A Christmas Homecoming

There are many challenges that come with a life in the military, but there are also many sweet moments, and I feel it is important to relish in those good moments, when they come to us. My family recently got to experience one of these beautiful moments in our military journey—a Christmas homecoming.

I have always loved watching these incredible surprise homecomings where our service members are able to surprise their families who had no idea their loved one would be coming home. When my soldier was deployed back in 2008 and 2009, I attempted to surprise our young daughter with her father’s homecoming.

We were stationed in Germany at the time, and my husband was deployed to Iraq on a 15-month deployment. That summer, we got the news that he would be coming home soon.

I was elated, as you can imagine.

Our daughter had left Germany that summer to spend the summer with her grandparents. I told my parents that my husband would be coming home prior to my daughter returning from the states. I had the great idea to surprise her at the airport when not only me but her daddy would be picking her up.

I was ecstatic imagining her face when she saw him.

Unfortunately, my daughter would overhear a conversation between my parents, and she would learn the news of her father returning from deployment. There would be no surprise that go-around.

Shortly after that deployment, we returned to the states where my husband found himself on two special assignments which were non-deployable. To say we were blessed to have this time with him is an understatement. We know how lucky we were for this time.

As his second special assignment—recruiting—came to an end, he was placed on orders to South Korea, which is where we find ourselves today, on a one-year hardship tour. My children and I chose to stay behind while my husband completed this tour.

He left this past summer, and it has been six months since we’ve seen him.

About two months ago, I was talking to my soldier about the possibility of being together for Christmas. I could have gone to South Korea to see him, but we wouldn’t be able to afford for me to bring the kids as well, and I really wanted the kids to be able to see him.

My daughter, after almost 15 years as a military child, knows the routine, and she, like me, goes into a certain mode when Dad is away. However, my son was only an infant the last time his father deployed, and he was taking his dad being gone a bit harder.

Getting leave around Christmas is not something I was positive my soldier could get, as, understandably, so many want to go home and be with their families around Christmas. Who could blame them? I wish everyone could be home with their families during the holidays. However, we went for it, and my soldier put in for leave for the Christmas holiday.

I was elated when we found out he was approved for leave.

We then set a surprise plan into motion. My husband would travel home for Christmas, and the kids and I would pick him up at the airport. However, the kids would be under the impression that they were picking up my best friend, Shannon. I almost felt bad for my kids, because they were so very excited about seeing their “Aunt Shannon.” I hoped that them actually getting to see their father would be a bigger surprise.

I was so determined to make sure my kids were surprised that I didn’t tell a soul except for my best friend, of course, and my fellow teammates here at Army Wife Network. I didn’t even tell my parents, who live with us, that he was coming home. They had plans to visit my brother in Oklahoma for Christmas and would not be able to be there for the surprise, but I didn’t want to risk the kids overhearing another conversation.

So, three days before Christmas, my children and I headed to the airport to pick up “Aunt Shannon.” I was so excited for my children. I knew this would be the best Christmas surprise ever! I could explain what happened, but I think the video below would explain it better than I ever could.

To say my children were surprised would be an understatement! I think my son was in shock and needed Tim to take it all in. My daughter was shocked but so happy to have a chance to see her dad.   found it hysterical that they were so intent on looking for a female that they didn’t even notice him approaching. Well, that and a little help from the woman with the cute furbabies.

Overall, our surprise went over without a hitch, and our children were so thrilled to have their father home, even for a little while. This will be an amazing way for our family to kick off 2015, and I wish all our military families, with a loved one deployed or overseas, the same beautiful homecoming this year.

Have you ever been able to surprise your loved ones with a homecoming? Share with us!