If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you'll know that one of the most important part of our family is my hubby's job. He's a collegiate football video coordinator, and most people don't even know that that's a "thing". I had no idea what that meant or what he did when I met him. In fact, I'm still not 100% sure. But, I do know that his job has made our family what it is. What we are. And, it's influenced us, more than we will ever know.
I first met DJ my first year of grad school. It was the beginning of football season. That year, we spent many late nights hanging out at the football office so he could work and we could be together. We even went to a bowl game on our honeymoon. Yes, the day after we got married, we flew out to Lafayette, La, so he could spend the next few days working for our college football team at their first trip to the New Orleans Bowl.
Since then, he's worked at four universities. In 9 years of marriage, we've lived in 4 states, and in 8 houses. Gretchen has lived in 4, Megan has lived in 3, and Adalyn, just 1.
You see, because of football, our family dynamics are very different. I spend many days explaining to neighbors, and even close family members that my husband is away at work 12-14 hours a day. Especially during football season. Our season ended over a month ago. You'd think that when the games ended, so would football season. But, that is so far from the truth.
We are now full swing into recruiting. Thankfully, my husband does not have to go on the road to recruit players; he's too busy in the video office breaking down their film, and even preparing for next season!
After recruiting comes spring ball, followed by high school camps, and come August, we say our good-byes until December. He has gone several days without even seeing our girls awake. Gretchen even thought that the football office was daddy's "house".
I definitely do not regret or second guess his job choices. I have told him over and over again- wherever you need to go, let's go. I have faith that God will always put us with people, a team, and in a community that we need to be at exactly the right time. If God wants us to move, it will happen.
November 30th was a tough day for our family this year. We saw it coming, I think deep down we knew, but we didn't want to know. You see, our head coach was let go. I spent the day explaining to my co-workers, that that also meant that all of the coaches were let go as well. When the head coach is essentially fired, so is everyone else.
We spent two and a half weeks in a waiting game. A holding space. Not knowing what was going to happen to our family and if God would choose to place us somewhere else.
I shed tears knowing that the ladies that had become my friends, and even more so, my family, would no longer be a short distance away. But, that many, will be moving across country. Their husbands would be struggling to find jobs. Making phone calls, going on interviews, and praying that God would find them a job. And fast.
You see, us football wives, have a unique bond. For we are the only people who truly get the lives that our husbands lead. The life they were called to serve.
The day before our 9 year anniversary, we were told that DJ would be retained! We would not be moving or scrambling to find a new job!
The news was sweet. Bittersweet, but albeit, sweet. In four years, we have grown to love Tulsa. I couldn't imagine leaving, and worse, I couldn't imagine being told we HAD to leave.
My heart aches for our coaching friends who are scrambling to find jobs right now.
As for our family, I couldn't imagine us living a "normal" life. Hands down, DJ loves what he does. I 100% support the job he has chosen. The life that WE have chosen.
Don't get me wrong, there are rough times. The times that he's not there for the little things- the parent/teacher conferences, the girls' "firsts", or when I have to tell him funny stories from the day that I know he would have loved to witness first hand.
I am late to work almost every single day. I have to get three girls dressed and to school. He helps when he can, and those times when he's home, when he helps, they make my day! I don't take for granted when he's able to stay home 5 more minutes, or come home 5 minutes early!
During our 2 1/2 week waiting period this month, he was able to take the little girls to daycare every day, and oh, it was heaven! I was able to leave for work with a clean house! I was on time! And, we've been able to have family dinners again! It makes me fall in love with him all over again! Seriously, it's the little things.
Our girls love their daddy. They love being around football! Football, touchdown- are among their first words! They even know the "touchdown" signal, and I'll never forget when we were sitting at an end of the year football banquet, and someone said "touchdown" in a prayer and Gretchen through her hands up and we all laughed in spite of ourselves!
These girls are going to know more about football than their husbands! If i'm honest with myself, I know that we will eventually move again; I'm worried at how it will affect the girls, but the other coaches kids I've been around- those in high school, college, or even grown up- they're such wonderful people; they're so well adjusted, and they are so close to their parents. I know it's because of football. And, when they get upset that we're moving them again, I know that they'll adjust, and I know that they'll be better people for it. I know that football is their way of life. It already is.
Over the last week, I've caught myself being excited for football season to begin again in August! I am excited for our new head coach, and for the families that will become our family. I can't wait to see what we'll have in store.
Always, TU Blue.
