“My husband BM1 Edward Essenburg is in the US Navy expeditionary unit Coastal Riverine Squadron 2 he just came home from a 7-month deployment. I (Kim) had been planning a surprise for 3 months for my family. The girls have never had a special homecoming and since this was Ed’s last (will be retiring soon after 20 years of serving our country) I wanted to do it big! Coordinating with Heather Keating at the Norfolk Tides (Minor league baseball). I told my kids that dad would be home August 2nd-he flew in on July 19th and I kept him hidden in a hotel until we surprised them on July 21st. My best friend Julie came down from Delaware to be with my kids and to take them for a “girls night” at the tides game…while in their seats the promo crew had come down to the girls and told them they were selected for a game on the field during the 3rd inning. Without Julie I would not have been able to pull this off! In the crowd we had 30 of our close friends…and the kids only saw a couple people. I am so happy that I was able to pull this off and making my family happy is the best thing I could ask for! I cannot beat this…I don’t think I will be able to pull another surprise off like this again! I pray for those deployed and the families who anxiously wait for their loved ones to come home!” – Kimberly Essenburg
