Thousands of holiday get-togethers will be minus someone again this year as duty calls in the war on terror. One family trying to stay connected with their soldier in Iraq received an early, unexpected gift.

There are moments in all our lives where we have to say what we feel. "I'm just gonna wing it." Explaining what our heart is telling us doesn't always make sense. "We want you to know that we do love you Philip. Wish you'd get home soon." That's what the Schafer family was trying to do. "We can't wait to see you." When that will happen is unclear, but their words, their composure, just their presence, captured on videotape may be what gets Spec. Philip Schafer through the tough times in Iraq, where he's been since March.

The attack on 9/11 so moved him, he enlisted in the Army, the only way he saw fit to protect his niece Hannah and nephew Michael. Tuesday evening, his immediate family, mom and dad and brothers and their wives came to WOWT studios to record a message he could watch next week in Mosul, Iraq. They were stunned when who should walk in, but Philip, who had contacted Channel 6 to help pull off this surprise two-week break from the war. "I told my parents not to get their hopes up that I'd be coming home. I figured I wouldn't have much time for Christmas shopping, so I thought maybe a surprise would be the best."

What did it feel like when he got off the plane? "I wanted to hug the ground." For Philip, there will be a Christmas in Omaha. "Thank Uncle Sam 'cause he's the one who sent me home." Twelve days to catch up, then it's back to war. Philip's father didn't want to let go. "Just keep being careful. Pay attention to what he's doing so that he can come back again."

Philip received some mild criticism from the family who'd already sent some Christmas packages to Iraq, though they quickly forgave him.