After a long, difficult, 15-month deployment, our oldest son got back from Iraq on Wednesday morning. Words are totally inadequate to describe what Gretchen and I felt as we were 
able to hug him again and welcome him home. To see him back with his wife and three kids is just amazing.
On Wednesday, we finally celebrated Christmas. Gretchen’s parents were able to join us, so we had four generations in the room with the appropriate wrapping paper flying and little kids being excited.
Also joining us for the week was our middle son, Nathan, who flew in from Portland for the reunion with his brother. Youngest son Matt is still home on Christmas break from college, so we had our entire family together again…an increasingly rare occurrence with grown kids.
Rejoice with us in this wonderful event. We're taking more family photos tomorrow, I’ll post them in the
future.
And, keep persevering.
able to hug him again and welcome him home. To see him back with his wife and three kids is just amazing.On Wednesday, we finally celebrated Christmas. Gretchen’s parents were able to join us, so we had four generations in the room with the appropriate wrapping paper flying and little kids being excited.
Also joining us for the week was our middle son, Nathan, who flew in from Portland for the reunion with his brother. Youngest son Matt is still home on Christmas break from college, so we had our entire family together again…an increasingly rare occurrence with grown kids.
Rejoice with us in this wonderful event. We're taking more family photos tomorrow, I’ll post them in the
future.And, keep persevering.
16 comments:
Congratulations!! That's very exciting and I like the new layout!
What a wonderful Christmas present. Enjoy the family time together.
Fantastic Joe! Congratulations to your family.
Its pretty cool to see David with his three kids. Its also pretty neat that Nathan came home for the reunion. Having all three grown sons in the same place at the same time will likely become a rare occurrence.
Merry Christmas!
Joe,
I'd say your family is rich in blessings this season! I can only imagine how you must feel - I feel teary just thinking about it. Hold them close!
It's all good, all good. Enjoy!
Wonderful news! I am glad to hear he is home and safe and back with his family. Great family photos!
What a great day. Thanks for dharing and i love the photos.
Wow! God is good -- glad your son is back from Iraq. I know you treasure the time.
Yahooo! I'm so happy for you and your family. : )
This post made me cry. Thank God your son is home. Mine got home in August (from Iraq.) It is unbelievable how wonderful it is when they get home. At Christmas, I just stared at him, sitting at "his" chair at the table and remembered what it felt like last year to look at his chair without him.
Thank you.
Joe:
Glad your son is back from Iraq safe and sound. Please tell him "thanks" for his service on behalf of a grateful American (that would be me...).
Jim
Nothing is better than family!
Totally awesome, Joe! Words don't describe how happy I am for you!!
How awesome! I'm sure you guys are filled with joy to have your son home.
Please tell him "thanks" from me personally, for protecting our freedom and allowing us to live freely in this great country. He is a true hero. It doesn't go unappreciated here.
this is the best news i've heard in a long time. what a blessing. give him a hug from us and tell him thanks.
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