Our Reunion

Saturday Morning:

Our youngest came in at 4:05am, requesting that I lay with him.  I quickly got him settled, praying he'd fall back asleep and not wake his brothers before climbing back into bed myself, luxuriating in the warmth of my bed against the chill of the air in my room.

At 4:30am my alarm went off and I was all systems go.  I jumped in the shower, going as fast as I could, then moved on to doing my hair & make up before getting dressed & putting on my jewelry.  Before I knew it, it was time to leave the house so I could make it the airport in time.  I shut the front door as quietly as I could, hoping the kids would all sleep until I returned and not wake Grandma.

5:15am on a Saturday morning, traffic was a non-issue and I made it to the 205 bridge in no time.  As I headed into Portland, my phone rang.  I answered and much to my surprise, it was Josh.  "Are you here?" I asked him, breathlessly.  

"Yes.  Our pilot said we got here early, so I'm already off the plane and heading to get my luggage.  Wanna just pick me up at arrivals?"

So I continued driving, turning onto the long, tree lined road that heads to the Portland International Airport.  As I passed the giant PDX sign, I thought to myself, "Josh is here. I could be hugging him right now!" I was still in disbelief that all his flights aligned and he was arriving just as we hoped he would, on time (early even!) and would be here for over a week.

I teared up, making the tail lights in front of me wash out in front of my eyes.  As I slowly followed the signs to Arrivals for Alaska Airlines, I saw him.  Walking slowly in his Columbia fleece, back pack on his back, luggage rolling behind him down the sidewalk, there he was.  I immediately pulled over, doing a terrible parking job, threw the car into Park and flew out of the car.  

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.  Then I wrapped my arms around his middle and sobbed into his fleece jacket.  "I missed you so much," I breathed into his chest.  He just stood there, letting me hug him, letting me take him in.  His smell, his smile, his touch.  Ten weeks is too long to go without these things.  Ten weeks is too long to go without love.

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The Portland Airport

Our arrival in Portland was a bit scary at first.  We came in for a landing, and at the last minute, the plane pulled up and we circled around.  The pilot reassured us there was just traffic on the runway, but Jack and I were both terrified.  (Our family had been separated because our reservation was for the emergency exit aisle, and no one under 18 years of age can sit there.  So they had to re-seat us.) Josh had Wyatt and Logan with him.  Wyatt had fallen asleep, and woke up as we were headed back into the clouds.  He was not a happy camper.  Jack and I just held hands and I prayed and prayed we would be able to land safely and see our family who was waiting anxiously below.  

We did indeed land safely, and before we knew it, I was following Josh and the boys to the gate where we would see our family for the first time.  I was expecting Josh's parents, my parents and maybe his brother.  Instead I was surprised to see my sister (who was supposed to be camping) and Josh's sister (who had been at Phantom of the Opera) were there, along with Josh's cousin and her kids.  I was shocked.  We are so loved, and I felt so blessed to have everyone I love there to greet us.  

I don't even remember the order in which I hugged people-- I think maybe Julie, then my sister, then my mom.  I just remember hugging my sister and sobbing.  I had missed her so much this year and was so happy to be with her again.  I also cried when I hugged my mom.  I had seen Julie during our trip to Anchorage, so we hugged, but I didn't need to bawl my eyes out from missing her for nine months. ;) Lucky her!

These are all the pictures I took of our time at the airport. I was really just in the moment, relishing the chance to hug my dad, my mother-in-law and soon to be sister-in-law Tiffanie.  I was too busy enjoying everyone talking to our boys and loving on them, as I knew they would, to take pictures.

After we gathered our luggage and hugged everyone one last time, we loaded up our car (oh, how I missed our car!) and headed "home".  (This summer "home" is my in-laws' house.  I am so excited to stay with family and have extra hands on deck to help with the kids.)  

Thank you to everyone who prayed for safe & easy travels and sent us well wishes.  Logan, who had been throwing up the day before we left, was in perfect health the whole day, and we had zero flight delays.  We are blessed indeed!

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