Wife’s Prayer

The table’s set, the meal’s prepared, our guests will soon arrive.

My husband once more disappears with a hope of keeping a child alive.

While waiting at home alone, our plans having gone awry

My first impulse is merely to sit right down and cry.

But soon again I realize the importance of my life

When I agreed to take on the duties of being a fireman’s wife.

While there are many drawbacks, I’ll take them in my stride,

Knowing “My Daddy saved a life” our children can say with pride.

The gusting winds and raging flames may be his final fate.

But with God’s help I can remain my fireman’s faithful mate.

Author Unknown

(Firefighter) Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas,
And all through the house,
All the firefighters were asleep,
Even the one called “The Louse”,
The bunk room was filled,
With farts and snores,
With visions of no fires,
Nor calls to pry open doors,
And the Captain had just laid down,
His big fat head,
Hoping and praying
The night would be dead,
When he heard a noise,
Out in the bay,
If it were a burglar again,
What would he say,
As he snuck around the corner,
And stepped onto the bay floor,
He saw a such a sight,
One never seen before,
It was Clause standing there,
Looking at the truck with awe,
The old man was crying,
And quivering his jaw,
The Captain filled with compassion,
Put a hand on his shoulder,
Comforting as he’d done,
Helping others many times over,
He said “It’s ok pops”,
As Santa shivered and cried,
Clause replied “I’m so sorry,
I’m thinking of your brothers, that have died”,
“I stood here looking,
At the soot covered gear,
And thought of them all,
Who advanced with no fear”,
“I thought of the victims,
They’d cut out of cars,
And the drunk that they’d helped,
Who had just left the bars”,
“I thought of your brothers,
Who ran out of air in a fire,
And the ones who have helped,
A child with bike, put air in the tire”,
“I thought of the their families,
Who wonder and worry,
When they leave for work,
In a mighty big hurry”,
“How fireman give selflessly,
In a wreck, disaster, or fire,
How they get the job done,
And never, ever, seem to tire”,
“I bowed my head in silence,
And much to my surprise,
A tear welled up, then more,
‘Till they filled up my eyes”,
“How do you do it Cap?”,
He asked in sadness,
“It’s in our hearts” he replied,
And we do it with gladness.”,
At that time the tones went off,
“Gotta go” said the captain with a sigh,
“Someone’s in trouble,
So I must say goodbye.”
As the crew loaded up,
Old Clause he stood back,
Knowing these firefighters,
Had just left the sack,
As they pulled out the station,
Wiping sleep from their eyes,
A firefighter said “Hey Cap”,
“Was that Saint Nick?” with surprise,
Clause smiled and replied,
“Thanks David, and Michael, Jim and Louse,
Thanks all you firefighters,
Who save peoples house,”
“Thanks Art and Steve,
Harvey, Sherrie, and Ryan,
I don’t know how you do it,
But somehow you keep from cryin’”
“May God keep you safe,
And in the palm of his hands,
Keep you and guide you,
While you serve and protect these great lands”

Written:

1-December-2001
Mark S. Warnick
(Founder and President)

Visit Mark’s Blog – The Warnick House

How is is that the weather creeps me out more than any actual work he performs?  We’ve had severe cold weather and that’s not usual for the Seattle area this time of year.  Our side roads are horrible, but the main roads and hiway are bare and dry now.  Wasn’t the case on Sunday when he worked.  He actually texted me before lunch to make sure I was home from errands.  He didn’t want me out on the roads any more for the day, it was getting that bad with stupid drivers.  He’s not overprotective since I don’t take orders well. lol  So when he “tells” me it would be a good idea, I listen.

My main worry was him out there trying to help drivers and other drivers not being able to stop.  The ice was/is so bad and everyone was doing the speedlimit plus.  WTH?

But everyone got through the day safely.  Only one rig went into a ditch and I forgot to get the story on that.  lol  But it was stopped somewhere and literally slid into the ditch.

Last night it got down to under 13 degrees and today has been a high of 33.  It’s gorgeous so a lot of the ice has melted off our road finally.  Feeling much better about him at work.  Snow is in the forecast for the next 2 days, but he’s off and only in classes for them.  Yippee!  Less to worry about.

Today starts the new set. This is always a good/bad thing. I know he’s happy to be at work and I do love that he’s there. It gets difficult with so many days off at home.

But it also means the lack of sleep is back. I have no idea why it started. Now I need to start off with I had sleeping issues to begin with and insomniac tendencies. So I’m sure that this is part of the issue. Of course I’m an internet addict and need to get off my computer in order for things to be better. But if he’s not home, not only do I not feel that I need to go to bed because no one is there to know, but once in bed I have a really difficult time getting to sleep.

Now for the record and I am not ready to talk about it yet on this blog, this issue started before our Chief’s death. So it was not the mortality that was slapped in my face that started it. Yes, I’m sure it doesn’t help it, but it was not the beginning of it. I didn’t consciously see a difference in my sleep pattern back 8ish months ago when it started. I don’t feel that I’m worried about hubby. I know he’s safe, but I guess I must be more worried than I thought?

I get a lot of work done when he works. I watch a lot of movies. Many times it’s ok, but the kids are getting their own lives now. So if the kids are gone a lot and he takes any overtime I have started getting lonely.

This weekend is all about family, so even if he works extra the kids and I are booked up with stuff to do. I’m going to work on it being a great weekend. Wonder what movies I’m behind on?

C A L L W A I T I N G

I’m laying in the darkness, I cannot fall asleep.
I wonder where my husband is, I wish he’d call or beep.
I saw him leave this morning, the black boots on his feet.
He said he had to run now, and I know he’s on the street.
You’ll know him when You see him, his truck is very loud.
He has no time to stop now, he doesn’t want a crowd.
A caller said “Please hurry!” Come quickly if you will.
A young man with a motorbike is laying very still.
A mother calls in anguish, her child limp and blue.
HURRY! Come, I need you! I don’t know what to do.
I hear his key turning, he’s coming in the door.
I hear him drop his boots, then footsteps on the floor.
I hear him in the kitchen, I can tell from his walk,
He’ll soon come and wake me, and ask if we can talk.
We’ll sit out in the moonlight, and listen to the night.
He talks about a shooting, a streetgang in a fight.
A car crash, a drowning, a small child hurt at play.
The things he needs to talk about, the things he did today.
The old, the sick, the injured, some so very small.
He did all he could to help them, he answered every call.
Every day he has a mission, he knows it in his heart.
He does everything he can and always does his part.
If you are sick or injured and you need to reach my Hon,
I can tell you how to reach him, his number is ……911.

A Firefighter’s Wife

Oh boy are you in for a lot here.  This will be the smiles, the giggles, the laughing on the floor and the tears that keep you in bed.  This is the nitty-gritty of being a fire fighter wife.  I’d have it no other way, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

My husband was born for this job, truly it is his calling.  I was born to be by his side and I support him 125% in his career choice.  But it’s difficult so many times and I hate for him to always have to hear about it.  He understands that it is difficult with all the shift changing and OT that happens last minute, but there are no other options available.  It is what it is.

You’ll hear about it all here.  Follow along and feel at home.  I look forward to hearing back from so many of you.  We truly need to stick together and help each other.  Because we only have each other to call for back up!