Kendall's Military Homecoming.

So I'm finally going to sit down and write about Kendall's homecoming, because it hasn't already been 3 months..

Kendall finally came home in October of 2013! The week leading up to his homecoming we weren't even positive if he would be able to come home at the same time as the rest of his unit. Thankfully he did.
That morning I literally was more nervous than I was the day we got married. Yes it was serious. I felt like I was going to vomit any minute. I had literally spent the entire week trying to make sure the apartment was spotless for his return. The drive there alone felt like years and I won't say whether or not I cried when I got his first call saying he was back on American soil...
The whole nine months was difficult. I had to exist and know that I had half of my heart miles and miles away. Distance isn't easy-and I'm sorry but if you live within an hour or two of your boyfriend then your "distance" is minimal. Not saying it probably isn't a pain, just talk to me when your SO is halfway around the world and you barely talk to them.We went through a lot and grew up a lot. We learned a lot about each other and what makes both of us click. Our faults and our own insecurities were blinding. Somehow, we made it through and that's what truly matters.
I made a sign- a homecoming sign. If I would have drove myself I would have wrote on my car- because I was that excited. I ended up having an AMAZING photographer donate her time and services for our homecoming - Sharon Norman Photography (all pictures were taken by her.) And I'm really glad that I had a photographer there.

I'm getting offtrack...

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

When we finally got there the buses for the unit were still about 30-40 minutes away and it was raining- not very hard but it was raining. So we waited around, our nerves doubling and tripling. His mom, dad, and brother were there. My dad, stepmom, brother, sister, aunt, and cousin all ended up making the trip as well. So we waited. FINALLY buses were pulling in and I put myself on a bench so he would see my sign better.

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

 I was slightly teary watching the buses pull up. It literally didn't even feel like I was in my own body, and for a split second those nine months faded and it felt like he had just left and was already returning. I saw a sea of green and brown uniforms pouring from the buses, I was waiting for my own soldier to emerge. I waited what seemed like at least 20 minutes and finally my cousin screams out KENDALL! I saw him and ran, threw that sign like a frisbee and jumped into his arms. I couldn't even cry because I was so happy. I held his embrace for how long I needed to realize he was actually there then I let go and watched him hug and kiss everyone else. All the while trying to put into my mind that he really was home and wasn't leaving. I would go to bed with him that night and wake up the next day with him there. It started raining harder and we went into the school for the ceremony portion. The rest of the day flew by, we left hand in hand, had chipotle, then he came home.

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C)Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

 Amazing, the best day of my life.

Easter Care Package!

I have just finished my Easter care package to my soldier! Because I have a basket in it I had to use a different box instead of the flat rate box.
Inside of the box was:

• Twix bars - a lot of them
• Camo eggs
• Peeps
• Thin Mints
• Spring Oreos
• Pringles
• Fruit Roll-ups
• An assortment of chocolate
• Air Head Extremes
• Gum eggs
• Marshmallow bunnies
• A stuffed bunny holding a soccer ball
• lots of grass
• Spider man basket

Inside each egg I included a little message to him rolled up with a mini Twix bar. 

I did not send mine out in time to make it there by Easter :( but I'm hoping it will make for a pretty brag-worthy package!

Just like always the sides and the lid of the package were decorated.

I topped the package off with a heap of yellow grass & a card!

Enjoy your Easter & remember our troops!

MilObsessed?

A while ago someone on my twitter feed had said something to the effect of "every time a girl starts dating someone in the military then it's all she talks about." I'm not mad/offended/or hating on them. That statement made me think, do all girls become obsessed with the military if they are dating someone in it?

img found on weheartit

The conclusion I came to..is basically yes. It's hard to not become obsessed or in my eyes overly interested. Once you are married to or even dating someone in the military it becomes your life too. It literally will affect everything you do! Before I married Kendall I knew no one in the military... I hadn't had any of my friends join, I didn't have anyone close in my family join. Now that my husband is in the military it is my life too. I've learned so much about the armed forces from being married to a soldier and I'm very supportive. I talk about the military a lot, I support the military very much, it's my husbands livelihood! It's hard to be so supportive or consumed with something you know nothing of - when you aren't in a military relationship. How could I not? I'm proud of him, I'm proud of our relationship, I'm proud of our country and I will continue to let people know that.

