I'll Be Waiting: Part 2 The Wait Is Over

Photography By: Felecia Causey

 There is nothing more exciting than witnessing a happy ending story, especially when you were rooting for the people. I did a blog back in 2016 that featured this family. I was excited to see this family come together, especially when the holidays were fast approaching. 

Below is the first article:

On September 26, 2013, my best friend, my fiancé, and my children's father were sentenced to 18 months, and it was very hard for us. From the first time I met him, we didn't spend a day apart and he was all my children knew.  My kids were used to seeing their father on a daily basis. At first, I tried to be strong, I told myself time would fly because it was only 18 months.  It was hard because my children at the time, ages 1 and 3, asked for their father day in and day out. I lied to them, and I told them their father was in school and had to spend the night there. Telling them that was easy, and it worked for them. Things were not easy, but it wasn't necessarily hard either. We went to see him every other week. Fast forward and he now had 6 months to his release date, but unfortunately, he ended up taking a plea deal and was sentenced to 7 and a half years. On that day my world came crashing down on me, it just wasn't what I expected and definitely not what I wanted. I didn't know what I was going to do. What would I tell my children? And the deepest question, was I willing or if I could handle putting my life on hold? Once he was sentenced, he was moved to a medium security facility in Mississippi, which changed our biweekly visits to monthly and that was hard.  It was a 4 and a 1/2 drive, and it was very expensive.

The questions from my son (then 4) arose and he wanted to know why his father was behind bars and why his daddy was in jail. His father explained that when you do bad things you sometimes have to be put on punishment and daddy had done some bad things and he was on punishment. My son understood that and now the truth was out and that made me feel better no more lies. This journey has not been easy and it's far from over, but I thank God for giving me the strength and the positive outlook on the situation. Also, I'm thankful for understanding and forgiving children. They know that their father is the best man and I'm so very thankful for that, and I know one day he will be home and we will pick up where we left off.

UPDATE:

The feeling I had on our first day back together was amazing. The joy in my kids' eyes and the uncontrollable crying of my daughter made me feel like the waiting of 7 years was worth it. It feels like it's all a dream. I had been praying and waiting so long, and it doesn’t seem real sometimes. I feel like my family is complete.  The kids are so excited to see him home. They have him helping with their homework and everything around the house because I know they feel like he missed out on a lot. The kids are just so excited to have him home, and I’m just so proud of him, especially coming home not missing a beat. He has been working and being a great dad.