Perfectly and Incandescently Happy*

*Note to the Reader: This post is not for the weak of stomach or the realist at heart. Nor is this a post for those with a sensitive gag reflex or for those who may be allergic to cheese. You have been forewarned.

I've been asked by a couple of people to make sure and dedicate a blog to this certain subject, so here it is folks:

He's home.

Two years is (finally) up and the love of my life has finally come home. Thank. Freakin. Goodness. I'm not exactly sure what to write in this blog cause I don't think that words could ever adequately describe how hard and life changing these past two years have been and how wonderful and right it feels to have Braedon home. But I'll give it a try.

So, for those of you that don't know, Braedon served his mission in St. Louis Missouri and last week on Sept. 25th his family drove down to pick him up and spend a week touring his mission and visiting families down in Missouri. I'm not gonna lie, I was a little sad that I wasn't able to see him for an extra week, but he at least had a cell phone at that point so we could talk and text whenever we where free, so I wasn't too upset about the extra week. Also as part of the trip they were going to stop in Moab on the way home for about a day and a half. So about two months ago me and his mom cooked up a little plan for me to drive down to Moab and surprise him by being there. We got permission from his Mission President and things where set to go.

So then comes Saturday October 3rd I met up with Braedon's grandma Renee (she seriously is one of the most awesome people ever) and we started our drive to Moab (at 7:30 in the morning). Now besides not taking the turn to the Spanish Fork Canyon and adding 150 miles to the trip, everything went wonderful. And the added hour or so to our drive turned out to be a blessing in disguise for many reasons. First we had radio reception the whole way so we were able to listen to General Conference, second I also had cell reception the whole time so I was able to keep texting Braedon pretending that I was at home, and third Braedon's family was running late (Braedon wanted to stay longer in Colorado, of course not knowing I was waiting for him in Moab) so the added hour to the trip made it so I didn't have to wait so long in the hotel, which might have driven me to insanity.

We arrive at the hotel and finally I get a text from Lori (Braedon's mom) saying they were just driving into town. Let the freak out begin. I had no idea how to handle the emotions and energy that was roaring through me. I am not what you would call a super emotional person or a "girly girl" for lack of a better word, but in that moment it was like all the emotional-ness (totally a word) that had been absent from my life decided that it would finally come crashing into my body. I couldn't stop moving. My hands where shaking. My heart was thumping. My mouth didn't know whether to smile or to scream. It. Was. Ridiculous. I never knew someone could feel so awful and so wonderful at the same time. Those 20 minutes seemed like that longest 20 minutes of my life.

So then, in come's Lori (almost giving me a heart attack) with the camera in hand, having claimed to the family that she was in dire need of the facilities so she had an excuse to run to the room, ready to get into position to record Braedon's reaction . I sit down on one of the beds, legs and heart both shaking faster (if that's even possible) then before. In walks Braedon's dad, then his three siblings, and then finally, finally he walks in. The next scene went a little something like this:

Braedon (dropping the bags he's had in hand): "What the freak!?"
Katie: "Hi."
Braedon: "What..."
Katie: "Surprise?"
Braedon: "Cheater!"
Katie: "No, no. I got permission from your pres."
Braedon (still with baffled expression in tow, it was quite a shock me being there): "....what.."
Katie: "So, are you gonna give me a hug or what?"

Which was preceded by Braedon coming over (rather quickly might I add) and giving me a huge hug that quite literally swept me off my feet. It was perfect. :)


Again, it's hard to put all that I felt into words, but the best way I can put it is that I felt whole, complete, safe, right, and wonderful. The hole in my heart that has been left gaping for the past two years was finally healed. He is finally home and I couldn't be happier.

Looking back on these last two years leaves me just about stunned. The things I've done, been through, and experienced is incredible to me. I feel like I have grown so much, maybe it's not as apparent to those on the outside, but that's how I feel. It was a hard and trying two years and while I would never want to do it again, I am grateful for it. It has made me who I am today, and I like who I am and where I am at in life. It was hard, but we did it. We made it. And I am extremely excited, a little nervous, and more then ready for this new chapter in my life to start.

I love Braedon with all my heart and can't think of a better man to have in my life. He is so caring, determined, supportive, respectful, stubborn, spiritual, dorky, loving, and simply amazing. He's someone I know I can always turn to, can talk to about anything, can laugh with, and can cry with.

I love him, more then I can ever express, and I am extremely happy and grateful that he is home and he is mine. :)