Welcome Home party at Danny's

On Saturday March 6th, Danny's Deep Creek Pub hosted Jeff's Welcome Home party. The owners, Danny and Debbie, have been great supporters of Jeff and I during the deployment and were more than happy to host the event for us. So our Florida "family" and friends came to see Jeff and welcome him home. We even had some family from Michigan down for the celebration. Jeff's dad, David, flew in that week to spend some time with his son and help with some things around the house and Jeff's aunt and uncle, Rene and Gray, just happened to be in town so they came too. Here are some pics from the night.

Party for my hero

This is some of our Florida Family...we met everyone at this table at Danny's and they have all become our extended family. Big thanks to Mel & Bob, Joe & Penny, Terry & Deborah, Pam & Pete and Brian & Melissa for being such great friends to us. We love you guys!

Topp & Jeff

These two ladies have kept me sane this last year...not only are they my coworkers, but they are some of my best friends here. Thank you Barb & Crissy for being my BRA!

Renate and her husband Carl came out too. Renate has been such a huge support system as well and ALWAYS found me at work when Jeff called!

Everyone raising their glasses to Jeff during "God Bless the USA"...not a dry eye in the place after that!

The wonderful cake courtesy of Danny & Debbie and Deborah & Terry

Uncle Gray and Aunt Rene were in Clearwater and wanted to come and celebrate with us. It was so great having some more family there with us!

Uncle Steve, Jeff & Aunt Lisa

Jeff & his dad

Jeff and his cousin Kelly...we have a pic of them when they were little just like this...minus the beers of course!

Shots for Jeff

Jeff & I with Danny

Danny & Jeff

Welcome Home Soldier!!!!!

Sorry that it's been so long since I have updated...the last month has been a little crazy as you can all imagine! After waiting oh so patiently, Jeff returned back to the States and our home on March 1st. He had no clue that it would be a true Hero's welcome...as we had some surprises in store for him. One of the couples that goes into Danny's has a limo service that they run and offered to take me and friends/family to go pick Jeff up at the airport. So Uncle Steve, Aunt Lisa, Tim, Dawn, Moke & their daughter, Taylor, all went in style to pick up Jeff. Frank and Jennifer made sure that we were all able to enjoy Jeff's homecoming and be together on the ride home. I cannot even put into words what I was feeling as my husband and best friend ran into my arms, safe at home at last. So, here are some pictures that our friend Dawn took for us that show it all to you.

The sign that was waiting for Jeff

I don't look excited to get my husband at all, do I????

The first embrace to Welcome Home Jeff

Pure bliss and happiness

Together at last!

Riding home in style!

Champagne toast

Smiles from ear to ear!

Love of my life

Tim, Aunt Lisa, Uncle Steve, Jeff & I

Carrying me over the threshold on our first night together in our new home

Both of our shoes, together again at last!

Our Soldier is Coming Home!!!!

Hey guys...I know that it's been awhile since I've updated. Haven't had a whole lot of new info or anything new. I have been counting down the days til Jeff begins his journey home and have been filling my time with lots of good company. The first weekend in February, I had 6 of my dearest and oldest friends come to visit and stay for our 1st annual Girl's Weekend. It has been almost 4 years since we were all together and decided that it's been far too long. So Jessie flew in from Maryland, Vanessa from Minnesota, Rachel, Monica and Hayley from Michigan and Melissa from North Carolina for a long weekend of good times. We had a ball and realized just how close we are all...even though we haven't all been together for years, it was like we have all been together everyday for the last 4 years! That is true friendship if you ask me! We decided that we are going to have Girl's Weekend every two years, which puts our next trip in 2012...the year we all celebrate our 30th birthdays! We have decided on Key West, so I hope it's ready for us!
This past weekend, I went to Anna Maria Island, FL with with two of my work girlfriends Barb and Crissy. We had a blast shopping,eating and drinking and stayed at The Sea Side Inn, where Jeff and I stayed in June when he was home. It was nice to get away for Valentine's Day and spend it with two woman who have been a HUGE support system for me the past couple years since I have been in Florida. We had a blast despite colder than normal temps and definitely didn't want to come back to reality!
I got a chance to talk to Jeff online tonight, and YES...he has begun his journey home! He should be flying out of Kandahar to Bagram tomorrow and isn't sure where he will go from there, but he is ON HIS WAY HOME!!!!! I will be sure to keep everyone posted on his arrival and on our plans for our Michigan trip. Here are a couple pics for Jeff from the beach...love you all!!!

