Change of Command Ceremony

It was a busy and emotional week at the Webb house. Billie took command of an intelligence company this week, and I am so proud and excited for him. I can't wait to watch him excel in this position. Many guys from his previous unit came to watch and support. In his speech, Billie mentioned my Dad as well as his Uncle Dennis, who passed away while Billie was deployed this year. He acknowledged how proud they would have been to see him do this.

Billie's aunt, my mom, and my Mother-in-law spent about 4 days with us. I was SO glad they were able to be a part of the ceremony.

After the ceremony, we returned to Billie's office for a reception, where we watched soldiers demolish Chick-Fil-A platters (Billie's request), fruit and veggie trays, and the sheet cake you see above. Those boys can eat! :) I'm really looking forward to this year and being a part of this new company. Most of my close girlfriends are PCS'ing (aka moving to another base) with their husbands, which I'm not talking about yet because I just can't even... (tears ensue.) This has been an amazing year for us. 

More on the weekend...

More on the weekend. :) 

When we got home from the ceremony, we slept for 1-2 hours then decided to get the day started. Billie was still on Afghanistan time, and I was still too wired to sleep! 

I had a few belated birthday presents along with a cookie cake waiting for Billie. Did you know that Great American Cookie Company has an individual sized double doozie cookie cake?? (That's two layers of cake with icing in the middle.) 

Friday for lunch, we met downtown for lunch at Johnny's Big Burger. I had never been, but it's famous around here. Right across from the University. Been operating since the 1950s I think! 

On the right is their famous creation... "Bun and Cream"- a grilled honeybun topped with ice cream! 

Friday afternoon, we all ran at the Greenway. Then that night, we celebrated Billie's birthday at Liberty Park Grill. 

My inlaws left Saturday morning, and Billie began his half days of reintegration briefing, which will go for 7 days. Then he will be on block leave and we will be traveling to... St. Lucia!!!! 

Billie's Homecoming

Well, 7 months came and went. And my husband is home safe and sound. 

I was overcome with emotion Thursday morning while I was driving to the gym. Remembering how scared I felt before this deployment, anticipating what it would be like to be apart for so long. 

I was dealing with some anxiety that I didn't even understand but trusted God to show up for me as I depended on Him. I give him all the glory, and all I could repeat was "thank you Lord" with tears in my eyes on Thursday morning. 

The ceremony was set for 2am on Friday morning. My week was planned down to the hour. Cleaning each room in the house, cooking a few things Billie loves (deviled eggs, paleo muffins, egg prosciutto cups, and chicken salad), and getting my heart ready to have a husband home again!

It was recommended that family arrive at the Hangar at 11:30pm on Thursday night. I took a 1-hour nap that afternoon (fat chance of anything more than that!- ha) then tried to pass the time at home before getting dolled up and making the drive to post!

Excitement and relief flooded over me when I walked into the hanger and spotted my friends. 

Here are a couple of them. A tad excited. Plus a tad delirious. Let the waiting begin.

 

We waited and chatted and waited some more. Then my mother in law and Billie's step dad arrived, and I was SO excited to see them. They made the long drive from Louisiana to be here for the special occasion.

Around 1:30, the crowd went outside and lined up behind some barricades.

We were all tracking the flight on our cell phones. We watched and listened in the direction we thought the plane would come from. Finally, we heard the plane in the air! The crowd began cheering, and goosebumps ensued.

Landed! After a short time, the soldiers began to file out one at a time and walk towards the hangar before lining up in formation.

Then... I spotted my man. I ran behind the barricaded crowd, following him all the way towards the hangar. He didn't see me, and I didn't have a voice to yell. But gosh, it was SO good to see him.

Families returned to the hanger and waited while the guys gathered in formation. As instructed, we yelled "OPEN THE DOORS" in unison, and soldiers pulled the hangar doors open for the formation to march in. 

I spotted Billie so I could make a bee-line to him once formation was broken. See him on the end of the row??

And that's exactly what I did. 

We hugged and chatted for a few minutes before the guys lined back up and went outside to turn in their weapons.

FINALLY, we were reunited again and free to leave around 4:15am.

