feels incredible. I cannot wait to get him back home! I know he is just as anxious and excited too.

With that being said, I have a lot of stuff I still want to get done or do before he comes home. Working a lot lately has made me push it aside, so hopefully I can soon concentrate on that. Probably wasn't the best idea to tell my boss that she can work me however many hours since I'm out of school HAHA.  But, the paycheck will be worth it!

Matt left his last port a couple days ago. He was in Hong Kong. It's so exciting to know in just a few weeks, we will be together.

Half A Year

It has been half a year ( six months ) since the husband and I have seen each other, shared a kiss, or held hands. Even though it is sad to think about that, it makes me happy to know it's been that long because the reality of him coming home is somewhat kicking in. Just one more month to go and we will be able see each other. Oh how I miss those hugs!!

and this face!!

Headed Home

Yea, you can say the time from now until Matt and I are reunited is getting closer and closer. I woke up this morning and came across this wonderful article in the news:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/may/07/sd-sailors-and-marines-aboard-makin-island-head-ho/

How wonderful is that? It feels even closer now since they are headed back to the states and another MEU relieved them of their duties. I cannot wait until I am able to start counting down the days until the date he arrives back to get that much overdue and needed kiss.

Here are some photos taken just a day or two ago from the ships that I thought were awesome

Those colors are so vibrant. That water… I cannot get over it. 

Give Me The Green Light

I'm ready to go right now, I'm ready to go right now!  If you didn't catch what that reference is to, it's a song called Green Light by John Legend.

Yes, that's right! We moved onto a new color in the deployment chain - Green! That means the end is coming and it feels incredible.

Ah, such a gorgeous site in the morning… and no I'm not talking about my reflection in the mirror ;) I'm talking about that short chain left to go.

I cannot believe it is already May! These past couple months have gone by fairly quickly. But I know that this month is jammed pack for me and that it's going to go by even faster than the others.
And, now that it is OFFICIALLY May, I can say that I will be seeing my husband sometime next month.  I cannot stop saying that, and frankly, I don't want to.

Matt is doing really well, anxious to get back! He has a few more stops to do and then he will be headed back to the states. He's been working out A LOT, so he's looking great!! Now it's time to get my motivation back so I can look great for when he returns to me too!
Well, that's all I have for now - time to get some things accomplished today, no time to procrastinate.

Behind On Drafts

Well, I was going through all the posts and looking to count exactly how many packages I really did send and I saw I had this draft post. It was all the way back in January from when I mailed off Matt's New Year's package. I guess I never made it "LIVE" until.. well today. Lol, it's a bit old - but, what the hell!

A few items

 This box was mostly things from home that he forgot or wanted.

  I'm glad he was able to get the package so soon, almost 2 weeks before New Years.. I can't believe it! I thought it would take longer, but probably because they are at port, it caught up quick.

Hipp-ity Hopp-ity, I'm Late On This Post!

Well, I have been so busy that I forgot to post the Easter care package I put together for Matt. He received it a couple days after Easter, unfortunately but that's okay because it's the  thought and  candy that matters :)

 Yes, this would be me spoiling him.

 It started with 2 boxes, and I added a 3rd.

 Cutest little chinese easter baskets. (Found at dollar tree)

 Inside I just added a bunch of different candies.

 Easter wouldn't be Easter without some eggs filled with jelly beans, of course. (Dollar tree eggs)

 Cute dollar tree bags with chicks and bunnies on them, I added random candies to them

 Different chocolate candies.

 Sour gummy candies

 Easter marshmallows

 Butterfly clothespin I made. So easy to do. Just take a plastic baggy and fill it with something light, then decorate a clothes pin and cut pipewire. Hot glue the pipe wire to the side of the clothes pin and wah-la. (pipe wire/clothes pin at Joann's or Michael's)

 All the pretty and colorful butterflies.

 Box 1

 Box 2

 And last but not least, box 3 -- Hubby's personal box.

Well, there you have it.  And I finally mailed off the last and final box for Matt this afternoon. That made box #16!! It was a bittersweet moment just because I really do enjoy making these for him and thinking of new themes and knowing this will brighten up his day and a few others on the ship with him, but I really much rather him be home so we can continue making memories together! 

But, you know the drill - I'll write about the package I sent to him whenever he receives it… probably 3 weeks or so from now.