The military approved 9 days of leave for Bryan and I to visit North Carolina at the beginning of December! With back-to-back overseas tours, we are allotted Continuous Overseas Tour (COT) leave to visit home between tours. Since I had to move to Spain while Bryan was still on the ship, our COT leave was postponed from the summer and we were happy to cash in on the free flights back to our "home of record" for Sabrina's wedding!
We were lucky enough to split our 6 days in-country between our two families, so we decided to write this blog together! You will probably be able to tell when the swap happens, but Katie's writing will look like this, while mine will look normal.
Wednesday, November 29: Headed Back to NC
Early Wednesday morning, Katie and I headed to Jerez de la Frontera to catch our first of three flights. After a short one-hour flight to Madrid, Katie and I cleared through immigration at the international terminal and headed straight to the terminal's airport lounge.
We boarded our nine-hour flight to Charlotte at 1:00 pm and landed at Douglas International Airport at 4:10 pm local time; after 3.5 years away from home, and 2.5 years abroad, we stepped foot on North Carolina soil. We quickly cleared customs and made our way back through security to make our flight to Jacksonville, NC. If you're like us, you probably had no clue that Jacksonville even had an airport.
Shocker: the Jacksonville Airport has 3 gates and primarily serves the Camp Lejeune military community! Our flights were filled with fellow servicemen and sea bags!
After boarding our airplane from the 1960s and landing in what felt like a cornfield, we made it to Jacksonville and were greeted by Mom, Dad, Sabrina, Grammy, Grandaddy, and Mrs. Dianne. After many hugs and a few tears, we headed to our nearest Chick-fil-A!
Katie and I created a bucket list of restaurants we wanted to eat at when we returned home, and Chick-fil-A topped the list! We were joined by our greeting committee, Katie's parents, and Gram for dinner in Kinston. After enjoying the Lord's chicken, we made our way back to the Johnson household for some much-needed rest!
Thursday, November 30: Meeting Caleb & Wedding Rehearsal
After some sleep, we headed to Raleigh for Katie, Mom & Sabrina to have their nails done at Sabrina's favorite nail place! While the girls were getting their nails done, Dad and I headed to Hallmark in the Crabtree Mall so that I could buy new ornaments for Katie and I's Christmas tree.
Who would have known I would make a Hallmark ornament-man out of Bryan?! This guy HAD to get the ornaments; I've trained him well!
After the ladies finished up their nail appointment, we headed to Bojangles to knock out another of Katie and I's food bucket list items, while also finally getting to meet Caleb in person! After having met Caleb a few times over Facetime, we were excited to get to know him and welcome him to our crazy family!
After lunch and a quick tour of Sabrina and Caleb's home, we headed back to Pikeville for an afternoon of relaxation. Before heading to the wedding venue for the rehearsal, we made a pit stop at Aunt Debbie's to visit with Great Grandma! It was great getting to see her after such a long time apart; Sabrina even got the opportunity to show her photos of her wedding dress.
That evening, before the rehearsal, we had dinner at Chargrill in Benson, and then we headed to The Barn and Broadslab to check out the venue and complete the rehearsal. After running through the motions a few times, we were ready to go for the wedding in a couple of days.
Friday, December 1: Wedding Errands & Rehearsal Dinner
The day before the wedding, Katie, Mom, Dad, and I were assigned to run pre-wedding errands. Our first errand was the head to Greenville to grab popcorn for the cocktail hour snack. While there, we drove by Katie and I's first apartment, the ECU School of Dental Medicine, and even sent pictures to Kelly and Jamie of their old apartment complex down the road! After a quick driving tour, we grabbed lunch at Parker's BBQ for some good old-fashioned Eastern NC BBQ (on my restaurant bucket list!)
Getting to drive around Greenville and see our old stomping ground was heartwarming. It's crazy to look back at our first home and realize how much we have grown together since those early days! Six and a half years have flown by but dang, do we know how to live life to the fullest!
That evening we enjoyed dinner and drinks at Cafe Luna in downtown Raleigh for the rehearsal dinner. Katie and I sat at the table with the rest of Sabrina's bridal party, Jake and Kirsten, and their plus-ones! It was great getting to see Jake again and get to meet Kirsten for the first time. They were a fun group and we can't wait to celebrate Sabrina's big day with them tomorrow!
Saturday, December 2: Wedding Day
Finally, the big day: Sabrina's wedding has finally arrived! We started the morning bright and early by loading up all of the wedding decorations into the back of a U-haul trailer to take to the venue! Before leaving, since this was our last full day with the Johnsons, Katie and I exchanged Christmas gifts with Mom and Dad!
We arrived at the wedding venue at 8:00 am and immediately began setting up! After a few hours of set-up, we headed upstairs for the girls to start getting ready for hair and makeup. As everyone was getting ready, the bridal party was hanging out and enjoying mimosas. My job: making sure Sabrina and mom ate sandwiches along the way- gotta make sure the girls make it to the ceremony!
Funny story: Bryan and I were in the zone, helping with the setup, that we lost track of time. Sabrina yells over the balcony that my hair appointment starts in 5 minutes...and I'm a sweaty mess. So I rush upstairs and jump in the shower...but we couldn't find the soap. So I had a 2-minute shower using hand soap! We do what we have to do!!
