Vanessa's Story

October 2008

IN THE BEGINNING

When my husband applied online, he did so while I was at church one evening. I came home and he said, “guess what I did?” He told me he applied online with the BP... Now, mind you he has always wanted to do BP / US Marshals, so this didn't hit me out of the blue. I knew he was unhappy working for his family, which provided really well, but it wasn't his DREAM JOB.

I was like, “Oh my goodness,” all of the what if, buts, or, ands came out of the wood work that could. The way I dealt with it, was that I truly and sincerely prayed about the two, and asked which one of these careers he would get, and the Lord told me that he would make the BP.... Months later, I told my husband this. He was stunned that I knew what I knew. I didn't know whether to support him or kill him from wanting to take me and the kids away from everything and everyone we had ever known. I continued to pray throughout the whole process (took us 9 months) and no door was ever shut.

The Background Investigation took one day, and I just prayed that the Lord would give me peace about this all... Believe me, HE DID! So when he EODed to Del Rio, TX (First time around) we were so excited and I started looking at homes etc. etc.. then three weeks into the academy, he told me, Vanessa - this Friday I need you to pick me up from the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport in TX... needless to say, I was shocked. I didn't know why he did until he went through the academy the second time around and we were stationed at Yuma... Needless to say, now I see why he didn't make it the first time around.
1. The church that God wanted us at is here
2. I wouldn't have been able to start BP Spouses Support
3. My marriage is stronger then it has ever been, we have been married now for almost 23 years.
4. Starting the web site and forum in 1999, where we evolved from a one page web site with a long internet address (url) of "what to bring to the academy" to our very own URL "www.bpspouses.com" of more than 100 pages. WOW! Just think of all the information that we have gathered for you.

We have over 60 towns covered with e-mail support throughout the U.S. Different sectors and stations are inquiring about our program and wanting to be a part of what we have been successful at or to create a similar program to use at their station. As you can see, we are making a difference throughout the U.S.

When my husband didn't make it through the academy the first time, I second guessed God, then I stopped in my tracks and started standing on his promises.. whaaaa laaa, here we are! In Oct. 2008, we will be in the patrol ten years - wow how time flies. The only thing I can suggest is that you trust in your faith in God, and he will lead you and guide you every step of the way. "In the midst of a storm, stand still."

LIVE AS A BORDER PATROL WIFE / FAMILY

Now that he has been an Agent for over five years, I can tell you what it's like to be a Border Patrol Wife and the family life that goes along with it.

In the beginning, the job does require him to work a lot of hours. NO, we didn't get to spend a lot of time together. He changed shifts every six weeks (here in Yuma/Wellton). There are three shifts (day, swings, nights). Probably since his third year in, he has been on day shift with an occassional swing/night shift.

It wasn't difficult getting used to his hours because he worked a lot of hours with his job back home too. The most thing that I have personally had to adjust to was the fact of him working MIDS and that the kids and I have to spend some of the holidays by ourselves for the most part. Now that we live around 1,200 miles away from home we have had to learn to lean on one another.

We try to make the most out of our time we get to spend together, and the time that we are apart makes the time we get to spend together more precious.

SAFETY

Am I worried about safety for my kids? NO, at this point I feel just as safe with him being a BP as I did back home. I don't feel any kind of threat due to his job of any kind. Although, we have instructed the kids to NOT tell their friends on what their daddy does for a living... Are we embarrassed? NOPE! Just taking precautions.
Safety is our #1 priority with our kids. Better SAFE then SORRY!

DO IT AGAIN?

ABSOLUTLY!!! We have came a long ways from where we were.

He has his dream job working for the DHS and he gets all the bells and whistles available to him/us.

Since creating BPspouses.com, the BP Spouses forum , BP Spouses Support (local), and helping other sectors/stations start their support programs.

Our kids like Yuma and have adjusted fine. I am not saying they don't miss home because they do! We all do!

I hope this has been informative to you, and that it has helped you as well. Best of luck and God's speed. Just an added note.. It has been seven plus years now since he became an agent, and he still loves his job, and I still back him up 100%!

My husbands' time line.

Mrs. Vanessa