I have had the privelege the last 15 years to be the wife to a great man. He is quietly understated and rarely in my spotlight which is reserved for our 5 amazing children. Like a typical wife I have the many war stories, complaints and woes of everyday married life that I wear like a badge of honor. I love a good glass of red wine with a side of "whine" like every other married lady. However, there are magical days that remind me again and again why I married this ol ball and chain. Today has been one of those days...
My husband works, on average, 60 hours a week at a back breaking job that was far from his first choice of work. While managing a grocery store has offered many perks {the insurance is simply the best and being the first to find out when steaks are getting discounted is most definitely a perk of a being a Grocery Store wife} it has also taken a lot physically and mentally on my sweet hubby. He leaves before the sun comes up and doesn't return till the sun goes down. Shawn has NEVER used that as an excuse when it comes to his kids. He is the best dad and is the most important person in their lives. They idolize him. They have a hero in their lives and it is not a cheap action figure.
Besides managing a Grocery store, 5 kids and a whiny wife, Shawn made the decision 3 years ago to begin doing comedy. He started by going to an open mic night and on his SECOND time on stage he performed at a local comedy competition. He took second place and the judges were shocked by how good he was. Funny thing was, I always knew it. He has made comedy a huge part of his life and is finding ways to live a life full of passion and creativity.
He kind of rocks at his time management because he has NEVER let his family suffer because of his comedy aspirations. He makes a point of spending his late evenings {after the kiddos and I head to bed} to work into the wee hours crafting his comedy. He has surrounded himself by comedians that support him as a family man. He even has an amazing writing group that meets late on Mondays to ensure that his family time is not compromised. All and all, I got lucky when I married a man that understood that family is first but that doesn't mean you can't live an extra ordinary life.
Today I was invited to his Event page on Facebook to promote his show this Sunday night. This show is unlike any other. He has arranged with the owner of Comedy Off Broadway to host a show for a local comedian named Darin whose infant daughter has been seriously sick. He has found 4 comedians that have agreed and demanded to do the show for FREE. Our headliner is nationally touring comedian Stewart Huff! The tickets are only $8 which means that everyone can come for a cheap night of good comedy while still raising awareness and funds for Baby Carlin. Shawn heard about Darin and immediately set to work on finding out how he could help.
Baby Carlin has been in and out of hospitals and her parents have really struggled. The horror of having a sick child is one that we have never had to endure. Our 5 healthy kids have never know a really seriously sick day in their lives. I know his heart broke just like mine when we thought of this little girl. The medical bills alone would swallow you whole. The time off of work would be financially crushing. Just putting food on the table would be a struggle... physically, mentally and financially. Most people would hear this story and say some prayers. Maybe add the family to a prayer chain at church. If you were feeling really ambitious a fancy chicken casserole would do just the trick to heal this dilemma. Most normal people are not Shawn.
The show Shawn has put together will be able to give 100% of the proceeds to Carlin's family to help with any expenses they are wracking up. To their credit ALL of the comedians will be donating their services and they all demanded to do that. How awesome is that??? Donations will be taken and lots of information will be given out to help continue supporting this family. The best news? This show is going to be a MONTHLY commitment that he is making to help other people in similar situations where finances are suffocating them. Our world is a big one full of people who are waiting to make a difference. I guess Shawn just got tired of waiting.
He is doing this for NO other reason besides that he is a great man with amazingly creative ideas that he uses to benefit OTHERS... always putting himself last. Even as I write this I know he will be mad that I am sharing these feelings with the world. He will be worried that I didn't talk enough about all of the people who are helping him, the club, the family we are helping, the cause we are promoting. But, today I need to talk about my pride as a wife to my best friend who pretty much rocks. There is no greater character trait than the humility, kindness and empathy that this is promoting in others but more importantly in our families lives. You do things to help others but most of the time you find that by helping others you are always helping yourself.
As an old married couple with a few years under our belt, we have known struggles. When you struggle you find yourself in very dark and lonely places. You can feel beaten up and defeated. You get the old Bible story of Job out and read it like it is your autobiography. It has always amazed and inspired me that Shawn has always taken those struggles and turned it into something truly magical. Something that will literally change someone's world. My husband is my hero and he makes me want to be better person every day. Today I am very grateful that I get to be his wife and walk with him through life. Today I am loving every minute of it.
If you are interested in purchasing tickets, please follow the link:
or call: {859} 271-5653.
For Donations to benefit the Hensley Family please go to:
Her Facebook page is "Caring for Carlin"
Recently Crowned Louisville's Funniest Dad of 2014
The Trophy of Honor!
AHHH! Love you guys! You are an inspiration for us newlyweds!
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