A Firefighter's Wife

Since the holidays are fast approaching, I thought one of the best gifts that I could give my husband is to honor him in a post.  Last week at his annual holiday party, he was awarded the honor of being named “North Charleston Fire Department Firefighter of the Year 2011”.  I’m so proud of you babe and all the hard work and dedication you have put into your job and helping others when they were in need.  While I love my husband’s courage for what he does, it is still hard for me to not worry when he is on duty.  One day I stumbled on this poem and I find that it helps to reassure me of what he does and why he needs my support.  While this post is dedicated to my husband, I would also like to dedicate to all of my fellow firefighter wives out there.  

 

Firefighter’s Wife Prayer

Lord I thank you for my husband,
This fireman that I love.
Give me strength
To give support
With your guidance from above.
Make me a good partner, attentive listener,
My husbands best friend.
When I chose him
I chose a firefighter,
And the job on which we depend.
Lord, keep my firefighter safe.
When our plans have gone awry,
Answering an emergency call
With a life or death cry.
Keep the gusting winds
And raging flames
From being his final fate.
Help me cope with the trauma
Of being a firefighters mate.

Amen

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas...

The Holiday Scuffle

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, the holiday season is fast approaching.  I’m not sure if it was just me but it seems like retailers were rushing the Christmas season into the stores earlier than I remember in years past.  I have a vivid memory of shopping for Halloween and to the left were Halloween decorations and to the right were the beginnings of the Christmas season decorations.  I had to second guess which month I was in.  I find myself wondering…why are we in such a rush?  Can’t we wait for Halloween to be over before we start putting Christmas decorations in the store?  And does anyone really start decorating that early?  I put my tree up Thanksgiving weekend, which is early for some people but it is a tradition for me and it won’t come down until after New Year’s.

Don’t get me wrong besides my birthday, Christmas is my favorite holiday to celebrate.  Who doesn’t like getting presents and giving them?  It’s the shopping that I hate.  I can buy the crap out of stuff for myself but I struggle with other people.  And like usual, rather than starting my shopping back in October or November, I wait until it’s closer the Christmas.  Regardless of when I start, it all gets done.

Minus a few odds and ends my husband is done...yay!  My daughter is pretty easy.  Thankfully, she’s grateful for what she gets and doesn’t throw a fit when she doesn’t get something (like I used to do).  Either way it will be a good day because I will be able to spend it with my family and that is the perfect gift.  Oh and not having to cook!  (Fingers crossed)

It seems as if time flew by this year.  It’s almost 2012 and there are some things that I would still like to accomplish or do but they will have to be added to my To Do list for 2012.  But until that ball (or apple) drops on December 31^st, I’m going to try to savior what’s left of this year and focus on the important things.  Life is too short to hurry through the motions all of the time.

I have some big goals in mind for 2012, but I’ll fill you in on them next time.

Happy Holidays!