Colorado military family in viral Christmas card reunited after 6 months' deployment

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The military family behind a creative Christmas card that went viral over the holidays last year was reunited Wednesday after more than six months.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Brandon Sistrunk was greeted by his wife, Ashley, and four children Wednesday in Colorado Springs after 6 ½ months of deployment in Iraq.

 

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A video posted by Ashley Sistrunk (@ashley_sistrunk) on

Feb 2, 2017 at 9:25am PST

The family’s holiday card spread across the internet in December. Ashley had a friend take a picture of her holding a sign that said “Christmas” as the Sistrunks’ four children stood alongside her.

And Brandon had one of his fellow soldiers take one of him holding a sign saying “Merry.”

Ashley Photoshopped the two together to make it appear as though they were kissing, despite being 7,000 miles apart.

Photos posted to Instagram by Ashley Wednesday and Thursday show the happy family back together. While their youngest, Nora, wasn’t so sure about seeing her dad again, she sure warmed up quickly.

 

This is Nora being reunited with her daddy. Right now, he's a total stranger to her, but she likes him as long as I'm holding her!

A video posted by Ashley Sistrunk (@ashley_sistrunk) on

Feb 2, 2017 at 7:42am PST

 

See, she likes him from a distance?

A video posted by Ashley Sistrunk (@ashley_sistrunk) on

Feb 2, 2017 at 7:59am PST

Welcome back, Staff Sgt. Sistrunk!

 

My world?

A photo posted by Ashley Sistrunk (@ashley_sistrunk) on

Feb 1, 2017 at 4:07pm PST

 

Oh hey... I found this cute guy at a random airport and decided to take him home. Totally normal, right?

A photo posted by Ashley Sistrunk (@ashley_sistrunk) on

Feb 1, 2017 at 3:38pm PST