He's home.
And it's hard to see her, but Courtney Lee is sandwiched in between us in that shot.
If you've got 4:41, play this song. Just turn it up loud, close your eyes, forget about everything else and take it in for a bit. If you don't have that much time, just fast forward it to 3:12...that's the part that gets me every time.
And since you're reading this Josh Downs...Welcome home.
I just am SO happy that you all are back together! This is such a powerful, lovely, tender image!
Posted by: Lacey | March 01, 2012 at 06:33 PM
Yay! We are also a military family, though my husband retired a few years ago. I remember those first hugs and kisses when he first returned after being gone for so many months. It feels so good. :-) Welcome home, Josh. Glad you're all back together.
Posted by: Kris | March 01, 2012 at 08:04 PM
Amen!
Posted by: jm | March 01, 2012 at 08:29 PM
Welcome Home, Josh Downs! And God Bless you for your service. I'm sitting here in a puddle of tears. Enjoy your homecoming!
Posted by: Colleen | March 01, 2012 at 08:44 PM
Great Day !!!! Looks like some pretty happy smiling faces there. Enjoy every minute.Thanks Josh for serving our country, and welcome home.!
Posted by: Mary Lib | March 01, 2012 at 09:05 PM
Thankful to God for bringing Josh safely home to all of you. Thanks for sharing this beautiful, beautiful moment.
Posted by: Jocelyn | March 01, 2012 at 11:49 PM
Now I can sleep tonight... SO VERY HAPPY Josh Downs is home! :)
Posted by: Debi | March 02, 2012 at 12:44 AM
Welcome home, J! Enjoy family time!!!
Family together!!!
Posted by: jennifer Camplin | March 02, 2012 at 02:59 AM
Welcome back home Josh Downs. And thanks to you and those like you.....the land of the free and home of the brave. Much gratitude!!!!!
Posted by: Colleen Barron | March 02, 2012 at 05:29 AM
So happy he is home to you all - safe and sound.
God Bless
Posted by: Nicky from Canada | March 02, 2012 at 05:30 AM
Thank you Josh Downs for your service, hard-work and sacrificing time away from your beautiful family for us. God Bless You! Thank you Karen and family for sharing the strength and smarts of this wonderful guy with us. I know he is precious to you. Thank you God for bringing him home safely. I hope you all go make some wonderful memories together.
Posted by: Sarah K | March 02, 2012 at 05:51 AM
It feels like home. Beautiful. So glad to know you are all together again. xoxox
Posted by: Valerie | March 02, 2012 at 06:15 AM
I am glad to read that he made it home safely and your family is complete! Thank you for sharing your soldier with our nation! God bless you all!
Posted by: Rhonda | March 02, 2012 at 09:11 AM
I have tears in my eyes, tears of joy!
Welcome home Josh Downs!
Posted by: Sabine | March 02, 2012 at 10:21 AM
Welcome home Josh Downs! I'm so glad to hear this great news! Thank you again for your service!
Posted by: Pam | March 02, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Cheers here that your family is TOGETHER again...FINALLY :) I'm pretty sure your days just got a lot brighter in OR, and not just because the 'days are getting longer' :) Heidi
Posted by: Heidi | March 02, 2012 at 10:40 AM
Karen you still simply amaze me!!!! Thanks so much for taking us on this awesome journey of your life. What a great family you have, and yes welcome home Josh Downs!!!!!
Posted by: Lisa Gunn | March 02, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Welcome home Josh Downs!
Also, that picture? Absolute perfection. I teared up just seeing it.
Posted by: Sarah Crawford | March 02, 2012 at 11:51 AM
Welcome Home Josh Downs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: {vicki} | March 02, 2012 at 12:28 PM
So glad that Josh is home safe and sound and that you're family is back together!! Welcome home, Josh!
Posted by: Jess Slingerland | March 02, 2012 at 01:01 PM
Your photo gives me the chills and brings tears to my eyes! I'm so glad he's home safe! Thank you for your service Josh!!!
Posted by: candice | March 02, 2012 at 01:05 PM
Welcome home, Mr Downs
Posted by: Nadine | March 02, 2012 at 01:18 PM
So happy for you all to have Josh home. That picture tells a story of great love and relief. X
Posted by: Jo E | March 02, 2012 at 02:15 PM
Oh! Yea for you!!! I'm happy for your family to be complete again.
Posted by: Jacki | March 02, 2012 at 04:30 PM
Welcome home, Josh Downs. I'm confident the hugging will not stop for some time! I hope you all are enjoying some much deserved time together. Thank you to all of you for your sacrifice!! The photo says it all!!
Posted by: AngiePS | March 02, 2012 at 04:53 PM
thank you Josh Downs... and welcome home......
Posted by: laura plunk davis | March 02, 2012 at 06:01 PM
Welcome home, Josh. Thank you for your service!! May you and your family revel in the joy of togetherness!!
Posted by: Heidi | March 02, 2012 at 06:31 PM
This makes me so happy!!!
Posted by: Angela | March 02, 2012 at 06:38 PM
I keep coming to the blog to see if you've updated (knowing that it's probably going to be a while), but it's just so nice to see that photo every time. :D
Posted by: Tara | March 02, 2012 at 07:00 PM
Oh Karen, I'm so relieved and happy for you and the kiddos!
