A Surprise and A Closet Patriot

So, not much has happened since I last wrote. Oh yeah, except that I surprised my family by coming home this last Wednesday instead of September 15th, like I told them I would be.

I would tell people on Facebook that I wasn't coming home until September, I had a couple of my friends come pick me up from the airport, they helped me take my bags all sneaky to the side of the house so that my mom wouldn't see them if she looked out the window... The whole 9 yards.

I even went as far as to plan a Skype date with them for the day after I knew I'd arrive. I pretended my phone didn't work and that I "wasn't getting my mom's texts" thru the whole day, when really I was just flying. 

I came to the door at about 1:00am, and just rang the doorbell. It took them a second, but Chance and Amanda came to the door. Chance was the first one to see me, and he just kinda looked at me for a second with a look that said, "Is this real life??" Then he was like, "OH MY GOSH!" and came up and gave me a big hug. Amanda was like, "What?!" and then she saw me and was all, "OH MY HECK!" and ran screaming through the house saying, "Mom! Dad! It's SAIRAH!! SAIRAH'S HERE!!"

It was the most awesome surprise ever. And I can't believe I pulled it off. Like a boss.


 Next item of business: 
IT'S ALMOST THE 4TH OF JULY!!! 

   

  


Now, I haven't always been this excited about Independence Day. If I was, it was only because my family has this sweet tradition of going to the hill next to the Provo temple, laying out a picnic blanket and eating Subway while waiting for the Stadium of Fire to do their fireworks. But this year, I feel like decorating pretty much everything in red, white, and blue.

Any guesses as to why? No? Ok, I'll tell you.

It's my love for my soldier. A soldier who I am more proud of than anything/anyone in the whole world. MY soldier. Who is doing one of the most dangerous jobs in the army (which terrifies me a little) because he loves his country.

And because he's an adrenaline junkie.

Now, I've always been grateful for the fact that we, as Americans can pretty much do whatever we want (within the law, of course). I do recognize some countries don't have the same blessings we do. However, I've never been one of those people who goes crazy about it. Let me give you an example.

Let's say... football. I like football enough. I won't go out of my way to make a huge deal about how much I like it, but I do. HOWEVER, if my husband played for a specific team, I would go to every game. I would plaster his team's logo all over the place. I would buy team merchandise. I would support the team unconditionally simply because my husband played on the team.


Well, the team my husband has chosen to play on is Team USA. And because I love him SO STINKING MUCH, I am going to be extra patriotic, almost by default. Which makes me more excited than usual to celebrate America's birthday this year. I guess that's what happens when you're in love.


And believe me, I am definitely in love.