Jo's FFF

I am so excited to introduce the newest segment on Love on the Homefront! Follower Feature Friday!!! Basically I am going to feature a different woman/man who is in a military relationship. I hope this will help with networking for the individuals who are featured and also, I think it's nice to get to share your story once in a while. Without further a-do our first featured milSO is JO.

"Let us live so that when we come to die, even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain

Jo is 20-something, and her fiance's name is John. John is in the Navy. Jo & John have been together for 21 months and engaged for 8. Jo is a teacher & her favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird.

Her favorite memory with John was "hugging him for the first time when he came home on R&R from Afghanistan during this current deployment. It was the best feeling to see him, hold him, and know he was safe..." 

Their Story in Jo's Words

"John and I met as members of the trumpet line in our college’s marching band. We went on one disaster of a date in college but remained friends. We gradually fell almost out of contact after college when I accidentally blew off his second attempt at a date. Fast forward a year. John shipped off to boot camp and randomly, I saw that his brother had posted his address on Facebook. I wrote John a note. He wrote back. Letters turned into hours-long phone calls, which (finally) turned into a date that did not end in disaster!" - Jo

She gives this advice: "Take one day at a time. Don’t think about how much time there’s left in your countdown; just think about how far you’ve come."

When asked to explain why she felt her story with John was unique she said, "I think the sequence of misses, poor communication, and dumb luck in our story makes it interesting, if not unique. Had I not been on Facebook at the time John’s brother posted his address, or had the letter not gotten to John, or had I decided never to write him at all, our story would never have happened. It’s pretty incredible that the sequence of events that happened, did."

Follow Jo on Twitter @JoMyGosh & her amazing blog - JoMyGosh.blogspot.com

I've only been communicating with Jo for a little while, but she is amazing and her blog is adorable, please show her some love and let her know how special and how supportive you are of her. Thank you Jo!

I wish Jo & John a very happy life, which I'm sure they will have. Happy Friday loves!

The day he left

So. I haven't blogged in a while and I was starting to feel a little guilty. Between work, school, and planning this wedding I barely have a second to breathe let alone gather my thoughts. So I'll start off by telling everyone that my hubby is and has been officially overseas. I'll recount the day he left because not only is it still fresh in my mind, almost like it was truly yesterday, but I think it's important.

My hero <3

The day he was leaving Kendall and I drove to the airport alone. His parents were meeting us there.  We had to stop by my dads house so he could tell the little ones goodbye. When we made it to the airport we checked in and his parents met us. We grabbed something to eat in the foot court while waiting for him to board. (Wow, just typing this up is giving me chills all over). I'm sitting there most likely seeming rigid but only because I could tell that he was upset and I didn't want a repeat of the Call to Duty ceremony. I rubbed his back, his mom gave him many words of encouragement and we snapped a few pictures. He went to the bathroom, I still suspect that he got sick, and while he was gone I broke down a little. His mom kept reminding me I had to be "strong" for him. So he came back and it was about time for him to leave. We gave hugs and reminded him that he would be okay and that we would be okay. I kissed him for the last time (until his return) and he headed through security and what not. The whole time he would turn around and look back at us and I so badly wanted to just say one more goodbye...steal one more kiss. After we couldn't see him any more we decided to leave. His parents told me they could drive me home, I declined. Honestly, I felt fine. I told them I'd manage on my own. I made it to the elevator and the floor my car was on in the garage. The walk to the car felt like a long one and I felt the biting cold hit me. By the time I made it to my car I couldn't breathe. I unlocked it, sat down and lost it. I didn't know what had come over me. I would open my mouth ready to scream and nothing would come out. I eventually had to call someone and my aunt answered. I just cried. I felt like I just needed someone to listen to me cry. I clutched my stomach and told her "it hurt." I feel bad that I called anyone because let's face it, I was not coherent by any means. Eventually she was so worried that she wanted someone to pick me up. I just decided to pull myself together and leave. I'm not going to say that I didn't cry the entire way home because that would be a lie. The pain I was feeling was real and intense, I felt it with my whole body. My family wanted me to come over, and to spend time with them but I just wanted to go home and sleep until I couldn't any more, and that's what I did. Eventually I pulled myself out of the rut. I feel much better these days but people going through what I am know about how you can just cry at any moment. And I do. I'm so emotional all the time, it kind of makes me laugh. The day after he left I tried to go to work and that didn't work out. I wasn't five minutes into my shift before I was spilling my guts and crying..

