I am so thankful for Alicia’s willingness to share today what it’s like to be married to a police officer in 2018. I personally am so thankful for the service of those who protect us and for the families who watch them walk out the door each day. Alicia, thank you for sharing a glimpse into your world with us today and please, thank your spouse for his service!
Babe,
I am so proud of you. I can’t believe you are going back to school! That’s so amazing! I know it’s gonna be hard since we have a baby now and we are both working, but we’ll make it work. Again, so proud of you! Love, A
_______________________________
Babe,
Gosh I wish I could call you right now! I know you just left the house five minutes ago and are only blocks from home. I REALLY need you right now. Little Man got his hand pinched in the door and I need to get him to the ER. It’s bleeding pretty good and he’s gonna need stitches. Ugh, this is so hard without you here!! I will call my aunt to come drive us because I know that you have a test at school that you can’t afford to miss. Keep on plugging away at school. We will make it through this, but it’s so hard! Wish you were here. Love you, A
_______________________________
Babe,
This CAN’T be real!!! How did this happen?!! How did we lose someone from our department?!! This is so messed up!!! He was just here today and now he’s gone! I can’t imagine how difficult this will be for his wife and kids. What can we do?!! I will keep praying for them, but I feel so helpless. You keep watch outside their house, and I will see you when we can. Hang in there, Babe. Keep the faith! Watch your six and PLEASE come home safe! Love, A
_______________________________
Babe,
What a special day it was today seeing you graduate! Me and the little man were cheering you on from the stands! He was so excited cheering for “Daddy!” I can’t believe that we will have another little one this time next year. Wow! Love you and we are so proud! Love, A
_______________________________
Babe,
Tonight, was a night that we will never forget! How cool to be surrounded by our family, at your swearing in ceremony! Also, cool that the kids and I got to hold the bible during the ceremony. We are so proud of you and all your hard work! All that time as a volunteer police reserve has paid off in experience and now you have a job! Keep it up! Love, A
_______________________________
Babe,
Today is a day I have dreaded since you became a cop. I don’t like the fact that we will have a gun in our house with small kids still at home…I HATE this!!! I wish it didn’t have to come to this. I wish there was a better way. Hopefully, it won’t take me too long to get over this fear. But it scares me. Nothing is more important to me than you and the kids. NOTHING! Love Always, A
_______________________________
Babe,
Can I tell you that the nights are so lonely when you are working? The kids and I miss you, and I don’t sleep well without you home. I think it’s time to get a dog. I just don’t feel safe. And if I’m completely honest, I am so jealous of my friend’s who have their husbands home safe at night, while I lay awake, checking my phone every hour to make sure I didn’t miss a call from you. I hope you are okay. I pray for your safety and that of your partners. I think about you always. Watch your six and please, PLEASE come home safe to me. Love, A
_______________________________
Babe,
The kids and I were driving today and we saw a squad and an ambulance and thought of you. They were going lights and sirens. So today we started a new tradition. Every time we see a squad or an ambulance or a firetruck, we are going to say a prayer. We will pray for the first responders, for the victims, for the doctors, for the families whose lives will be changed. In a time and place where we feel so helpless, this is what we can do. Love, A
_______________________________
Babe,
Today is Father’s Day. I have a big surprise for you. After church my parents are coming to watch the kids and we are going to the range for “Date Day.” Today you will teach me your skill. Today I will learn how to shoot and handle the guns. It’s time to face that this is our reality. Time to get over this fear inside of me. I feel sick to my stomach and have butterflies. You will tell me that it will be okay. You are so good at this. It will be okay. Love, A
_______________________________
Babe,
Tonight, the kid’s school program was so cute! You would have loved it. I wish I didn’t feel like a “single parent” at all these functions. It’s so hard to have you miss out on so much. I know the kids really feel it too. I love you and wish you were here. Have a good night. There’s a plate in the fridge. Love, A
_______________________________
Babe,
It’s been hours since I heard from you. I know you are holding perimeter, but it’s pouring rain out and the lightning and thunder has the dog hiding in the bathroom. You must be so cold and wet. Please eat something when you can. I wish you could just call in sick on days like today. We need you at home. Take care of yourself and watch your six! Always come home to us! Love, A
_______________________________
Babe,
I don’t usually feel like this when you are at work. But you have me worried today. I know you are on a SWAT call. I know too much. I know that the person you are dealing with is a sniper with PTSD and he is armed. I know you are trained well, and gosh you are so good at what you do. That is the only reason why I haven’t made you quit by now. But please, please call me when you can. I need to hear your voice. I don’t usually worry like this. Thankfully Trisha was up, and she is praying with me. I am so thankful to have my sisters in blue. I feel like nobody else understands. It’s an isolating feeling. I just really miss you. Please be careful. Call me. Love, A
_______________________________
Babe,
I think it’s time to move. I can’t believe you had to deal with parents from the kid’s school again today. That has to be super awkward and uncomfortable. And I don’t know if I can deal with our “anti-cop” neighbor much longer. He just gives me the creeps. He doesn’t even smile when the kids wave to him. And what about the damage to our car out front and the eggs that we never cleaned off. The toilet papering of the house was pretty funny though. The kids and I did get a good laugh about that one, but it took FOREVER to clean up! Is Just wish we weren’t a known “Cop’s House” in the neighborhood. But hey, at least you and your partners can always drop by during meal time! I do love that about living in the city. Or when you forget your lunch, you can pop on home. Have a good night, see you in the morning. I miss you. Love, A
_______________________________
Babe,
I turned on the radio today and heard about the shooting. My heart is broken. I bawled the whole way to work. How did it get to be this bad?!!! Officers being targeted. The public is in fear of the police. And the media is the driving force that wants to sell a story. Why do people keep believing you want to cause hurt and pain? Don’t they see that you are just a dad, and a husband and a man? Well that’s what we see. We know that even though this is your calling, that you are amazing at what you do, that at the end of the day, to us, you are just “Daddy.” We love you for that. I know that this job is thankless. That you are overworked and underpaid and underappreciated. We are here to say that “WE see you.” We love you forever, please ALWAYS make it home safe to us. We need you. Love, A
_______________________________
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9
Alicia was born and raised in Minnesota. She loves her life making people beautiful in her two salons, doula-ing on the side, raising her kids and loving her husband and family. She is reminded daily how precious life truly is, and is grateful for all of God’s many blessings.
PS – Don’t miss a thing with this series! Follow along on Facebook and Instagram to catch each of the upcoming stories! I absolutely LOVE connecting with each of you!
PPS – If you’re ever looking for a devotional on living life while in a waiting season, check out the devotional I co-authored called ‘In the Wait’!
PPPS – Check out the other contributions from this series, including What It’s Like: to experience multiple IVF cycles, raise a child with special needs, use an egg donor, be a DIY-er and home style blogger , be a NICU nurse, Live fully in singleness while still hoping for marriage, suffer with endometriosis. experience depression, start a company, have a micro preemie, lose a parent, be childless not by choice, have a spouse with a chronic illness, fund raise for fertility treatments, have a traumatic birthing experience, take a natural route with infertility, be on a reality show, go through the adoption process, have male factor infertility,be a stay at home mom, be an entertainer, be given a Down syndrome diagnosis for your child , experience multiple miscarriages, have a surrogate, and experience a late pregnancy stillbirth. Stay tuned for many other amazing topics to come every Tuesday and Friday here!
Trials Bring Joy 