FREE Standard Shipping on Orders $69+ with code:
FREESHIPPING
Cheers
Give a Cheer
Give a Cheer
This is my 1st entry for the CK Hero contest.
Journaling:
Josh- you are my friend… my inspiration… my love… my hero! When we found out we were having Cameron, you made an instantaneous decision to alter the course of your life and come back home to be with me and raise our child. You were living your dream down in Key West, doing what you loved best in the world- sport-fishing! And you were lucky enough and good enough to make a living doing it! You were all set to begin your dream job as a mate on a fishing boat cruising the Gulf of Mexico…. heading to ports unknown… always chasing the elusive Blue Marlin. Chasing fish, chasing dreams, chasing life- that was the Josh I knew and loved and would never want to change. But as soon as you found out about Cameron, you knew the only choice was to give it all up your dreams and aspirations and come home and be a father. It was definitely a bumpy transition! It was hard, it was sad, and angry, and resentful…. Yet in the end it was perfect!
You came home in the middle of my 2nd trimester… to a changed, lumpy girl with a bulging belly and every other “part”, and you accepted me that way. I gained 80 lbs during that pregnancy, and never once did you say an unkind word. You went and studied hard to get your captain’s license… acing the exam and ending top in your class. When Cameron was born you were instrumental in his birth, helping me when the labor took a long, hard turn… pushing me when I was ready to give up. In the end we made it, though it was touch and go for a while. You were able to stay with us for that 1st month; saving my sanity I’m sure during those long, sleepless nights with an increasingly ravenous infant who seemed to think sleep was unnecessary. I missed you terribly when you made the hard decision to go off to find work in the oilfields. You had now completely abandoned your dreams, stoically shouldering the burden and responsibility of fatherhood. The young man who’d run from even a hint of responsibility instantly turned into a mature, thoughtful, loving, responsible adult- committed to providing for his family. You hated those weeks spent away from us. You worked a grueling schedule- 3 weeks on (away) 1 week off (home). That week passed far too quickly. You hated missing out on Cam’s life, you hated the work you were doing, and yet you persevered, knowing without that paycheck we could very well end up homeless.
It was tough, and not just on you. I had a rough time as a new mom. Cameron was always hungry, never sleepy, very needy. I missed you. I missed having a LIFE. I wasn’t too sure about the hungry squealing thing I’d brought home from the hospital. But you were never unsure…. You loved him from the moment he was born, and I could see your love for me grow as Cameron grew. And as he grew you knew you couldn’t continue to miss out on his life. You made arrangements for a job back home in Pensacola. It meant a huge pay-cut and it was a huge demotion as well- going from a boat captain back to a deckhand. But you knew it was worth it. I always admired you for that move: a very grown-up move. You never liked taking orders, yet you purposefully took a job that would put you under several bosses… just to be with your family.! The boy I had fallen in love with had now turned into a responsible adult!
You made sooo many sacrifices to be a daddy. I always knew you’d be a good father, yet you surprised even me with your devotion, love and sacrifices. Prior to Cameron I would have said fishing was the MOST important thing to you in the world. I know now this is untrue. Our children, our life- those are the things that matter. But, I am happy you have finally found a balance between being a devoted father and being a happy man. You have amazed me with your tenacity and hard-work…. Keeping your full-time job as a boat captain (moving back up the ranks at work!) and operating your own fishing guide service would be more than enough for most people… yet you still find time to do ALL of the laundry (people are amazed when I say I haven’t done a load in over 4 years!), help me with my hobbies, play and read to the children, help out with grilling dinner, and doing all the other wonderful “daddy” things! I love you, I treasure you, I admire you. You will always be our hero!
Products used:
Bazzill
BG Black Tie and Urban Couture
Scrapworks rubons: morocco, pink cocoa
Pressed Petals: chip chatter 2.5" letters; chipboard flowers
black ink: pagecraft
black thread: unknown
No products have been added to this project.
Thanks for spreading positivity!
September 16, 2006
April 09, 2006
April 03, 2006
March 27, 2006
March 27, 2006