Those Moments in Life...

There are those moments throughout our lives that make us sit back and reflect. I have had this experience the last week. Not only did I need to sit back and reflect, but I needed to catch my breath, wipe my brow, and have a good cry!!

As many of you know, my husband is a Police Officer. He made this decision about seven years ago and, while I was supportive of this, I was also apprehensive. During the academy I was stressed for him, hoping he would pass all the tests, successfully complete his field problems, and survive the RTO's! At his graduation I don't think anyone could have been more proud of him.

After the graduation was when reality really sunk in...this is real...this is dangerous. The first day he was on his own out there (without his FTO) was terrifying. I couldn't sleep. I was so worried about him and what could happen. Thankfully he was fine and has been since! I feel blessed that he has been an officer for seven years without any injury.

As the wife of a Police Officer, you think about the dangers they are going to be involved in and the things they will witness but you don't let it consume you. You push it to the back of your mind, although it is always there and you know that something bad could happen. As a wife, I say my prayers for my husband every night. We, as a family, pray that he will be safe and make it home to us in the morning.

This past week has proved that our prayers work but also made the scary part of his job a little front and center for me again. My husband was involved in an "Officer Involved Shooting" and could have very easily lost his life. He was put in a very dangerous situation, not his first one I am sure, but this one turned bad quickly. I don't usually want to know and he usually doesn't tell me about the dangerous situations he is in; I probably don't need to know about them either. However, this one I knew about. As I sat with my husband that night after this incident, I could not be grateful enough that he was sitting beside me unharmed. My heart broke for him and the experience he had to go through. I was terrified at how easily he could have been injured or killed. Finally, I felt unbelievable gratitude to the other two officers that kept my husband safe. I will never be able to repay them for their quick thinking and smart decision that helped keep Toby alive.

Now, as I sit back and reflect upon the events of the past week, I realize how lucky and blessed our family and the other officers families really are. They were being watched over and due to their training and dedication to their jobs, they were able to protect each other from a situation that could have turned out very differently.

As for my husband, I am so grateful to have him. He is a wonderful man who works extremely hard to provide for his family. He is a great father who loves his children tremendously and an amazing husband that is my best friend. He goes out night after night and protects our community. Due to this, he doesn't see his family as much as he would like.

There are many people out there who will never understand the sacrifices these men make on a daily basis to protect. They are out when they are exhausted, they eat alone often in a quiet house, they miss their children's games and school programs, they stay up when they would rather be sleeping just so they can see their families, and they put their lives on the lines every day for some people who will never appreciate them. This is the kind of man I married! He is an unbelievable person and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank my Heavenly Father that he is mine.

To my sweet husband~ I love you more than words could ever express. I am so grateful for all you do for our family every day and I know the sacrifices you make. I am proud of you and all of your many accomplishments. If our boys grow up to be half the man you are I will be so proud! You are my best friend and I am so grateful you are safe! I love you and don't forget...you are my favorite!! xoxo

My Dad

Most of us can say that our Dad's gave us life...well how many of us can say that their dad gave them their lives back?? I am one of those such people who was blessed with that kind of dad.

For those that know my dad, they love him and respect him. For those that don't are missing out on an amazing person!

My dad entered my life when I was 9 years old. I first laid eyes on him when he picked up my mom at my Grandma's house. He stood at the door (mullet intact) with a beautiful bouquet of flowers for her...this was their first date after responding to adds in the paper. I leaned over to my

Grandma (as we pretended to be making spaghetti) and told her

"He is going to marry my mom!"

Low and behold, I was right. Several years later he and my mother got married. But still, it was not this day that gave my family "its" life back...I don't think I could pin it down to one particular day. It was a progression of many days and time.

It was the times my dad took the time to listen to us after a hard day of school or help us through difficult homework, the way he showed my little brother and I that he loved our mom (which is still obvious to this day), the way he showed us his silly side when playing games, the way he made up ridiculous songs in the morning to wake us up for school, but lastly, it was the way he always made it clear he loved us and supported us. He was never afraid to tell us how he felt, good or bad, and always made sure to let us know he was behind us.

I was not the easiest child in my teenage years and, as many children do,

I put forth many obstacles in the way for my parents

,but even at those times I knew how much my dad loved me.

I see him hurt when we hurt, feel happy when we are happy, and proud when we achieve our goals. I see the unconditional love he has for his grandchildren and the love he has for not only my brother, sister, and myself, but for my mom.

We all know that saying: "The best gift a father can give his children is to love their mother." My dad has lived up to every part of that saying. He is one of the best men I know and I am so grateful to call him my dad. He was a gift to our family and I hope he knows that there wasn't a better gift out there, then and now.

To my dad...while you weren't there the day I was born, there for my first steps, my first day of school, or my first word; you were there when I got my first boyfriend, the first time my heart was

broken, there to reassure me college wasn't that scary, there to walk me down the aisle, and to be there when I brought my first child into this world. You were there cheering me on when I graduated from school, and you are there everyday when I need you. You have been in my life for the most important pieces of it and they wouldn't be complete without you in them. I love you more than you will ever know and I am so glad you read the paper that day and picked my mom!! You changed our lives that day and gave us the life we have today. You are the best dad in the world and I am so glad to call you mine!! I love you, DAD!

What Makes A Dad

God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea, The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night, The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's flight, The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed, The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need, Then God combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece was complete, And so, He called it ... "DAD!" ...Author Unknow