Almost fifteen years ago I picked my wife up from the airport for the first time. She was my fiancée then, and was coming home early from Guatemala to surprise her family for Christmas (a great story in itself). I had not seen her for almost 3 weeks, since we left school for Christmas break. I got there in plenty of time, mostly because I have a penchant for going the wrong way, getting lost and even more lost. Everything had gone well, even without a smart phone and GPS (I don’t know how I ever did it!). I bought a best-selling paper back from the book store and started reading Harry Potter for the first time. And I waited. I waited anxiously for her to come through the gate. This was of course, before 9/11, so I could stand right in front of the gate and watch as each person came through the door. The moment I saw her, I was struck by how beautiful she was, the most beautiful face getting off the plane.

Now 15 years later, I no longer get to stand right at the gate. I have picked her up and dropped her off for more flights than I ever could have imagined and I no longer go alone. Tonight I’ll be picking her up when she returns from the Dominican Republic, and I’ll have all four of our children with me. But, she is still the most beautiful face getting off the plane.

I guess is true what they say about absence, because homecomings are awesome. I can’t wait to see her face tonight.

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