I'm not coming home......

Yesterday, about 3 minutes before leaving work to come home, I heard dispatch call my husband & his crew on the radio. Now a wife knows (if she listens to the scanner) that this is never a good thing. Especially with 2 large fires in California burning out of control. Then about 4 minutes after hearing that, my phone rings. My husband has a little excitement in his voice, since they haven't gone to many fires yet this year. He says "well, I'm not coming home tonight. We're being ordered to the Tahoe fire." The funny thing is when I went to the store to get some salad stuff (for dinner) I had a feeling in my stomach that said he won't be home. So last night our 3 dogs and I enjoyed some TV shows alone in our quiet house. It's so weird how, when he's home but asleep or outside, it's quiet. But when he's gone, it's really quiet. Our dogs know when it's a certain time and "dad" isn't home, he's gone. They get this sad look on their faces. It's kinda cute in a way!!
I wonder if other wives feel this way?? I would rather him be sent to a fire while he's at work or before he comes home. It's easier, since I already kissed him good-bye and haven't seen him for hours. I get sad when he gets a phone call ("that infamous night ring") while he's at home. Because while he's showering, packing his stuff up or eating his breakfast, I know he's leaving and won't be home. I always stand at the door and wave like a little kid waving good-bye to their dad. I do this because I'm not sure how long he'll be gone. So which would you prefer, leaving work or home??
I must say for a wife who has a husband on the road and on fires, cell phones are a godsend!! I can talk to him while he's driving to the incident and he even calls me when he's on fires. I love getting a phone call from him when he takes a 5 minute break on the fireline; just to say "Hi." It's nice to know that in the middle of the inferno and chaos, he thinks about you, too. Growing up a fireman's daughter and grand-daughter, this hasn't always been the same. I can remember when my dad would be gone and we wouldn't hear from him for days. Then when he did call home, it was after waiting in a line to use the phone for 10 minutes. Not much time to talk!! My grandfather on the other hand feels quite different about it all, and I don't dare tell him how my husband calls home often. His attitude was "well I'm on a fire, and will see her when I get home. I bought grandma a scanner so she could hear what's going on, but I rarely called home while on a fire." Isn't it funny how through the generations, with technology changing, everyone feels differently.
Well, it's time to get my house chores started and I'm headed out for a little walk this morning while it's cool.

I'm praying for safety for all the husbands who are fighting the fires in California and everywhere else.

Lord, I pray that You would protect our husbands from any accidents, and danger. Keep him safe, especially while traveling to and fighting fires. Wherever he walks, secure his steps.

Keep him on Your path so that his feet don't slip. (Psalm 17:5)