The gift of time: having Dad home for Father's Day

Andeá and Steve Jolley are pictured at a Military Ball. The family is happy to have their soldier father home for Father's day. (Submitted photo) [Click to enlarge]

For many wives, Father's Day is a chance to thank Dad, oftentimes by giving him a new set of golf clubs, a new shirt, or taking him to dinner at his favorite restaurant.

For some wives, though, Father's Day holds a deeper level of importance. It is a day to relish in the fact that Dad is actually here, with them and their children. Material gifts lose their relevance as the gift of time takes precedence.

Andeá Jolley is one of those wives. She is grateful that her husband, Steve, will be home from Iraq this year to enjoy Father's Day with their children and grandchildren.

"Steve loves the Lord, his family, his country," Andeá said. "He proudly serves all three. He is 120 percent husband, father and soldier, and balances them so very well."

Steve, 44, has been in the National Guard for 27 years. Currently he is on full-time active duty and training for another deployment to Iraq.

Prior to 2005, Steve worked as the state's ammunition director, Andeá said.

"He had taken that position (in 2004) ... Upon getting the news that his old unit (in Shelbyville) was getting deployed, he asked for the transfer back to Shelbyville so he could deploy with his comrades," Andeá said. "It was a sacrifice that I wholeheartedly supported."

It wasn't always easy.

There wasn't a day that went by during the entire year he was gone (November 2005-06) that Andeá didn't miss having her soulmate around. Before Steve left, he gave his wife of six years a list of every number he could think of, should a problem at the house come up, or something else go wrong.

"Oh boy did it ever," Andeá said. "I used every number on the list! The funniest is that I didn't know that squirrels could eat the electrical system of a truck. I called my mechanic and he couldn't believe it either. Those varmints cost me $245 in repairs. I even sent Steve (pictures) in Iraq of the damage."

Andeá said that was just one thing that went wrong while her man was gone.

She had to dig up the backyard for a sewer system, her heater unit broke on the coldest day of the year, she had to break a window to get in when she locked herself out, and she had to deal with black algae that formed in the couple's pool.

Steve and Andeá's son, Ryan, is being deployed in February. He currently lives in Fort Bragg, N.C., with his wife Sierra and their daughter, Maliyah.(Submitted photo) [Click to enlarge]

Since Steve returned from his deployment, Andeá has enjoyed every moment possible with Steve, although he has been gone a lot for training.

Turns out, he's home today for Father's Day, and Andeá and the four children hope he enjoys his special day.

"Patience is what makes him a great dad," she said. "He is wonderful with the kids. And they will all say he is the best dad in the world ... For Father's Day, I want him to go play golf. He rarely has time off so that would be great for him."

Serving the country must run in the family, because their son, Ryan, 21, will also be deployed to Iraq in February. Ryan, his wife, Sierra, and their daughter, Maliyah, currently live in Fort Bragg, N.C.