There is nothing else like a Homecoming ceremony, that's for sure. I'm incredibly thankful I got to experience that. I am not a night owl, and I was nervous about how I would be at 2am. But I didn't feel the time at all. Deployments can be hard. But reunions are SO sweet. Feels like my heart could explode from happiness.

End of Deployment Dinner

Yall. My husband is HOME!!!!! 

Before I share pictures and details from the homecoming ceremony, I wanted to share these pictures from the week! 

My army wife friends had one more dinner to celebrate the end of deployment. Tuesday night, we met at Kaitlyn's house for a family-style feast, complete with Mac and cheese, rotisserie chicken, sweet potatoes, kale salad, brussel sprouts, Apple pie, and rhubarb bars! 

Kaitlyn surprised us with an accolade ceremony where she presented us each with a certificate and token of what we have accomplished this deployment. It was hilarious and so fun. Kaitlyn is thoughtful and creative and loyal. This was JUST like her to do. 

I got the "Nearly Fearless" award for tackling some fears this deployment... With the acception of removing a frog from the toilet. As a momentum, I received a stuffed frog-- ha!

We had so much fun! Really sweet to think back on the past 7 months to how we have grown and the things we have accomplished! 

Wednesday Nights

Throughout this deployment, we have had a core group of girls meet almost every Wednesday night. We meet at someone's house to eat pizza, drink wine, and chat. 

This week, I hosted our last Wednesday get-together before our husbands come home! I'm so thankful for the strong group of military spouses I'm around. I'm encouraged by the way they work, tackle house projects, and stay active. They remind me that it's all possible! 

Preparing for a Deployment Homecoming

A while back, I came across a list of 35 things we military spouses all do before homecoming. A group of military spouse writers put together this list. Here are a few of my favorites:

The laundry. 

Clean the house from top to bottom, five times. Who can sleep right now anyway?

Make a futile attempt to lose 25 pounds, in four days.

Mourn the upcoming loss of the DVR.

Begin the process of keeping expectations in check. Being realistic about how things will go after homecoming is an important part of the reintegration process.

Buy a new battery for the car you forgot to start for six months.

Tell yourself that the homecoming time will change, but still get disappointed when it's 46 hours after you anticipated.

Obsess over an outfit and shoes.

Clean out the fast food wrappers from the car. Nope. I ate all organic the whole time you were gone. Promise.

Make space for all the "green" stuff again. All. that. Gear. that will soon take over the bonus room. 

Calmly rehearse your story of why there is a dent in the car, a brand-new dining table, and new fish for pets. 

Change your outfit. Again. Change shoes. Again. Re-style hair. Again. 

Wait. Pace. Stare, hoping the clock will speed up. Bite off freshly manicured nails. Cry one last time as the kids decide to throw a temper tantrum. Consider joining them in said tantrum.

Shave your legs, again. Because the homecoming time changed THAT much.

Worry that your spouse is changed, or that you had changed. But get ready to fall in love all over again.

Updates From the Soldier

Apparently the guys at the coffee shop on base have a crush on my husband and wanted a picture with him. Can't blame 'em. 

Billie received a care package last week from the first grade class at our old school. He said this was his favorite package yet. The drawings and notes were the sweetest. For example... 

Here were a few other gems: 

"I hope you don't get hurt in war", "I hope you are a good Soldier", "You are a good Army man. Thank you for protecting our world.  Thank you for battling in the war.", "Be a good Soldier.", "Is the Army fun", "Are you safe", "I hope you win in the war", "I hope you have a great time in Afghanistan." "Is it fun to be in the Army", "How many wars have you had?" 

I can't even. 

I can't count the way my friends and family served me this week. Thanks to everyone for your cards, calls, texts, and extra hugs!

The day Billie deployed, I had a few little surprises waiting on me at work.... 

First is this list of 25 things to do during deployment from my friend Nicole. I work with three girls whose husbands are either deployed now or will be soon. We refer to ourselves as Team RAW (rehab army wives.)

Another friend came in on her day off to bring me a cupcake from my favorite place in town... Nerdy Birdie gluten-free bakery. 