Update on Jeff's Journey Home...

Hey ya'll...since the last update there has been a change in the date Jeff is leaving his FOB. He will now be leaving his FOB on February 15th, which is 10 days longer. Again, we don't know if this will set his arrival home back or what. Once we know more, we will let everyone know. Love to all.

Happy New Year!!!

Hey guys...sorry that it's been so long since a post from Jeff or I...at this rate, no news is good news, right? We made it thru the holidays and into the new year. Jeff was at a different FOB (base) for a few weeks. He was with Romanians and got to trade out some stuff with them. He and Wood, his roommate, were doing some humanitarian aid things there. They are now back at their FOB and are counting down the days til they leave their FOB to make their way HOME!!!! In 17 days, they will begin to make their journey to Kandahar and Bagram to come back to the states. They will be going back to Camp Atterbury, IN for a few weeks before going home to their families. We are anticipating Jeff coming home mid March. So it looks like we will be making our trip to Michigan the end of March. We are planning on driving and spending 5 or 6 days there before heading to the mountains for our own vacation/almost 6 years belated honeymoon. Once we know dates for sure, we will let you all know so we can begin planning all the visits to see everyone. Jeff is ready to come home and get working on things at the house and to get settled in, FINALLY! Thank you to all of you for your love and support over the last year. I cannot believe that in less than 5 weeks, it has been a year since Jeff left to start his training. I guess time flies even when you aren't having fun! We will be sure to keep you all in the loop regarding our trip to MI and Jeff's return home to Florida. Love to all!

News.....

Just wanted to let whoever still reads the blog know that the time has come to stop sending care packages. I will be leaving my FOB ( Forward operating base) somewhere in the next fifty days. I want to thank every one for the many packages I have received as well as the thoughts and prayers. Feel free to continue sending the thoughts and prayers, because even tho I will be leaving soon I am still not out of the woods. I will also be away from my FOB for a few weeks. My roommate and I decided to volunteer to go with our Civil affairs team to another FOB to do some work. If nothing else it is a change of scenery and it will get us out of here for a few weeks. I am kinda looking forward to it. Hope to see everyone soon.
Love
Jeff

Updated pics of the house!

Hey ya'll...just wanted to give an update of things here at the home front. Since closing on the house, I have been a busy little bee working on the first of many projects in the house. The entire house is wallpapered...very tasteful wallpaper, but none the less, wallpaper. So Jeff and I decided that we would start with one room and get going on making the house "ours." The living room and dining room would be the starting point, since these are the rooms that people would most likely be in while visiting the house. I have never taken down wallpaper before, so I wasn't sure what I was in for. It actually came down in full sheets, which I was thankful for. Uncle Steve knows someone for every home improvement here in Charlotte County, so he was able to get Kevin, a drywall guy, in to help refinish some of the walls and replace a few pieces of drywall for us. Once the painting was done, Uncle Steve and his two friends, Kenny and Tim, came and helped put new chair rail up in the dining room, replace switches, plugs and ceiling fans and Kenny replaced our whole electrical panel for us as a housewarming gift. Needless to say, I couldn't have done this without them! Here are some pics!

The Porcaro House

Had to show off my pride for my husband...the bows say "SSG Jeffrey Porcaro; Our Soldier, Our Hero"


This is the living room before...this is coming in the front door

This is the dining room before...there was a large mirror on the wall that was GLUED to the wall and wallpapered around. While Kevin was helping, he cut the mirror down and replaced the drywall for us...he is a great guy.

Here is Taylor (Moke & Dawn's daughter) helping me out with the walls.

This is the AFTER...view from the front door to the kitchen

The dining room after. The light fixture will be replaced soon.

Living room and new curtains

The new fan that Jeff and I picked out...it will match our decor once we move furniture into the room after the floors are done in 2010.

Dining room...yes, I hung the pictures and sheers!