Maj. Batina Church cannot contain her smile as she is reunited with her children, Gavin and Isabella. Church returned home to surprise her children after serving eight months in Afghanistan.
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A brother and sister received a special surprise Thursday after their naptime.
Batina Church, the mother of Gavin and Isabella Church, surprised her children at the LearningLand Daycare & Preschool on Thursday afternoon. Gavin and Isabella were asked why Thursday was such an important day.
Five-year-old Gavin answered that he and his 4-year-old sister were “going to go home” to their home near Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.
The doorbell to the daycare rang and both children looked toward the front door. Church came in the room behind her children and said their names.
Isabella ran to her mother instantly and yelled, “Mommy.”
Gavin stood speechless when he saw his mother. After his brief struggle with shock, Gavin ran to his mother and hugged her.
The children and their mother hugged for a few joyful moments.
Church, a major in the U.S. Army 82nd Sustainment Brigade, said she had missed both children’s birthdays and Christmas Day while stationed overseas in Afghanistan.
Batina’s husband, Christopher Church, was also present.
“The best thing when we pick them up, even on a normal day from day care, as soon as we walk in we see their faces light up. To see that with them after not seeing her for eight months is pretty awesome,” Christopher Church said.
Batina said the children thought they would be picking her up tomorrow at the airport…
