Home

A few weeks ago we welcomed my brother-in-law, Robbie, back from Afghanistan. He was gone one year and 2 days! (Although some of that was spent preparing and debriefing in Texas.) Melanie and the kids had their signs all ready to welcome him home.

They were SO excited!! I'm so glad I was able to take the day off and be with them. What a neat experience!!

Fresh Market was there with donuts, hot chocolate, orange slices, and juice. The kids sure enjoyed their donuts!

There was a band playing to help pass the time (we got there around 8:30 and Robbie got there around 11:20).

There were 2 chartered planes that came in full of soldiers. Robbie was on the second plane...and he was the last one off the plane. Which means we were able to witness about 150 other homecomings before our own. What a special experience this was!

 The doors opened and we were exposed to the 15 degree weather outside, but that's okay! The flags lined the "wall" and families waited for their loved one to deboard the plane.

 They made sure to wave all their fun posters so their husband/father/brother/wife/mother/sister could find them when they got off the plane!

This was a special moment I couldn't help but cry (and take pictures)...a father meeting his baby for the first time. Several other soldiers did this that day as well. I can't even imagine going through that as the mother OR the father.

After the first plane came and deboarded, I hung out with Melanie and the kids some more while we kept waiting!

Then it was FINALLY our turn to get our soldier back!

I had to hold Mason back from running all the way up to the plane. He was SO excited when he finally saw his daddy coming down the stairs!

This was MUCH more emotional than I expected. Tears were everywhere and it was just so great! :)

As I reflected on this experience today, I couldn't help but think about the homecoming each of us will have someday. When we go Home. What will it be like to see our Heavenly Father again? What will it be like to see our family members who have gone before us? Will they be standing there waving posters, so excited to see us? Will there be tears on everyone's face?

I obviously don't know what it will be like, but I can imagine. I imagine seeing my Savior's face and running to His feet, nothing holding me back. I imagine hugging and crying and being so grateful that I made it Home. That I made the choices in my life that led me Home. I imagine seeing family members who have been rooting for me all along in Heaven, helping me make it back Home.

I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation that makes it possible for me to return Home with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the knowledge of eternal families, that I can live with my family forever.

I can't wait for the day to embrace my Savior and tell Him how much He means to me and how grateful I am for all He did to make it possible for all of this to happen.