DUNCANSVILLE, Pa. -- Margie Gschwendtner of Duncansville was truly able to celebrate on Sunday. There were no longer just e-mails and phone calls from her son Christopher, who has been serving in Iraq. It was his safe journey home that Gschwendtner said was the best Mother's Day gift.

"Last night when he came home, just to hug him it felt good. It felt good to have him back home and safe. I missed you and I'm proud of you kiddo," Gschwendtner said to her son.

It has been a long 15 months of hope and prayers and leaning on each other for Gschwendtner and her husband Michael. Their son's tour in Iraq was extended three months longer than anticipated. They also had some scares, like when he sent his parents video of combat on Thanksgiving morning or on Valentine's Day, when they received a call that he had been hurt when his vehicle had been hit by an I.E.D.

Fortunately, Christopher was OK. Now it is only pieces of that enemy ammo he carries with him.

Christopher has been careful about how many details he shares about his tour with his parents, but the one thing he couldn't wait to tell them was that he was coming home.

"Pretty much, I knew they were going to be excited. You can't put that emotion into words, you really can't," he said.

Christopher said he is now just taking life one day at a time.

"For the last 15 months I couldn't really think about the future because the future isn't promised to you, but now it is. ... I can just take a deep breath and enjoy right now," said Christopher.

Christopher still has several months left in the Army. However, he'll be stationed in the U.S. and in the meantime, he and his fiancee will be planning their wedding.