Around lunchtime, I had a delivery in the front office... An edible arrangement of fruit (and chocolate covered fruit) from the rehab department. 

A friend of Billie's shoveled the snow from my driveway while I was at work Saturday. 

I've thanked God repeatedly this week for His provision and for my friends and family. Y'all have reminded me to find ways to serve other people! Thank you! 

PS- The soldier made it safely to his final destination and is settling in well. Long days right now, but we are getting to talk each day. 

1/327 INF Battalion Ball

 Last night was my first Army Ball. I took the day off work to hang out with Billie and get ready. The ball was at the James E. Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville, KY. It was the perfect venue to house all 550 of the ball-goers. Our friends Andy and Robin picked us up at 3:30 for a 4:30 social hour. Next was the traditional receiving line where the guest speaker, Battalion Commander, Battalion Command Sergeant Major and wives greet each of the ball attendees. 

My handsome date and me

Our friends Robin and Andy (and baby bump)

We made our way up the stairs, greeted all the big bosses, then made our way down the opposite side.

Next we found our seats for dinner. The night involved a speaker, toasts, and the army tradition of the "grog." The grog is a drink mixed in a large silver bowl. To honor the history of this battalion, selected soldiers stood and added ingredients to the grog bowl, reading a small piece about the historical significance.  To honor their contributions during WWI and specifically their fighting in France, French champagne was added. For their fighting in Vietnam, rice wine was added. Although I can't remember all of the history, I do remember seeing mustard, bourbon, sand, and sriracha going into the grog, to name a few. Next, a representative from each table filled a pitcher full of grog for each table. Luckily, our table got a pre-mixed grog that more closely resembled kool-aid (as opposed to the real grog which looked a bit more like murky tomato juice.)

A few of my pretty friends

After the formal events of the evening concluded, the dance floor was opened! We had so much fun. Loved having the night with Billie and celebrating all the history that's unique to his Battalion.

Ft. Campbell Memorial

Last week, I had the honor of viewing this memorial on Fort Campbell. It includes a display of single boots, representing each of the 5,900 service members who has died in service since 9/11. Placed in chronological order, each boot included a picture of the service member it represented. It was powerful.

Last Saturday, the boots lined a 5k route which Billie ran.  

What a reminder that it's an honor to be an Army wife and to never forget the loss that service members and their families experience.

Need a lift?

Wow... The Devo book "Jesus Calling" just gets me.

Take Sundays devotional: 

This one got me. Each time I read it, something different jumped out. It looks like Billie will deploy again this fall. How I feel about it... Well that depends on which moment you ask me. 

But we prayed 1. Presenting OUR requests to God (Philippians 4:6) 2. Asking for Him to make His plan in our lives unfold 3. Submitting to the fact that He knows and controls all things and can work any circumstance for our good (Romans 8:28) 

"Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. 

They do not fear bad news. They trust the LORD to care for them." Psalm 112:4,7 NLT 

I don't know about you, but I want to be like that! In whatever circumstance, I hope God will be pleased with my "response" to it and the trust I put in Him... To do what He said He would do. 

Weekend happenings in the new town!

Saturday, I finally met Lindsey, the cousin of a friend of mine from grad school. I was so happy to meet a Louisiana native here in Clarksville! We talked king cake, jambalaya, and all things Baton Rouge. Not even kidding. She was actually a nurse at Baton Rouge General at the same time I worked there. Funny huh? Her hubbie is military too. 

We met at Lasater's for coffee and time to chat. They had my favorite Sysco scones there too-- score.

Thanks for the image, Google.

Afterwards, I drove to Miss Lucille's-- a place Lindsey and my realtor had both told me about. 

Miss Lucille's is a giant warehouse. Rows upon rows of antiques, furniture, clothes, art, and home decor. My kinda place.

My favorite booth, complete with my favorite colors!

Here are a few photos of pieces I loved! 

Will definitely be making a trip back there.

For dinner, Billie and I tried out Woody's Pizza, which came highly recommended.  

 And it passed the test. Plus we got free cinnamon sticks for dessert. Can't beat that!

The remainder of the night was spent watching Red Box movies-- Captain Phillips and Despicable Me (my choice).