A Little Girl and Her Hero

Enjoy some awesome photos taken by Tamera Barding. She captured the amazing bond between Josh and Emily...it is truly unique.

Emily visits daddy...

Emily and I got to visit Josh at the fire station yesterday for the first time together! I got to meet 2 other firefighter wives/girlfriend.  I got to know them pretty quickly because about 5mins into our dinner, the guys were called away to a medical aid. They rushed out and left us there staring at each other! lol
It was fun!
Emily was a perfect angel and she lit up the station with her bright smile! Josh was a proud daddy!

Babies Don't Keep

Cleaning and scrubbing will wait ’till tomorrow, but children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs! Dust go to sleep! I’m rocking my baby. Babies don’t keep. – Ruth Hamilton


I came across this sweet quote and it struck a cord in my heart. Why is it so easy to get focused on too many little things, when the most important thing is to simply and lovingly rock my sweet baby, hold her and completely love on her.

I am...

I am thankful. This has not always been an easy walk for me.

I am disappointed. We have missed family gatherings, weddings, dinner engagements, birthday parties, and holidays because of shift schedules and overtime.

I am patient. There have been dinners spent at the firehouse waiting for him to return from a call while the food gets cold.

I am nervous. I awake at 3:00 A.M. hearing creaks in the house and don't have the comfort of my husband beside me.

I am tired. The yard needs attention, the light bulb has burnt out, the trash is overflowing and there is no relief in site because he is on a seventy-two-hour shift.

I am jealous. Jealous of all the women whose husbands came home at 5:00 P.M. to have dinner and hold them at the end of their day.

I am worried. I worry that he may not come home one day. This I try to tuck away.

I am content. I love having him home for 4 days in a row. It is the greatest freedom we have ever known.

I am incompetent. There was a time when I considered myself moderately intelligent. I now struggle to remember how many days he has been gone, how to fix a leaky faucet, and, occasionally, if I fed the dog.

I am waiting. Knowing the phone may one day ring for me.

I am doubting. Doubting that God hears all my prayers. Doubting I am the kind of wife He needs me to be.

I am trusting. Trusting that my husband will come home again and that God will calm all of my emotions with his unconditional love.

I am confident, I am embarrassed, I am lonely, I am surprised, I am overworked, I am underpaid.

I am...The Fireman's Wife.

A Day at the Station

Tucker and I went to visit Josh at the fire station a couple of days ago. Tucker had a great time smelling all the "stuff". He was so excited to see Josh.

Josh will be coming home tomorrow! Yay!

I am a Fireman's Wife :)

A friend asked me if it's hard or upsetting when my husband gets called into work unexpectedly. She asked me how I cope with the fact that suddenly we are faced with a complete change of plans. She then told me she couldn't imagine living with a schedule like ours...having a husband whose job calls him away from home, sometimes for days at a time, the ever-changing schedule, working holidays, etc... I told her I totally understand! lol While I am so very thankful for my husbands job (and the fact that he loves it), his crazy schedule often drives me, well...CRAZY!

But you know...the thing that really gets me through the long absences--besides the Lord's grace and His constant protection over us--is my husband's wonderful attitude. He loves his job, but he makes sure I know that he loves me more...and it's never easy for him to be away.. When he gets the call from work and has to drop everything to come in, he just does it. He never complains. He just accepts it as what the Lord has for him. I can tell as he races around getting his gear together, he is also thinking about what he's leaving behind...the unfinished chores he wanted to do, the hike we were going to take, the church service he really wanted to attend, our small group bible study we've been looking forward to or the conversation we were going to finish later. There is always something.

I confess there are times when I don't have that same wonderful attitude as my husband. But then the Lord reminds me, He has called me to be MY Fireman's wife...crazy schedule and all. : ) I need to be supportive and not make it harder on my husband. I need to be a blessing to him.

So tonight as I spend another evening without my hubby home...I am missing him and I am praying for him. But I am also thanking God for him and his example of accepting whatever the Lord has for him, without complaint. I am a blessed woman, indeed! : )

My husband...

Josh got called in to work today! It was very unexpected. My first impulse was to sit down and cry. He is leaving once again for who knows how long. We weren't expecting such an early departure. We had plans today (a picnic in the park...a bike ride and a movie) But I had to be strong for him. I had to show him that I would be fine. After all, thats my role as a fireman's wife.
He jumped in the shower, shaved, and then put on his uniform. As I sat there watching him...tears began to fill my eyes. I am so proud of him.
He finished getting ready. We sat on the couch, embracing each other for a few minutes. I was taking him in...his touch, his smell, his love. His embrace and his words comforted me. And then he began to pray. We prayed for God's comfort and His protection. Josh kissed me goodbye and grabbed his bible and left for work.
My husband...a special kind of man....a man of God.

As I sat in front of my computer to write...I noticed a beautiful, fresh cut rose sitting on my keyboard.....


Blessings!
Angela

A Prayer

A Wife's Prayer

Lord, I ask You to be with my husband
In a very special way
As he faces the challenges
Of a firefighter's day.

I pray that You will help him
To be the best that he can be
For there are many people
Who do depend on him, indeed.

And when duty calls to danger
Walk closely by his side
Instill in him great courage
Please be his strength and guide

Lord, I put his safety in Your hands,
But in the chaos and the strife
Help him act with selfless courage
Help him save a life.

Amen!

(...I just wanted to share this prayer I found on the internet... Thanks! )