Imagine

Imagine the six most content people in the world right now…four kids smiling from ear-to-ear, yelling for their dad’s attention, a mother that finally has some reinforcement and an enormous weight lifted off of her shoulders with the security of her partner out of a war zone, and a father relieved to be home but completely satisfied with a successful mission of bringing 150 soldiers home alive.

We filled the last seat in our van last night on our road trip home…together. It was incredible to look to my side and see my husband. It was equally exciting for Tim to look in the back seats to observe our clan staring at him with amazement. Once we arrived home it was as it always is…crazy.

I know that Tim is haunted with images of a far away place but we will work through those issues slowly. I imagine it will take some time for him to feel normal again. Right now the images below are more exciting to focus on. I cannot thank my brother enough for his amazing gift of capturing single-handedly the most important moment in our lives.

And, to you…our friends, family, and followers…THANK YOU. Thank you for peering into our lives for the last year. Thank you for including us in your prayers (especially Tim). Thank you for all of the small and huge favors. Thank you for your genuine kindness and selfless acts. Thank you for caring about us from a distant or close range. Thank you for supporting these troops on a admirable mission. stonerreturnblog-0001.jpgstonerreturnblog-0002.jpgstonerreturnblog-0003.jpgstonerreturnblog-0004.jpgstonerreturnblog-0005.jpgstonerreturnblog-0006.jpgstonerreturnblog-0007.jpgstonerreturnblog-0008.jpgstonerreturnblog-0009.jpgstonerreturnblog-0010.jpgstonerreturnblog-0011.jpgstonerreturnblog-0012.jpgstonerreturnblog-0013.jpgstonerreturnblog-0014.jpgstonerreturnblog-0015.jpgstonerreturnblog-0016.jpgstonerreturnblog-0017.jpgstonerreturnblog-0019.jpgstonerreturnblog-0020.jpgstonerreturnblog-0021.jpgstonerreturnblog-0022.jpgstonerreturnblog-0024.jpgstonerreturnblog-0025.jpgstonerreturnblog-0026.jpgstonerreturnblog-0028.jpgstonerreturnblog-0029.jpgstonerreturnblog-0030.jpgstonerreturnblog-0031.jpgstonerreturnblog-0032.jpgstonerreturnblog-0033.jpgstonerreturnblog-0034.jpgstonerreturnblog-0035.jpgstonerreturnblog-0036.jpgstonerreturnblog-0037.jpgstonerreturnblog-0038.jpgstonerreturnblog-0039.jpgstonerreturnblog-0040.jpgstonerreturnblog-0041.jpgstonerreturnblog-0042.jpgstonerreturnblog-0043.jpgstonerreturnblog-0044.jpgstonerreturnblog-0045.jpgstonerreturnblog-0046.jpgstonerreturnblog-0047.jpgstonerreturnblog-0048.jpgstonerreturnblog-0049.jpgstonerreturnblog-0050.jpgstonerreturnblog-0051.jpgstonerreturnblog-0052.jpgstonerreturnblog-0053.jpgstonerreturnblog-0054.jpgstonerreturnblog-0056.jpgstonerreturnblog-0055.jpgstonerreturnblog-0057.jpgstonerreturnblog-0058.jpgstonerreturnblog-0059.jpgstonerreturnblog-0060.jpgstonerreturnblog-0061.jpgstonerreturnblog-0062.jpgstonerreturnblog-0063.jpgstonerreturnblog-0064.jpg

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 at 6:17 pm and is filed under Deployment. You can feed this entry. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

24 Responses

  1. I am very happy to have my friend Tim home.

    It has been a long and weary year for this family. You could see the pressure of the year melt from Tiff as we waited in the hanger. It was wonderful to see the Stoner Six united and laughing again.

    Yesterday was surreal. I woke several times last night reflecting on the year and how it has changed us all. Enough can be said of the support friends, family, strangers, and especially your neighbors provided you and the kids. Thank you all.

    LOVE

    N.H.&E.

    Nate - April 30th, 2008 at 8:10 pm

  2. WELCOME HOME, TIM!!!
    Again I am so happy he and his soldiers are back on US ground safe and sound back with their families!
    The amazing pics Nate took brought tears to my eyes! He captures your feelings relief, happiness, excitement to be back together as one unit, The Stoner Six!!!!
    Thank you again for all you and your family has sacrificed for us and for sharing this blog with all of us!
    I can’t wait to see what you have planned for it next for the blog! Please continue to share your stories…so many ideas and thoughts I have tucked away to hopefully remember to use one day!
    ENJOY your family!!!!!

    Allison - May 1st, 2008 at 1:04 am

  3. Wow….this is just incredible!! I’m soo very happy for you all!!! Hope you are enjoying the most deserved quality family time! :)

    Jessica Strickland - May 1st, 2008 at 9:23 am

  4. tears and goosebumps…….

