The happiest day ever...and a long time coming.

Friday was indeed the happiest day ever.

We've been anticipating it for six months....counting each day.

We were so excited for him to come home that we plastered his face right to the front of our house.

Then we went to the mouth of the river and watched them make their way in...

And then we stood smack dab in front of the sub as they pulled up to the pier...since Clark had officially been relieved as Navigator and it was his last run, he got to ride topside, all the way in.   Before he always had to be down in control directing them in.  If you had super seeing eyes, you would see him among one of those camis up top there...just on the left...and he would wave every time the girls waved...and wave even more each time they yelled "we love you Dad" in unison.
My heart was in my throat for most of the morning.

Until I got to see the girls do this...and then my heart fell right out of my chest, there onto the pier.

There were lots of tears that they couldn't explain other than "I am just happy that he is home."  And a couple of them wouldn't let go for quite some time.  Haley had tears before it even began.  She came into my room that morning at 7:30, said "Dad is coming home today" and burst into tears.

There was also a brother there to greet him, and introduce him to his new wife and daughter.  Nolan's boat just happens to be moored to the same pier.

And then I made him kiss me.

We are really grateful that Spencer and Sho came to document it for us...and also for the sacrifice that Clark's Dad made to come all the way from Texas to be there too.  (Follow that link if you want to read all the really nice things he said about us...and to look at all his pictures.  They are nice.)

I was standing at the sink that afternoon getting our celebratory dinner ready and saw Clark playing on the trampoline with the girls.  After watching for a while I decided that our life felt all complete again.
And it was a really good feeling....especially because he is so completely signed out of the boat that he doesn't have to go back.  Ever.  As in, NOT EVER.  That's a good feeling.

The end...until we move in a few weeks.  Until then, I get an entire month with Clark.  And that makes me happy too.