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The Biggest Moment of Our Lives

by Erika Torres
34 comments

It was better than the time Leo sang to Kate….

titanic

 

Better than the time Johnny lifted Baby….

dirty dancing

 

Even better than the time Elliot flew in the sky…

ET

I almost want to say that I was freakin’ Julie Andrews singing at the top of a damn hill like a crazy woman…

soundofmusic

But even THAT doesn’t do justice to the BIGGEST MOMENT OF OUR LIVES. (So Far).

For three years, THREE YEARS, I watched (sometimes impatiently) while my husband followed his dream to become a firefighter in southern California.

The process is long; the journey arduous.

For us, the journey started in August of 2010. My husband began to work as an EMT for an ambulance company, barely making a bit more than minimum wage.

He took tests everywhere: Seattle, Nevada, Arizona, northern California… countless dollars were spent on travel to these tests. At the beginning, he wouldn’t even pass the tests.

Then he quit his job and attended the fire academy full-time–leaving us to survive on my income alone.

After four months of 4 am wake-up calls and 12-hour days , he graduated the fire academy and immediately began work as an EMT for a fire department an hour and a half drive from home.

Six months later, he started at another fire department as an EMT, only 20 minutes from home. He worked there part-time for three months before finally landing a full-time spot. He also did volunteer work as a reserve firefighter for another fire department, working two 24-hour shifts a month.

And did I mention that for the past year and a half, he’s been going to school full-time to finish his bachelor’s?

For this fire department, he took the test in July. July, people!Β After passing the test in July, then an oral interview in August, then a chief’s interview in September and a background investigation that lasted two months and included interviews with me, my parents, Eric’s parents, our neighbors, ex-girlfriends, long-time friends, and all his previous employers since like…forever ago…

He finally moved on to the swim test.

After 15 minutes in the pool, he got out and signed his job offer letter.

We have been waiting for this moment for three years. THREE YEARS. And it is finally here.

And after all those tests in cities hundreds of miles away, you know where my husband ended up?

In the same city he grew up in, 20 minutes away from where we currently live.

 

So what now?

There is still fingerprinting, a physical, a lie detector test, a mental health evaluation–all things that he has taken and passed before.

Then he will start the fire academy in January, and will be on probation for a year, before he is officially hired full-time.

I just can’t put into words the amount of happiness we both have in our hearts right now. This was the best Christmas present we could have possibly received.

This has been on our goal list for the past two years, and now we can finally cross it off.

We are so incredible blessed. So, so blessed. All the tears and heartaches and disappointment over positions that we were SURE he was going to get were all worth it for this moment.

 

34 comments

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Cat Alford (@BudgetBlonde) January 6, 2014 - 1:30 pm

I am catching up on my blog reading and had to send you a huge congrats!! I’ve been following Eric’s journey the past couple of years and I can only imagine how happy you are. Kudos to him for never giving up!

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newlywedsonabudget January 7, 2014 - 9:09 am

Thank you so much Cat! It’s been an incredibly hard journey, so it is so great to finally be reaching the finish line

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[…] from Newlyweds on a Budget is celebrating her husband finally achieving his dream of becoming a […]

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Nairobi December 7, 2013 - 4:55 pm

Congratulations! It will change your lives. I am amazed at how grateful you are for the small accomplishments. I can see his dedication, hard work, and commitment get him far..perhaps even a fire chief???

Why not/? Everything is possible with hard work.

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Michelle's Finance Journal December 6, 2013 - 12:17 pm

Congratulations~ It’s such an admirable profession.

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Taylor December 6, 2013 - 9:06 am

Congrats! That is so awesome! I had no idea how long the process is to become a firefighter. I’m so thankful so many make that sacrifice to keep us safe!

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Lisa E. @ Lisa Vs. The Loans December 5, 2013 - 12:46 pm

Awesome! Congrats to your husband! You’ve been incredibly supportive

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Shannon December 4, 2013 - 6:00 am

Congratulations!
I know how much you’ve both sacrificed to get to this point.
What a great Christmas present for you both!
Stay safe Eric!

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newlywedsonabudget December 4, 2013 - 8:37 am

Thank you ALL so much! We are thrilled!

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eemusings December 3, 2013 - 4:02 pm

yesss!!!! So happy for you two, please pass on our congrats to Eric from both of us! So well deserved.

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newlywedsonabudget December 4, 2013 - 8:39 am

THANK YOU!

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Megan December 3, 2013 - 12:05 pm

What wonderful news!!! So excited for you both!!

Shoot me an email with all the deets. πŸ™‚

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Sally December 3, 2013 - 8:25 am

Congratulations!!! This is so awesome, and I’m so happy for you both!!

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Army Amy December 3, 2013 - 6:00 am

Yeay! I know that you’ve been writing about your husband’s journey toward becoming a true blue (red?) fire fighter for a while now. It sounds like it’s been way more involved than I realized! Good on him for staying focused on his goal and good on you for being supportive through the ups and downs! Have fun celebrating!

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Summer December 3, 2013 - 3:47 am

Ummmm, that was a huge build up. I thought your we’re going to announce a baby! However, I am pretty sure this was on your to do list first. Anyhow, this is so awesome!!!! Congrats to the both of you! I think he is going to want a raise in his weekly allowance! πŸ˜‰

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Stevie December 2, 2013 - 9:53 pm

Oh my gosh, amazing! Congratulations, Eric! What an amazing accomplishment.

Thanks to both of you for sharing the journey with all of us readers – the ups, the downs, everything.

I’ve always admired firefighters for their commitment to service, but let me tell you, after experiencing our apartment fire earlier this year and dealing with the firefighters who put the fire out and rescued one of our cats, they are on a whole new level. I don’t think I could ever repay them for that.

Congrats again, this is so exciting!

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Megan December 2, 2013 - 7:23 pm

Congratulations! So happy for you.

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Akirah December 2, 2013 - 2:38 pm

Congrats Eric! I can’t believe how hard it is to get through this process. Perseverance pays off though. I am so proud of you guys!

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Michelle December 2, 2013 - 1:21 pm

WOOOOHOOO! Congrats!

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Jolene December 2, 2013 - 1:18 pm

AMAZING. SO SO awesome. SO well timed, SO CLOSE BY! I am so happy for you both. Congrats Eric!!

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Practical Cents December 2, 2013 - 1:09 pm

Congratulations on this great accomplishment!

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E.M. December 2, 2013 - 1:03 pm

Congratulations!! It’s awesome the location he ended up at is only 20 minutes away, too.

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Ramon & Alice Escoto December 2, 2013 - 9:33 am

Yeahhhhhhhhhhh! Congratulations Eric. Your family must be so proud of you; as well as your friends.

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Michele December 2, 2013 - 9:18 am

Congrats!!!

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SavvyFinancialLatina December 2, 2013 - 7:58 am

Congrats!!! SO awesome!!! πŸ™‚

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Budget and the Beach December 2, 2013 - 7:09 am

Congratulations Eric!!! I know it’s been a long time coming!

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Kali @ CommonSenseMillennial December 2, 2013 - 6:24 am

My dad’s a firefighter, and my husband went through the same process, so I know this is a huge deal. Congratulations!

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Holly@ClubThrifty December 2, 2013 - 5:39 am

It sounds like it’s very difficult to get a full-time job…so congrats! That’s great. I hope that he loves his new job.

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Mrs. Pop @ Planting Our Pennies December 2, 2013 - 4:32 am

Congrats! That’s huge =)

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