    Winden - May 1st, 2008 at 10:04 am

  5. Awesome post-thanks for sharing the great pictures! I’m glad Tim is finally home…I bet things are crazy at the Stoner household!!!!

    Betsy Roeder - May 1st, 2008 at 11:36 am

  6. I don’t think I could ever look at those pictures enough…they brought tears to my eyes. They capture the raw emotion of what was an amazing day. We are so glad all the soldiers made it home safely and that you can be together as a family again. Enjoy your time together!!!

    Alison Hunt - May 1st, 2008 at 12:33 pm

  7. Tears, tears and more tears. Everybody is looking at me in my cubicle.

    Welcome home Tim! Can’t wait to you. AND most of all THANK YOU!!!!!

    XOXOXOXO,

    Suzanne Sutliff - May 1st, 2008 at 1:30 pm

  8. Awesome.

    Susan - May 1st, 2008 at 4:06 pm

  9. Welcome home, Tim - and THANK YOU for your service! I can’t wait to finally meet you and thank you in person in a couple of weeks. Your wife has been incredibly strong throughout the past year, much more than she’ll probably admit. You’re very lucky to have each other, as well as such a beautiful family and so many great friends. It’s been a pleasure and an honor to follow your story on these pages.

    Bob Ridge - May 1st, 2008 at 4:11 pm

  10. i’m so happy to hear he made it home safe. :) the photos are amazing, nate!

    nicole green - May 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 am

  11. I just read the recent posts and looked at the pictures with my 5 yr old son, Owen. He knows who Tim is and he actually asks about him frequently. Its amazing what the kids remember.

    You are a hero! The Stoner Six are all heroes!

    God bless you and the rest of our troops.

    I am very glad that you are home safe.

    -kai-

    Joel

    Joel - May 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 pm

  12. I can take the yellow, now off-white ribbons, off of the trees. This is a good thing. You brought all of them home. Not one family has to endure the “whys” of a loss. You be the man!!
    Love 9

    Aunt 9 - May 2nd, 2008 at 10:17 pm

  13. First, I am so happy for you all to be together again and safe. Welcome home Tim! Secondly, Nate has done it again….brilliantly captured moments on camera, which make me cry just viewing them.

    Beth - May 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 am

  14. Tim, I am so happy that you are back safely in the arms of your family. Thank you and your fellow soldiers for all that you have given to our country.

    I’ve laughed, cried and prayed for you all over the past several months. Welcome home brave soldier!!! Blessings to all of the brave families!!!

    Amy - May 3rd, 2008 at 2:11 pm

  15. What is that saying, a picture is worth a thousand words?? These are worth billions!!!! So moving and WONDERFUL to see. So thankful everyone is safe and back together again. Can’t wait to see you and looking forward to the celebration coming up! Love you!!!

    Barb Gable - May 3rd, 2008 at 2:29 pm

  16. Amen.

    Stacy Meyer - May 4th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

  17. The tears are rolling down my cheeks at the images of your beautiful family and so many others on such a joyous occasion. (Nate - they are awesome!) This is a dream come true. Welcome home Tim! We are so glad you’re back - for you, Tiff and the kids, for all those who love and care about your family so much. Can’t wait to celebrate with you in person. For now, I’ll have to go one cheesily humming patriotic songs. (I swear, I have been doing it subconciously since I knew you were back on safer ground.) Yea for the Stoner Six!!

    Molly - May 5th, 2008 at 11:46 am

  18. Great pictures! So happy to hear that everybody is home and safe. I hope you still keep this blog up now that Tim is home. I have loved following it for the past year and I’m not sure what I’m going to do with my down time now! Tiffany, you really have a talent for writing…you’re so real and honest, I feel like I was able to feel every emotion you felt along the way. You should think about having this blog published for your kids. Thanks to Tim for his service.
    Hope to see you soon.

    Katie Riggs - May 5th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

  19. PS What happens to the “Daddy Doll” now that the real deal is back in town?

    Aunt 9 - May 5th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

  20. I think Aunt 9 shoulc get it since she thinks he’s so hot!! :-)

    Susan - May 5th, 2008 at 6:39 pm

  21. Amen.

    I love the black & white with the six of you together, again.

    May God continue to richly bless all of you,
    KB

    Ken Bryan - May 7th, 2008 at 1:22 pm

  22. All our prayers have been answered. Welcome home!

    Love you all.

    Ann - May 7th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

  23. The Greeson Six are so thankful that the Stoner Six are happily reunited. We’ve been praying for you all. Tiffany, I can’t imagine how you did it. I’m so glad your reinforcement is home safe! They’re SO needed!! Tim, thank you for your honor and sacrificing your time with your family for all of us. Nate, the pictures are beautiful and brought tears to my eyes.

    Beth Greeson - May 8th, 2008 at 12:27 am

  24. Way to go bro, Super proud of you man. See you on the 17th

    Big Stone - May 8th, 2008 at 12:30 am

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