My husband, Jim, had just worked two double shifts at our store. On Monday, he worked from 4 am until 9 pm (with only a 2 hour break in the middle of the day). He did the same thing on Tuesday. By Wednesday, he was very tired and ready for several hours of sleep. On top of that, he was coming down with a cold and didn't seem to be able to stand up without wobbling a bit. Jim is known to us all as "Daddy." He is my dear husband and the father of our five children. He has an intense work ethic that never ceases to amaze me. He does this to pay our bills and to provide for us all.

    We are far from rich. The past few months have been unusually difficult for us, financially speaking. Jim knows I love to spend money and he knows how hard it is for me right now. I cannot spend a dime. The children and I have made a sort of game out of it. On my last birthday, one of the children bought me "season 5" of the Little House on the Prairie series. Unfortunately, our remote control was lost. For some reason, we could only watch the first show on each disc and couldn't watch any of the other ones without a remote. I suffered in silence.... (can you believe this is what I consider a sacrifice for me? - gentle smiles). But you have to understand that my dear husband gladly works so hard to make sure I am happy and content to be at home without worries. He is a treasure. Now the children decided to "scrounge" up some money and buy me a new remote for $7. They were finding all the coins they could. Jim had just gotten home from work and asked what they were doing........ He smiled when they told him.......... He looked so tired. It was Wednesday and he was so worn out........ Just as the children and I were about to head out the front door, Jim called me back. He handed me a $20 bill and said "Here, spend this on yourselves." I almost cried. This was a very special bill because he had been saving it for many years. It had the year he was born on it and he had been keeping it for such a long time. I looked at that bill and just loved him so very much........... It was Daddy's sacrifice........ His wonderful loving-kindness (that we didn't deserve) to his family....... I will always be grateful to him......