"Daddy comes home safely"

As many of you know, my husband is a correctional officer by profession. In my early adult years, I told myself that I wouldn't want to marry a doctor, police officer, or a man in the military. Doctors I figure have long hours and too many pretty nurses within reach! Police officers and military men of course follow danger. But love prevailed and I got myself an officer, though not a cop, but certainly in the same blanket family of dangerous jobs. Add, that he worked the night shift meant that I was left home by myself during the dark nights. I learned not to jump every time the house creaked. I learned to get use to having my own gun and be able to know how to use it properly. I learned to plead to Heavenly Father to bring Dave home safely. All this also while pregnant with little David and for his first year and a half. Then Dave got a swing shift position (2pm-10pm). That still left us alone during part of the night, but it sure was much better that he was in bed with me at nights. He's still in the swing shift position now and so the kids and I have come to a routine to fend for ourselves ... of course, along the way Dave has provided us a safe environment ... peaceful neighborhood, good lighting, security cameras, etc. Moreover, being a family man gave him a great motivation and assurance to us that he will do everything he can to return home to us. Of course, it couldn't hurt to pray for him either and so we do. Little David must have picked up the "Daddy comes home safely" part of my earlier prayers because now, all his prayers include this; even meal time prayers! Now, Sophia hasn't quite gotten the structure of proper prayer (address Heavenly Father, thank Him, make requests, and close in the name of Jesus Christ, amen) but she'll fold her arms, close her eyes, bow her head and prays, "Daddy come home safely, amen". That's it! Nothing else. Really cute. And as for Steven, he'll fold his arms and say his word of amen after us ... darling!!

I mention this because a few nights ago Dave neglected to tell me that he'd be home late and the reality of being a wife of an officer came to the picture. I've learned to be tough but I still worry silently.

LA Natural History Museum

I took the kids to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles earlier this week on their free admission day ... hhhmmm. Wow, it was incredibly-crazy crowded! Lil David and I went a few years ago on a free admit day and I don't remember it being soooooooo crowded, but come to think of it, I think we went during Spring. Seriously, it was a herd! All the mommies/daddies were hanging on to their children for dear life!! But all was not lost, we enjoyed a snack picnic outside the facility lawn. The kids got to play with some kids, chase pigeons, and climb a tree.

By the way, the travel experience getting there was a "treat". The mapquest driving directions (with help from signs once in the area) guided us smoothly on the 70mile track there. Of course, once there, the parking lot attendant only accepted cash. I had but a dollar in my wallet ... not enough! So off to find a bank we went. Driving around seemingly in circles and hitting "road work" every other block, but not too worried, lil Dave offered a prayer to find a bank and boom! About a couple of minutes later, a BofA was in sight! Now that we were turned around, I wasn't too sure where the museum was, so David offered another prayer to find it. Yeap, boom! We found it. --If such prayers were answered, imagine the prayers you want answered. Just may not be the answer you want to hear, but always what's best for you! --Happy praying all !!