Ben's Homecoming

Ben arrived home to Ft. Polk, Louisiana this morning and at 5:30 a.m they were officially welcomed home on base.  Before then, the family was not allowed to see them. 

Lest anyone get the bright ideas to go around the ceremony and meet them at the airport, the Army promised a police escort back to the base. . .

Needless to say, this is one very,

very happy family!

Kaylee and Blake's expressions

in all these pictures are just priceless. 

Ben called briefly this morning

and I talked to Kaylee. I asked her

 how her day was going,

and she said," We got Daddy from

 the Army. There was a song. 

And Flags.  My Daddy's home".

Craig talked to Ben on the phone tonight, and he said Blake didn't take his hat off all day.  I think Ben looks great! But tomorrow first ont he agenda is a hair cut!  Jamie sounds wonderful.  You can hear the smile in her voice.  Jamie said Blake keeps saying, "Hi Daddy" or "Daddy home" and then he repeats it dozens of times. 

This morning when I woke up at 6 I was kind of hoping for a text with a picture  saying he'd arrived.  I just figured they were enjoying the reunion and we would hear at some point today. (I told Jamie last night just to enjoy him and worry about us later.) Then when I checked facebook and saw these pictures I lost it.  I couldn't stop smiling or bawling.  I just felt so competely overwhelemed with joy and gratitude for Ben's safe return and most especially for his safety this past year.  Needless to say, it took me awhile to regroup and focus on preschool.  Fortunately, only 4 kids were here today, so that made for a very easy morning.

I printed up a few of these pictures and put them on the reminder board to share with my preschool parents.  When Craig saw them when he came home, he returned to the kitchen where I was making dinner and I noticed him wiping away the tears.  It's been an emotional time for him as well.  We feel so grateful and so humbled that we have been  blessed with such dear children and grandchildren.  It makes "Thank You Heavenly Father" seem so very inadequate.