Readers, please join me in welcoming home Sarah Young’s husband, Bill, and all the soldiers who are finally in the arms of their loved one this week.

I met Sarah years ago when our children attended preschool together. With her support and guidance I learned to survive the ups and downs of military life. I was thrilled when she agreed to write this blog and share her life with you as well.

This week, Sarah and her family are taking a much deserved break. As seasoned military wives know, the journey isn’t over when the unit returns. There are new challenges and decisions. Families have to reconnect. Soldiers need to adjust to the civilian world again and let go of the 24-7, high-alert lifestyle of the warzone. It’s not an easy transition to make.

And seriously, who ever imagined that one soldier could produce so much laundry?

If your service member is finally home, or soon to be, take your time. Live in the moment, but also give yourself a moment. Reunions are wonderful. But they are also stressful.

Give yourself time to breathe. Give your spouse time to decompress. Don’t get wrapped up in the details of making the house perfect. They have been gone a long time and that means the whole family needs to adjust to living together again. Give the process the time it needs.

And don’t forget to share the good news with your friends here at Salute to Spouses.

If you have a reunion photo you’d like to share, please send it to us at info@salutetospouses.com . We will post the best images on our Facebook page. I can’t look at a single image of those joyful moments without tearing up, but I hope I’ll be crying all week as we post your beautiful photos.

Welcome home, to all our returning warriors. We’re proud of you.