ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)- Some moments are so perfect, you just can't plan them, but that didn't stop Dyess Airman Chief Master Sergeant Felisha Lubin from trying. Just three hours after landing back home in Abilene, she made her way to Abilene High School (AHS) to surprise her youngest, Senior Eagle cheerleader Jasmine Boyd, who didn't think mom would be home for a few more days.
"My tactic was - I told all the kids I was coming home on the wrong day, including my mom and dad...so they all think I'm not coming back until Saturday, so that kept the lie easy when you tell everybody the same thing," said Lubin.
This return trip would be Lubin's 4th and final deployment, retiring next year with 28 years of service. The last 6 months overseas in the Middle East required her to sacrifice some key moments of her youngest's senior year.
"I missed a couple of the football games…I missed homecoming, I missed shopping for the dress… because you know I'm strict on what she's wearing...the daily family moments like you miss that when you're deployed," Lubin said.
As Boyd made her way from class to Athletics, reporters, Dyess staff, and AHS administration were gathering in the front office out of sight of the student body to go over the plans for the reveal. Lubin admitted to KTAB/KRBC that she was concerned about how the day would play out.
"I had some like - I guess excitement or anxiety like, 'oh my gosh' she doesn't know. . . I hope she's not mad," said Lubin.
That anxiety slowly left her as the crowd made its way to the gymnasium. AHS Principal Emme Siburt led the camera crews in to inform the Cheer Leading team that a surprise was just around the corner.
Students gathered to watch the door unsure but excited for what ever Siburt had in store. That excitement reached it's peak with ear piercing cheers and applause, and Boyd clasped hand to mouth as her mother entered the room.
"I was just trying not to cry. I mean, I did have on waterproof mascara because you never know…because once I start crying, it's gonna be ugly snot bubbling and then she'll be like mom and I'll be like I can't. I can't it's been so long. You grew an inch like 'oh my God'," Lubin shared.
Once the initial shock wore off, Boyd walked to wrap her mother in a warm embrace as the student's cheers melted into a chorus of endearing coos - a day and embrace she had been dreaming of from half way around the world for months.
"It gives you something to focus on to like, 'okay, I have to get home because I have people at home waiting.' And to keep yourself safe," Lubin said, wiping a tear from her eye.
This was a moment Lubin says was all she could have hoped for, and a promise of so many more to come.
"I can't wait to tell my grandkids her children of this moment. I might play the pictures and videos at her wedding," said Lubin.
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