SFD Academy Week One

So it's taken 10 years for Sean to get his dream job, but the next 20 weeks might be our greatest challenge yet!  

From now until the middle of September, Sean and his fellow recruits will be giving everything they have got (and then some!) to the department fire academy.  At the family orientation we attended back in Week One, we were encouraged/instructed from his drill instructor to be as patient and supportive of our beloved recruits as possible and to expect very little from them while they are pushed to their limits on every level, for every day of the next 5 months. And I don't think he was exaggerating.  

Translation? I get to love Sean, feed Sean and free him of all other responsibilities and distractions while he does whatever he needs to do in order to succeed in the academy.  Sounds exciting and crazy and fun and scary, but I know we have what it takes and after everything we have been through, I know that we will do whatever it takes.  So bring it on!!

For fun, and as a creative outlet for my sanity, I thought I would do a Weekly Report for the next 20 weeks of the academy as my own version of a count down.  It won't be so much about what Sean is up to, but more about what the rest of us are up to while he pours himself into his new job. It should be an interesting summer- I can't wait to see what's in store!

Oh, and before I go on, a dear friend of mine hosted a fun little Mother's Day photo shoot the weekend before the academy started. We had this scheduled way before we had any idea that Sean would be getting hired, but how perfect is it that we got to take a family picture right before this next big adventure? 

God's timing, even in the small details, never ceases to comfort and amuse me :)  

 Thank you, God.  And thank you, Sam!!

Now, on to the rest of the week...

Day One, DONE!!

We should have been putting them all to bed, but we decided this day called for a little celebration first.

If it's a big day for Daddy, it's a big day for all of us!!

Sean was physically and mentally exhausted but I could tell that he felt great.

On Thursday, I got to celebrate Mother's Day at UCNS
with a special song (complete with hand motions!) and a hand made gift from my precious puppy, Elliott.

I seriously could not love him more!!

And on Friday, the fire department had a Family Orientation for the new recruits.  It was the perfect excuse for a much needed date, and thanks to my little sister who drove up in Friday night traffic, we got to go without our kids (Thanks, Emma!!).  The whole way to Sacramento I was excited but still nervous- this whole thing still didn't feel real and I was afraid that at any moment someone was going to call us up and say "Oops, we made a mistake- you are not supposed to be here".  But as we pulled up to the event, right there in the parking lot, we see a big love note from God to us declaring "You are supposed to be here!"
The one fire truck they had on display was Truck 43- Sean's jersey number from when he played football for the Aggies!!  

So of course, I made us take a picture :)

There are still so many questions and unknowns, but we are confident that God put Sean here and put him here for a reason and so out of all the emotions we are experiencing, mostly we are just grateful!! 

One week down, nineteen more to go!!

Week 2