Winds of change...

...are on the horizon for Chuck's job. Many of you know that my husband is a boat captain. Currently he's a captain of a commercial fishing vessel. This was a path he chose right out of high school, rather than to take a full scholarship for soccer at a small two year christian college. He's kicked himself (pun to the soccer reference unintended, but clever don't you think?) many, many times now that he's a dad. What a dad he is! His boys love and respect him so much because, first and foremost in his life is his personal relationship with God. What a husband he is for the very same reason! He's always been a dad who would read, bathe, change diapers, stay up all night with a sick baby and work all day. He's also been a husband who would clean toilets, do laundry, cook meals and on and on and on...The boys are blessed with a dad who sacrifices without EVER grumbling or complaining (he considers it an honor to serve his boys.) I'm blessed with a man who loves me more than I ever expected possible (again he makes me feel its his honor to serve me.) He supports the boys and I spiritually, financially and emotionally. He's strong and stable. Thanks goodness he's not perfect, that's what makes him perfect for the boys and I. (Thanks mom you picked a good one!)

Over the years he's had job changes within his career. Before we had children I encouraged him to go back to school and obtain his license for Master (boat captain). He wasn't appreciated where he was, and it was a dead end job with no room for advancement. Once he became professionally licensed doors opened for him in the towing industry. It wasn't long and he was highly sought after.

We made a choice about 4 years ago to take a break from tugging. Tugging required him to be gone 2 weeks at a time and home one week at a time. Call me weak, but raising four boys alone for two weeks straight really got to me. I needed him home a little more frequently. He made another job change back to commercial fishing. We said to ourselves "we'll ride the wave", in relation to however long we felt he could stay in the job. We'd be grateful for the time God allowed.

Fishing requires different sacrifices than tugging. Time is less of a factor, but there are many other factors: pay, breakdowns, weather, benefits, professionalism, and currently a receding product. We've tried to make adjustments to our expenses. We even tried to sell our home in a declining market, knowing--God would lead us. It has been a VERY tough year and half, financially. Although we worry, and have to continually remind ourselves of who is in control, we know who provides. We've prayed for God to show us what he wants us to do. God has done it in his time. He's allowed us to suffer, to be discouraged, and tempted. We know He may not be done with that process yet. We believe all His signs point to going back to tugging.

Chuck really didn't want to back to tugging. He fought it for months. Now he believes it's where God wants him. Just this morning he received a phone call from someone asking him to show up to a site in the NY Harbor by 4 a.m. in the morning. It's a job where he'll commute (yuck), but he'll be off on Sundays (this was a huge point of contention for Chuck when he was going back to tugboats. God found a way. There is another company who knows he's 'back in the business' so to speak, and they are trying to rearrange things so they can hire him. He was told by that company "we really want you here! We are going to do all we can to make it happen."

This has been such a boost for his ego. He's been discouraged by the owners where he is now, and they didn't make any attempt to keep him. I'm so proud of his faithfulness to God, and his example as the spiritual leader for our family. He has waited on the Lord. He wrestled with what the Lord wanted for him. In the end he listened to God and never turned his back on Him. To God be the Glory!