Madeline's First Birthday Present

In August of 2005, Madeline's Daddy went out to sea. At the end of April 2006, when he returned Madeline was asleep in her stroller. She awoke half way through the official ceremony and crawled out of her stroller. Before Mommy could catch her, she ran across the room filled with men in uniform and hugged her Daddy. The room was filled with the wives, husbands and children of the families who had just returned from a nine month deployment. They were all watching the Company Officer speak. The men and women who had just returned were standing at the front of the room, and had not yet been reunited with their family. My little bundle of joy broke the ice. Having a grand daughter is truly grand! Madeline turned one on April 5, 2006. She was four months old when her Dad left. She saw her Dad at Christmas time briefly. After such a long separation I think it is amazing that she could awake from a nap and pick him out of a crowd of a hundred or more people. She is definitely a Daddy's girl! Joy and much love to the men and women who are returning to Guam after such a long deployment.