“She was a warrior during my two deployments.”
This was one of the many things Philip Hinson had to say about his outstanding wife, Jo. She was the stable force at home during the times when he was not home. And even during the times now when Philip is home, Joey shows her undying love for the family.
Joey also shows a whole lot of love for all her extended family and her friends. She is someone who is constantly there for others, and she creates wonderful friendships by just being her.
“We have a very good group of friends we met through church and life circles,” Philip said. “She goes above and beyond to focus on those friendships and relationships just like she does with family. She has been a keepsake to some of those women who have struggled with their spouses being in the military.”
For Joey, helping others is super important. All she wants to do is be there for everyone around her, as she knows how tough it can be to get through life alone.
She also knows what it is like to prioritize your faith. She comes from a Baptist and Christian background, and Philip comes from a Baptist background, and together they have shared beliefs and values. They have endured trials and tribulations together, and their faith has played a major role in their relationship since they first got to know one another.
“I met her in the military,” Philip said. “We never met during basic training, but went to the same church service every Sunday. She was a specialist in the military. For me and for her, it was love at first sight. What really pushed it home was we both had to work KP one day and got done and she said to me about eating, “Time is ticking away,” and I started singing the song, she knew it, and we started singing it together.”
What really sealed the deal, however, was that aforementioned faith. They are able to pray about any situation and have the shared confidence that the Lord’s got them.
Their shared faith also helps in being great parents to their children. They have five kids between the ages of 6 and 25, and the Lord has certainly brought this family through some tough situations.
And also, Joey being the woman that she is has helped Philip as a father and beyond.
“I’ve learned from her how to be patient with the children,” Philip said. “I’ve learned that sometimes making more money is not worth having to sacrifice time with the family. I was making a lot of money and realized it was not worth it if I could not value my family and time with them like I wanted to.”
Joey was the reason Philip wanted to change. She helped him see things for what they were, and she helped him see life in a different light.
He also gets to see what a wonderful mother she is on a daily basis. He is proud of her for being nurturing and having the shirt-off-her-back mindset with them. She is super patient with them and provides them with all they need, and with having them spread out in age 20 years, Joey finds a way to make it all work.
“She’s a wonderful mother,” Philip said. “She’s an outstanding wife. Jo keeps the house meticulous no matter how hard of a day she’s had. She’s like Monica Geller when it comes to cleaning. She’s a warrior.”
During his two Iraq deployments, Philip was really reminded of how amazing his wife is. She was willing to sacrifice so much for the good of their kids, and she was even pregnant during one of the deployments.
She is full of strength and resilience, and it is easy to see why Philip cannot say enough about her. Everything about Joey is phenomenal, and she is truly loved and cherished.
Philip could not go without mentioning some of his favorite moments he has shared with his wife either. Their lives are chalk full of them, but some moments really do stand out to him.
“Some of my favorite memories with Joey include going to the Newsboys concert and meeting the band, meeting the band Pillar together, Harry Potter World when it opened up in Orlando, the birth of our two oldest children – Ashleigh and Caleb – going to China when we adopted Hannah, and the fostering to adoption of Logan and Tori.”
Of course, there are many more memories that this couple has shared since meeting each other almost 30 years ago, but there is only so much room on a page.
All in all, Philip just loves his wife so much and wants the world for her, and he is super grateful he gets to be married to her.
“I know that I don’t always say it, but I appreciate everything you do for me and the kids. You are the best thing in my life, and I would be lost without you. I love you to the moon and back and cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you. You are my everything.” – Philip
