Friday was a special day for our family! We had the opportunity to attend a ceremony where Steve and his brothers in blue were being honored for the hard work that they do. To Steve it’s not a big deal because it is what he was trained to do. However, we don’t get the daily play by play so for us, it was a chance to recognize and appreciate him. Four hours round trip, three kids, one nurse, and Ella’s medical equipment couldn’t stop us from being there.

Anyone who knows Steve knows that he doesn’t do anything for glory and attention placed on him is not his favorite. He prefers to go about his life in the shadows, confident in the work that he does. While I can respect that, I do think that in todays climate it is important for our kids to know that the work daddy does is important and that it doesn’t go unnoticed. Steve and his fellow officers saved a man’s life. It was nothing short of heroic.

Steve’s job is tough. He is faced with situations that not everyone can handle and he works hours that keep him away from the family. There are days the kids don’t see him at all and nights that I only get a kiss before he goes to bed to rest and start his routine all over again. We all sacrifice a lot so that he can do what he does, but he loves his job and we support him every step of the way.

When I walked into the gym for the ceremony I was filled with gratitude for the people sitting there with me. We share the same fears, we know what it’s like to celebrate holidays without our loved ones, we have shifted schedules and made accommodations because an eight hour tour is often uncommon, and we know how the job affects us all. It’s rare to be surrounded by so many people at once who can related to the life that we live.

There were many medals given out. Some for catching bad guys, some for saving lives, some for drug busts, and some for recognizing a bad situation and taking action to keep things from escalating. What an honor it was to be in a room with all those amazing police officers and for my kids to see firsthand the good work being done.

I don’t know what tomorrow will bring and I pray every night that Steve comes home safe. What I do know is that he is doing good work and we are all so proud of him. His job is often a thankless one and his profession is not the most well liked out there. It’s a lifestyle and not one that many people understand.

As always, I requested a nice family picture at the end of the ceremony. Jack was over being contained, Ella was feeling feisty, and miraculously CJ was cooperative. Steve and I smiled big and the picture we ended up getting was real life in our house. I don’t need a perfect picture to remember the day. All that matters is that we are together for the moments that truly matter.