The Farm Wife Sagas

It’s been a bit, and honestly, I wish I had a good reason. But like everyone else, this month has absolutely flown by, and the holidays caught up to me fast. Before I knew it, I was behind on wrapping, writing, and honestly just existing. Is 2-3 energy drinks a day unhealthy? Asking for a friend?

In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned a few tips about being a firefighter’s significant other. One of those tips was about holidays and how they are never quite the same, always scheduled around his shift, and how you learn to make the best of it. What I didn’t talk about, though, is the flip side. The part where, even though it can be hard to spend holidays apart, it also creates some of the sweetest and most unexpected memories.

This was probably my favorite Christmas of all.

Colton had to work today, which meant Santa came early this morning before he left for the station. We opened gifts while it was still quiet, still sleepy, and still special. It wasn’t until after my girl got really awake that she realized Santa had brought her exactly what she wanted! (Still kicking myself for not buying a backup for when the wheels of this scooter are done for) After that, it was just VJ and me to tackle Christmas Day. We lounged around the house with no real agenda other than seeing how fast VJ could ride her scooter across the living room floor and eventually headed to my mom’s for lunch where VJ got to play with her cousins and ride her scooter some more!

And then we went somewhere that has become one of our favorite places, even though we do not visit nearly enough, the fire station.

I love taking VJ there for so many reasons. She gets to see her daddy in his element. She gets to play with the other firefighters’ kids. And let’s be honest, she also thinks the crew members themselves are pretty cool. I get to meet and talk with the people my husband spends a third of his life with, which always makes me appreciate just how special that brotherhood really is.

Today was especially meaningful because we got to have Christmas dinner with daddy at the station. Not rushed. Not squeezed in between calls. Just together.

VJ rode her scooter all around the station, played with the other kids, and laughed nonstop. I got to sit, laugh, and relate with other wives who just get it. It was a win win for everyone. And as a bonus, the food was incredible, which was a pleasant surprise considering before these plans, I was considering cereal for me and mac & cheese for VJ!

Today reminded me that the memories we are making, both for VJ and for me, matter far more than a 30 minute drive or the so called wasted gas it takes to get there. These moments help her piece together what her daddy does and why it matters. They give her an extended family of people who care about her, cheer her on, and love her right alongside us.

Holidays may not always look the way we imagine them, but sometimes they turn out even better than we planned. And this Christmas will forever be one we remember