Welcome Home Josh Downs - We all missed you!!!
<3
Posted by: KimP | March 02, 2012 at 07:37 PM
Out of all the perfect photos you posted - this is the most perfect photo. As I've said before, from across the seas, hope you're going ok. I think this photo indicates that you're at this point, going ok.
Posted by: renee | March 02, 2012 at 10:13 PM
Yeah!!!! Welcome home! I'm so happy for your family!!!
Posted by: Courtney Sheridan | March 02, 2012 at 11:10 PM
What an answer to prayer. Thankful that your family is together. Thankful for the sacrifice you all have made for our freedom. Thankful that I got to go on this journey with you all.
Posted by: Laura Goode | March 03, 2012 at 05:00 PM
Praise God!
Posted by: amy | March 03, 2012 at 05:42 PM
My happiness for you all is overflowing.
Posted by: Monica Laabs | March 03, 2012 at 07:46 PM
Yipiee! Welcome home, so happy for you all!!
Posted by: Robyn | March 03, 2012 at 08:10 PM
Welcome home Josh Downs! Thank you for your service to our country. So glad your family is together again.
Posted by: terra | March 03, 2012 at 10:00 PM
Welcome home to your hubby and congratulations to all of you for making it through.
Posted by: Cindy | March 04, 2012 at 04:06 AM
Welcome Home Josh Downs!!! I'm so happy for you and your family...I've been thinking and praying for you!
Posted by: Laura M | March 04, 2012 at 06:42 AM
Welcome home, Josh. We cannot ever thank you enough.
Posted by: shar | March 04, 2012 at 06:46 AM
So happy for all of you! Thanks, Josh, for your service to our country and thanks to you and the kids for the sacrifice you made while he was gone.
Posted by: Denise Wallace | March 04, 2012 at 05:32 PM
So excited that your family is all together... miss your posts too. BUT that is okay! Then I won't take your thoughts and words for granted when you come back.
Posted by: Robin | March 05, 2012 at 10:58 AM
I've taken a break from blog reading lately...and today when I clicked on my reader and saw the word "home" next to your name my heart skipped a beat. Could it be? I held my breath and clicked, and now I sit here with tears in my eyes for a family I've never met. Thank you for sharing. This image is So beautiful...enjoy each other...and thank you Josh Downs.
Posted by: Lisa Damrosch | March 05, 2012 at 04:47 PM
Thank you for your service to our country Josh! But, I am so, so glad you are home!!!!! Many thanks to the person who took this awesome pic of you all!
Posted by: Teresa Loop | March 05, 2012 at 07:13 PM
This picture gives me chills. I can't even begin to think what that emotion must feel like. So happy for your family!
Posted by: Abby R | March 06, 2012 at 04:05 AM
AWESOME!!! 8)
Posted by: Ember S. | March 06, 2012 at 07:49 AM
Welcome home Josh! I'm so excited your all of you! God Bless
Posted by: Jennifer Fike | March 06, 2012 at 08:06 AM
Welcome Home! I'm so glad you are back where you belong.
Posted by: Alissa H. | March 06, 2012 at 04:34 PM
Yeah!!!!!!!
Posted by: stefie Tidwell | March 06, 2012 at 05:26 PM
Amen!!!
I'm now off to repair my make up after crying like a baby.
God is good!
Posted by: Siobhan | March 07, 2012 at 03:56 AM
Welcome home Josh! Thank you for your dedication to this country and your service! And thank you to Karen and your family for yours as well! I appreciate all that you do from the bottom of my heart. I have the utmost respect and admiration for all of you!
Posted by: Michelle | March 07, 2012 at 11:37 AM
what joy! love this pic so much. Thank you, Josh Downs!
Posted by: Gayle | March 07, 2012 at 06:50 PM
Ya, got a little choked up my self when I saw this picture, as family is everything. So happy for you and your family that you made it back to them safe and sound Josh. May God continue to bless you all. Big hug coming to you all from Canada, enjoy each other always.
Linda
Posted by: Linda Schaaf | March 08, 2012 at 10:47 AM
so very happy for y'all. welcome home josh...so thankful for your service and sacrifice!
Posted by: Kimber-Leigh | March 08, 2012 at 10:52 AM
This warms my heart like no other. I'm sooo happy your family is whole again!!!
Posted by: Aimee | March 09, 2012 at 07:36 AM
I know you aren't going to be blogging while Josh is newly home (WELCOME HOME, JOSH! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!), but I keep checking anyway (don't want to miss anything!), and wanted you to know that I smile each time I see the "Home" picture and post pop up. And tear up a bit, because it is just such a sweet, sweet moment captured. And then I re-listen to/watch the video, because I love it and our radio station doesn't play it nearly often enough. Thank you all for your service and sacrifices, and enjoy your time together!
Posted by: Michelle (aka mybelle101) | March 09, 2012 at 12:13 PM
grateful for happy homecomings!!!
Posted by: ann | March 09, 2012 at 03:29 PM
Haven't been to your blog in a long time but thought about you this morning and the awesome time I had in your class and all you taught me. With that in mind I went to visit your blog this evening and saw this post. I got teary eyed, cause I'm so happy for you and your kids. Thanks for inspiring my life Karen!
Posted by: Valerie | March 12, 2012 at 06:05 PM
Hey, How are going on?
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