Boot Camp Graduation Weekend

What an amazing weekend!!! We arrived in Great Lakes, IL Thursday evening. On the way to the hotel I got a call from Zachary saying that he was through with his battle stations and he was now a sailor! At that point he had been up for 36 hours. We were able to talk for about 30 minutes and he told me where he would be standing during the ceremony. We had to be at the Recruit Training Command Friday morning at 6:30am and graduation was at 9. We made it into the drill hall by 7:45 and the remaining hour and fifteen minutes were long. The moment they rolled up the big doors and we saw our sailors in their dress blues begin to march in was very emotional. I will never forget it!! Then to finally spot Zachary well that made my heart skip a few beats. I could tell when he noticed where we were sitting too because he got a little smile on his face. The ceremony itself lasted about an hour and a half and when they finally announced liberty I could not get down there fast enough. The hard part was keeping track of where Zachary was because there were over 800 sailors all trying to find family. But when I did see him and finally got to wrap my arms around him the there were many tears of joy. Honestly I can't even explain how I was feeling. It was just unbelievable that we had finally made it to this point and we were reunited again. When Emily first say her daddy she kinda looked at him a little funny and then realized that daddy was standing right in front of her and then she just wanted him to hold her. She couldn't get enough of him all weekend. Zachary wanted to get out of there fast she we didn't stand around much. We took him back to the hotel so he could put on civilian clothes again and just relax. His only request was to be able to take a nap and have Taco Bell and eat it very slowly. So Friday that is what we did. Because his division was first overall they got to stay out an extra hour. He needed to be back to the base by 9 each night. Saturday we went into Chicago and went down to the Navy Pier. We enjoyed Bubba Gumps for lunch and then back to the hotel for more nap time. Sunday was just another day to relax in the hotel and spend time with him before taking him back to the Training Center. I loved just sitting around hearing the many stories he had to tell. Dropping him off Sunday night was by far harder than dropping him off when he left for boot camp. I have no idea when I will see him again and have no answers about where we will be stationed or if I will be with him while he is in A school. He is suppose to leave for Pensacola November 18 and school is suppose to start December 1st. But with the military you just never now if it will happen or not. As soon has he arrives there he will start figuring out how to get Em and I there to live with. I pray that it will be soon!!!
Even though these last few months have been incredibly hard for both of us we are confident that we are where the Lord wants us to be. And hearing Zachary talk this weekend just reassured that for me. I am so thankful for a loving God centered husband. I have never been so proud of anyone as I am him. For him to go through this for our family is just amazing and I am grateful that he wants the best for us. I am so blessed to have him as a husband.