Thursday, March 21, 2013

Peace and a Helmet ...

This morning was the last morning ...
 
The last morning my husband woke up as a Firefighter/Paramedic for Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services.
 

And believe it or not, we're ready for it.
 
 
I remember the day very fondly. The day Travis came to me about wanting to become a fireman. I was distraught to be quite honest. I was pregnant with Kollin and the thought of my husband being gone for 24 hours at a time and the thought of him doing such a dangerous job ... well, I was a preganant, hormonal basketcase.
 
I saw the yearn in his eyes though. He wanted this. And of course, I was right there to support him. Travis has never been one to do something half way. If he's going to do it, he's going to give his all.
 
 
With that being said, Travis went from a fireman to EMT to paramedic one right after the other. I am so proud of him and all of his accomplishments.
 
Of course, my husband impresses me with his 'smarts'. I've always said that about him, he is secretly a total nerd. Always has been. The sports persona always covered that up though in high school - but there was no fooling me. I knew he was smart from the very beginning. Like really, really smart. And that he was going to do something awesome in life ...
 
What impresses me more though? The mornings he'd come home and say that he prayed with a fellow brother at work that night before. That he spoke to a patient about their relationship with Christ. The mornings he'd come home later than usual because a brother needed someone to talk to. Travis has always let his relationship with Christ be known and I know many of his brothers looked up to him for that. Even the guys that made their jokes, when they had a problem, a question or just wanted to pray with someone - they went to Travis.
 
That impresses me most.
 
 
 


I have so many memories of being a fireman's wife.
 
Some good, some not so good.
 
In the last seven years, I have cried at the window watching him leave for a 24 hour shift, I have let a homeless man in the station while I was there alone (they were on a call) in Riverdale and got in major trouble by Travis' leutinant, I have spent Thanksgiving and Easter at the station more than once and been hung up on so many times by my husband when a buzzer would go off in the background. I have had a husband come home and break down on my shoulder after losing a toddler to abuse from his father and a husband come home on cloud nine because he saved a life. I have seen my kids behind the wheel of a firetruck more times than I can count. I have heard him say, "If maybe I had stayed one minute longer Kelsey, those kids would still have a Dad ..." - that was a tough day. I have watched my husband deliver 3 of our children and have heard the story of when he delivered his first baby on a call. I have had a husband come home and barely make it to our bed before crashing and a husband go straight to his second job with no rest at all the night before. I have heard my kids cry at bedtime because they miss their Daddy and have seen the look of pure proudness on Kollin's face when Travis came in full gear to his preschool for story time. I have watched my husband be a witness, encourager and prayer warrior for his fellow brothers. I have beamed with appreciation to know my husband has risked his life to save others and have nearly peed my pants when I heard about a garage falling in on him while he was in a burning house. I have done stomach bugs, practices, high fevers, family functions, birthday parties and much, much more as a single Momma in the last seven years.
 
It hasn't been easy, but it's been a part of my life, my children's lives and my husband's for seven years now.
 
 

 

 


And we're ready for the next chapter.

 
Travis will start back to school in June for his major in Biology, then will be moving forward to getting his degree as a Physician's Assistant.
 
We've talked it over with God and after many, many prayers ... we are at peace with our decision. Just like when Travis came to me about wanting to become a fireman, this time I freaked a little too. What do you mean leave the department? Landscaping and school full time? Say whaaaaa?
 
Prayer, I needed prayer. And peace.
 
And I got it.
 
So am I little sad about my husband not having one of the sexiest job titles? A little.
 
No worries though. I got peace.
 
And his helmet :)
 
 

2 comments:

  1. So excited to see what this new chapter holds for your family. With you and Travis seeking God, your future is so bright!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Heidi! Please continue to pray for our family during this time of transition.

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