Our first Skype date!

Now, I have a full plate. We are into the nitty gritty of wedding planning. We got to visit a venue for an open house and I am in love. It will certainly be hard to beat. I've also tried on some dresses and have some front runners.

I know, I look oh-so-adorable in my bobcats tee!

Kendall and I Facebook all the time, almost everyday which is amazing. I feel bad because I haven't gotten to write him very much but then again, we still keep each other informed every day. I am done with my first week of school at OUL and I love it, besides the face that my schedule is a little messed up but! I learned how to fix it for next semester. Can I just tell you that in my acting class I am going to be performing "Popular" from Wicked as a project...I'm already nervous! I am so excited with the changes I have made and I'm even more excited to be working toward goals that will better mine and my husbands life.

While Kendall was home we got tattoos. This is not out of the norm for us...

This is obviously mine, he got a matching tat w his mom that I'll try to put up. PS-- this did hurt. But I didn't cry at all, took it like a total champ.

I miss him, more and more everyday. I miss his arms around me, his laugh, and his eyes. I think about him when I do almost anything. Sometimes I dream that he is still here! I just remind myself of that day he comes home and I picture what that will be like. I'll probably cry, let's face it.

But, I know I'll be alright, and that he will too and that's all that truly matters.

Featured in the paper

My husband and I were featured in the newspaper the day of his ceremony! 

A gorgeous picture of me & my brother was plastered on the front of the paper. I swear Jacob is such a smart kid. He was probably thinking to himself "How can I get this guy to take a picture of me?" As the soldiers were leaving the gym he flashes a peace sign to the train that was walking right in front of our seats. Of coarse the newspaper had to get a picture of him..and subsequently me because I was holding him.
The writer also quoted the both of us: 

"Charleigh Clark of Columbus, who was holding her little brother, Jacob, 3, during the ceremony said so many thoughts were racing through her mind since her husband is among the troops making the deployment."I am really proud of him," she said. "I am scared and I am happy. I am already counting down the days for him to come home."Her husband, Pfc. Kendall Clark, embraced her in a long hug and kiss following the ceremony."This is my first deployment," he said. "I am ready to do what needs to be done so I can get back home." "

See the full story here.

Our weekend

Over the weekend hubs and I had his battalion ball! Over the summer I had gotten a dress from a local dress stores sidewalk sale for 69.00! It was a steal and I tucked it away especially for the ball. It's odd to think that I had thought Kendall was going to propose at the ball, when little did I know we'd already be married! I had an old friend do my hair. It was just a bunch of curls pinned up. Originally we had left some of the curls dangling down, but I eventually pinned those up as well. I probably won't get my hair done for the next ball. I felt a little silly with my hair all done up. I felt slightly awkward because I didn't know a lot of people at the ball but I met some and had a blast with Kendall. 

We had some fun taking goofy pictures on the ride home...

Our car still says "just married" on the back... haha

For veterans day we were going to go to Applebee's so he could get a free meal but opted out when we found out how long the wait was. We decided to go to our favorite place instead.. Frisch's Big Boy! Kendall got a cheeseburger like he always gets and I also got a cheeseburger. I had sweet potato fries, him regular. We both also got the salad bar and shared a hot fudge cake. Mmmm. Kendall was still in his ACUs from the day. Our waitress brought over our check and informed us that someone had paid for our meal! 

We have no idea who the Good Samaritan was. An older couple stopped by our table before they left and thanked Kendall for his service and the woman looked at me and said "I also want to thank you." I just smiled, but I really wanted to tell her that I don't do anything! I haven't and most likely won't risk my life for my country! All I do is love a soldier, and that's not hard.

How was your weekend?

Reliving the Engagement

Kendall and I had wanted to get some photos done before I left for school and before deployment. So I made an appointment for the weekend before I left for school.

And much to my surprise...He got down on one knee at the end of the shoot. I was so shocked. All I could do was nod my head extremely fast.

Look how completely happy we are in that last photo! Ahh! I love him.