Mitchell is Home!!!

I can hardly believe it has been a year since Mitchell was deployed to Iraq with the 116th National Guard from Idaho. It has been a year for the books. I have been reflecting on the events that have happened over this past year, and my heart is full of emotions. Some events have been wonderful, and some have left me with a heavy heart. At the end of the day, the one thing that I realize is the most important thing on this earth is FAMILY. I have an awesome family. 
When Mitchell was deployed, my family got together and supported him on the day he left. We all got up super early and went to Denny's for breakfast and met at the hangar where all the soldiers were to leave from. We spend every holiday together - Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite - and we have so much fun together. When Mitch came home from Iraq for good in September, it was a bittersweet occasion. It was so wonderful to have Mitchell safe and back in the United States. But, we were missing one VERY important person. Malinda.
Mitch got into Idaho Falls on a Wednesday. It was very short notice when we found out he was coming home. He had been in Washington state at Fort Lewis for about 10 days, and they didn't tell Mitch he was going home until that day. Since we found out that day that Mitch was coming home, we had a limited amount of time to get ready for him. Carl had to work in Idaho Falls that day, so I went to Idaho Falls with him and  Preston and met up with Brittany. We headed over to the airport. It brought back so many memories. I remember being at that hangar in the dark hours of the early morning. I remember seeing the street lined with American flags for our troops that were being deployed that day. I remember the feelings of sadness that we had that day. This time was much different, but there was still an element of sadness.

We got to the hangar and were greeted with a large crowd of people anxiously awaiting the plane that held our loved ones. There were little babies, small children, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, grandparents and friends. People had posters and flags and there was a feeling of excitement in the air. We saw mom and Byron. Then I saw Bobby. Bobby is Malinda's mom. I had to fight back the tears as I saw her. I hadn't seen Bobby since my baby shower in July. I had been hoping that she would be there when Mitch got home, and she was. She hadn't yet met Preston, and I was excited for her to meet him. The plane finally arrived! Mitchell was HOME. We hugged him and told him how much we loved him and we just laughed. There wasn't anything really funny, but it was just such a relief to have him home.

Later that night, I was thinking about the events of the day. I find myself thinking a lot about the way things would have been if Malinda was still alive. I was thinking about how Malinda would have been the first one at the hangar waiting for Mitchell. She would have organized a party to make signs for Mitchell to welcome him home. I can picture her anxiously waiting for the plane to land while wearing her red "I LOVE MY SOLDIER" shirt. She should have been there. I still have a hard time believing that she is gone. She is missed every day. I know that she is watching over Mitchell and her family. I know that she is watching over us too. I am so thankful to have Mitchell home! We love our soldier!