At 1:00 pm the bridal party and groomsmen were dressed and ready to go for pictures! After an emotional first look with Sabrina in her wedding dress, we took tons of pictures with bridal and groom parties and family!
I mean, is Sabrina not GORGEOUS?!
After a beautiful ceremony, the real fun began! We enjoyed a cocktail hour where Katie and I got to catch up with a lot of our family and see how much my cousins had grown! It was great getting to see everyone again after so much time away and share some great stories!
After a great meal, it was time for some dancing! After a few hours of enjoying company, it was time to end a perfect day! We are so excited for Caleb and Sabrina as they begin this beautiful journey together and we are so excited that we get to add Caleb to the family; he almost makes Sabrina tolerable to be around! Love you two!
Sunday & Monday, December 3 & 4: Chill Days with the Kimbles
While our time with the Johnsons was packed with driving around Eastern North Carolina in prep for the Big Day, our Kimble time passed quickly with chill days of board games, more good food, tons of laughter, and obviously, no care for looks. I mean, I look like I was run over by a truck multiple times!! Don't judge, clearly I never looked in a mirror but these days were filled with love, no matter how we looked!
We started our Kimble time with a pretend Christmas morning! Of course, Bryan and I's gifts were all Spanish-themed, except for Cady's Indonesian elephant earrings...we had to remind her of the amazing trip we had a year ago, where she and Ryan got engaged!
Our first two days with the Kimble gang passed quickly with game nights filled with yelling, arguing, and lots of Mom screaming "the next person to shout an ugly word has to pick up extra cards!!!" It was so much fun getting to laugh at Ryan's anger when "Cady made him lose" or when Solo decided to sit with Dad and I.
Speaking of Solo, that pup almost came home with Katie and I. Solo reminded us of a calmer version of Reynolds and we couldn't get enough of him!
Gram made plans for Scottie, Julie, and Jeremiah to join us for dinner at Texas Steakhouse. Poppop even joined us for dinner, where I ate my weight in rolls & cinnamon butter! On our way to dinner, we swung by Grantie's house too to see her and Grunkle. It was great getting to see everyone!
Sunday, December 5: NCSU Visit
For our last day in the Old North State, we started our morning on the front porch, wrapped in blankets and enjoying coffee. While Bryan slept in, Mom and I enjoyed extra laughs as Dad and Ryan pulled out power tools to break apart some antlers that Poppop had given them. Solo and Ellie Mae enjoyed these new treats and even packaged some for Bryan and I to take home for Hugo and Reynolds.
I can confirm that Hugo and Reynolds loved their gift from Gigi and Poppy. I've since stepped on those antlers more times than I can count since bringing them back to Spain!
Then it was time to head to Bryan and I's first home-away-from-home: NC State!
A lot has changed since 2011 when Bryan and I found out we would be a part of the Wolfpack! Who would have known that little girl who hated her first few months in Raleigh away from family (you're welcome for helping you get over your homesickness) would eventually live in the farthest parts of the world away from "home?" We may have put on some weight in these past 12 years, but we have also added so many memories and experiences!
"Our hearts ever hold you NC State!"
Bryan here again; I figured I'd take over talking about NC State since I've been waking up in the middle of the night to catch football games these past three years! Boy, have I missed this place! It's great coming back to Raleigh to walk around campus. Katie and I also made a dent in our wallets at the bookstore loading up on some new State gear!
You know how we know we were officially "old?" Kids were walking all over campus in PAJAMAS. Yep, fleece PJ pants covered in Santas...everywhere. This was the first time we ever said the words "in our day...." as we questioned this new generation of college kids.
There's no real trip to Raleigh without a stop at Amedeo's for Italian food! And the only thing that could make it better was the company! The Foys and the Davises joined us!!!! Getting to see Mrs. Tracy and Mr. Ray made me miss Kelly and Jamie a little extra, but their hugs and joy at getting to see us made it an amazing meal!
Bryan and I got to sit on the "kid end" of the table with Caroline, Jo, Ryan, and Cady! We loved talking about European travels with Mr. Randy and Mrs. Shannon too! Gosh, I just love these people!!!
Wednesday, December 6: Return to Rota
All good things must come to an end, and Wednesday morning was that time. After packing the trunk with our suitcases, we took off for one final breakfast at Bojangles before getting to Jacksonville Airport for our first of many flights back home.
We lucked out with getting there early enough to check our bags and then to sit and visit with both sets of parents (and Ryan) before we had to go through security.
After an emotional goodbye, we leave North Carolina knowing that we will get to see the Johnsons, Kimbles, and newly-married Brandenburgs very soon as they all have trips planned in the next few months!
Of course, we had to eat our "last meal" in Charlotte at the airport Chick-fil-A! I'm pretty sure Bryan shed a tear thinking about how long it will be before he gets a taste of "the Lord's Chicken" again.
The one thing I won't miss about home: how badly the food made me break out. Yep, we got home and were greeted with zits galore. I now realize how bad my favorite foods are for my skin (and overall health)...but dang it all tasted so good!
While leaving family behind to return home was tough, having these two greeters at the door when we made it back reminds us of the amazing life we have built abroad! We wouldn't trade it for anything (even if Hugo and Reynolds would trade us in for a treat at any minute.)
Christmas came early with this trip! Who knows what's in store for us now!
--Bryan & Katie
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