He's coming home.

My brother is coming home.

For good.

Two days before my birthday.

There is simply no greater birthday present anyone could give me than the peace of mind knowing that I never have to sit by the phone and wait day by day, hour by hour, for a phone call from Afghanistan, ever again.

He may be a little broken, have a little more to deal with than when he left, and be a lot more grown than he should be at the ripe ol' age of 21, but I will take whatever I can get, just knowing he's coming home.

My house may be extra full with two more adults and two more dogs, but I will swing the doors wide open, wash the sheets on the guest bed, move stuff out of closets, and make room for all four of them a thousand times over, as long as he's coming home.

My heart sings and dances inside my chest as I sit here and think about him never having to miss another event with Jacob. No more missed birthdays, no missed baseball games, no missed little moments that we have all been able to share. Just being able to play with his nephew on a daily basis, priceless.

It's not just that he's coming home, but she is too. I have missed them both so much. I could not be happier that my two greatest friends are coming home. I look forward to being close again, to our children growing up together, and to having our friends back!!

Today will be a GREAT day!