WELCOME HOME SERGEANT FIRST CLASS SHAFER

With members of our family in the military, you will often find me watching videos of military homecomings.  Beautiful families being reunited, children surprised at community events and, of course, my favorite, the first time a baby meets their daddy.  However, on this occasion, I was blessed to be a part of this heartwarming event first hand as Superior, Wisconsin welcomed home 95 soldiers from 950th Engineering Company after ten months deployment in Afghanistan.

On this day, it was the Shafer family, excitedly awaiting the return of their husband, father, and son.  There are no words to adequately describe the grace and beauty Amanda carried as she attended to every detail, from her perfectly manicured nails, to the personalized shirts the boys were wearing.  The bundles of energy played joyfully with others, excited by the crowds and activity, while the youngest Shafer simply slept the time away in the stroller.  (Well... until, Daddy arrived, then it was all smiles!)  To look into that beautiful baby face, you saw the face of his father and the recognition as each smiled in declaration... 'I know you'!   This was the first time they would meet, but watching them together, you realized they have known each other for some time.