The text came from a friend of mine about two weeks ago, "When does he come home?"

As soon as she received my return text that read, "Tuesday the 11th," the phone rang.

She asked how I would feel about doing a big welcome home surprise for the kids with their dad. I said, "Let me ask my sweet soldier," and when he agreed, I made that fateful phone call to the sweet people at Kansas State University.

McCain Theater at KSU was hosting the traveling production of Beauty and the Beast.  As a special treat for military families, they were holding a ball fit for a princess or prince. They wanted to surprise my children with their dad during the ball. The event was billed as a "father/daughter" event, so my first statement was, "We have to include all of the Young children, or we will not be able to participate." They were so kind to include both sweet boys and sweet girl.

To be fair, the kids knew that sweet soldier was stateside. Originally, I had written his arrival date in my calendar and my kids read and processed that information. So when this opportunity was presented to me, I did what any mom would do. I erased the information in my calendar and I lied to my kids!

I told the kids that daddy had to stay at Ft. Campbell for a few more days to complete the exercise, but to ease the pain of dad not coming home on time we are going to KSU to this fabulous event.  

When I was young my parents took my brother and me to the Springer Opera House in Columbus, Georgia. There, they taught us how to behave and how to dress for the theater. That was the beginning of my love for the theater.

When I prepare my children to go to events such as the theater, a change of command or even a birthday party, we talk about presenting ourselves properly. The way we behave is the most important, but to dress appropriately for the event is a close second.

You see what is coming, right? I told sweet girl that she was going to have to wear a dress (because that is what you do) and she burst into tears. "I don't want to wear a dress. I don't want to go. Why do I have to?" was the tearful refrain.

I couldn't tell her why we were going, so I asked her if it would help if she were to pick out her own dress. She and I sat down with my iPad. We logged on to the website of a store that is in our local mall and she picked the "perfect dress".

I went to the mall the next day to find the "perfect dress" and, of course, they didn't have it. Epic fail. Ugh!

When I explained my issue and my need for this dress, the sweet employees at the store called around and found the "perfect dress" at a store in Nebraska. I completed the transaction over the phone and the next day (yes, the next day), the "perfect dress" was on my doorstep. Better yet, it fit and something happened to sweet girl when she tried on her dress. She began to get excited about the event.

So, the morning of the event, I briefed Team Young on how the day would go. As soon as the kids get off the bus from school, we get dressed and get ready to go. Don't worry about homework tonight. I will send a note to your teachers.

The kids get off the bus, race to their rooms, get ready and then come down the stairs for final inspection. Sweaters straightened, bows tied, tights on, all in red and the final touch, a token of daddy’s unit, a Big Red One pin for each of us! We are ready to present ourselves as a Big Red One Army family. We mount up and make our way to McCain Auditorium. 

We arrive to "Belle's Ball" and we're quickly escorted to our table. Thankfully, volunteers assisted the kids and I through the buffet. Sweet girl chose a chocolate cupcake as her dessert and of course she took a huge bite and smiled at me. Oh Sweet Lord! Someone actually came by and wiped her face and teeth before I could get out of my seat. I was both thankful and mortified all at the same time. We took pictures with Belle and the Beast. We ate. I waited anxiously.

I was given a vague overview of how the reveal might happen, and then, I realized it was beginning. The emcee came to our table to ask about our sweet soldier. “How long has he been gone? Where is he? Do you know when will be home?”

Then came the trivia question, "What was the name of Belle's father?"

"Ooh, I know!" I exclaimed. The emcee told me that it was a kid's question and I could tell one of the kids the answer. I beckon sweet girl over very quickly and told her the answer. She answered into the microphone and she received a Beauty and the Beast snow globe.

Then they asked us to come take a picture with Belle and the Beast as a family. We were seated with the characters, and the emcee said, "Something is missing. "Something major is missing."

As the emcee is speaking, the photographer is fussing with the positioning to distract the kids. When he steps back, I see sweet girl's head swivel, and she screams, "Daddy!" What struck me most was that littlest sweet boy was the first to leap into daddy's arms! Friends, there were tears. My tears. Kids' tears. Others' tears. It was an amazing moment!

I rarely ever take my kids to a formal reunion. I have a fear of how the kids are going to react. I don't want it to be uncomfortable for my sweet soldier or my children (especially the child with sensory issues). In that one moment, for as large as my fear had been, my relief and joy was equally as large.

It was an evening that would have made Walt Disney himself proud. The magic was bountiful. The cast members and volunteers were amazing. We were interviewed by the news, and the reporter asked to interview sweet girl. Holding my breath, I allowed it.

As she spoke, I realized that she was standing in semi-third position with her arms down and her chin high as she told the reporter that she was going to "prank" her dad for "pranking" her! My sweet soldier and I opened the dance floor with Belle and the Beast, and littlest sweet boy spent the rest of the evening with me dancing!

After five deployments over the course of ten years, it is difficult to find a way to keep things fresh and fun. This was an amazing opportunity for us to continue to shed light on military families. Being a military family is difficult on a good day. After ten years of deployments and sweet soldier missing birthdays, holidays, anniversaries and special occasions, it was our pleasure to bring a heartwarming story to our community.

Thank you to the Friends of McCain, the Institute for the Health and Security of Military Families, Kansas State University, the cast of Beauty and the Beast, and the myriad of volunteers that it took to bring this event to fruition! It was a night that my family will never forget.

From the Young Family to Your Family, have a very Merry Christmas. However you choose to celebrate, we wish your family safety and happiness and strength and courage ... sby