Midnight shifts

Hubs has worked a variety of shifts and rotations since being an LEO.  We have endured the 2 week day/2 week night rotation.  I hated it.  Just when you get used to them being int he bed every night, the rotation changes.  The same goes for the night part of the rotation.  We had the every returning shift switch rotation.  If he worked Monday/Tuesday day, he worked night shift all weekend.  I loved that.  He was home just enough to be content, but gone at nights just enough that I could crash early and get caught up on rest.  Now that Hubs is Sgt, we are on a 2nd shift type rotation.  Hours are mostly noon to midnight.  This shift really does have its pros and cons.  One major pro...he is home every night.  One major con...he comes home at unGodly hours.  Thankfully he is usually home around 1230.  Sadly I am usually awake when he gets in.  Either I am still up doing the mom thing, or I am snuggled up with my Kindle reading.  If I am not awake when he comes in I am shortly there after.  This would be because even though the bedside lamp is on, the big bright overhead light usually comes on.

I will say however the biggest Pro of the shift, is that he is not a road officer now, he is more of a detective.  Do you know how much stress it takes off of you knowing your husband isn't answering calls as much.  I always tried not to worry when he was working but I mean let's admit it, your gonna worry.  Don't get me wrong I still worry, but just not near as much as before. 

I love the flexibility with his department.  We live just outside the city limits but he is still able to come home and see the kids if he is on a stretch of not seeing them for a few days.  I guess when delaing with the stress of the LEO lifestyle you gotta find bright spots where you can.

A day to be remembered

Today is the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on US soil in American history.  Innocent lives were lost, and lives were changed forever.  I think it is safe to say that all Americans that were of "remembering age" can tell you where they were at the moment they heard about the attack 11 years ago.  I personally was heading to class at the local community college.  I was 20 years old. 

This attack and the events that followed are what prompted Hubs to go into law enforcement.  He felt the call that day to do something and this was the end result. 

So on this anniversary let's pause and remember those who gave their life, either in the actual plane crashes or the rescue efforts that followed.  Let's also pause and remember the families left behind.

You just get to the point where...

You just do what you wanna do.  After being married to an LEO for almost 9 years (that is a long time in LEO time and modern day marriages) you get tot he point where you don't work your schedule around his as much.  You just go.  For instance, in the past several years I would have spent the entire weekend at home just the boys and I because Hubs was working all weekend.  It has recently gotten to the point though that sitting at home all weekend stinks as much to me as it does the kids.  Now my boys are 8 and 5, they are by no means social butterflies but they do have the need to get out of the house.  I will say those two boys and I stayed ont he go all weekend.  We went to Thing 1's trophy presentation for baseball, dinner out just the three of us, a trip to Walmart, an afternoon by the pool, a trip to Lowe's and Pizza Hut.  When the boys were younger, and honestly fought less we would go out more just the three of us, and honestly when it was just one kid and me, we would take off anywhere.  But as the kids get older the thrill of going and doing is there more.  Normally on the weekends that it is just us, I would take care of the errands, such as grocery shopping and things of that nature that I know is easier without the husband.  However now, the boys and I are doing more fun stuff.  Now don't be mistaken, I love nothing more than my family of 4 spending quality time together.   It is all about balance, you get let your life stop.  Now we don't do anything major, like long distance trips, but little day things to keep the three of us from getting bored out of our minds.  It's all about living, and really there is not a point one in sitting and waiting for life to come to you, you have to go get it.

A Moment of clarity

As I get older I realize it takes less and less to make me happy.  As long as my children are happy and healthy, I have a roof over my head, food in my families bellies, what more could I ask for?  We take things for granted so much that we don't realize that it can all be gone in the blink of an eye.  Now when I say "We" please know that I more than include myself in that.  My family-not the family that lives in my house but close family none the less- is currently dealing with 2 members having major illness.  These 2 happen to be brothers, which happen to be my uncles.  Seeing and hearing all that they are going through makes you step back and go, "I really complain about a bunch of useless mess" .

As I watched my children playing baseball last night the thought hit me, that I truly have a blessed life.  What more could a lady need, a husband that loves her and her family more than words can say, two beautiful, wild, wide open little boys, extended family that is just a phone call away and true friends, not just acquaintances that are there any time day or night, through the good, the bad, the ugly, and the funny. 

While I have my struggles and stresses I know that in the great scheme of it all, its all gonna be alright.

In Honor of Police week

The Final Inspection 


The policeman stood and faced his God,which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, policeman. How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To my church have you been true?

The policeman squared his shoulders and said.

"No, I guess I ain't because those of us who carry a badge

can't always be a Saint."

I've had to work most Sundays

and at times my talk is rough,

and sometimes I've been violent,

because the streets are awfully tough.

But I never took a penny that wasn't mine to keep...

though I worked a lot of overtime when the bills got to steep.

And I never passed a cry for help

though at times I shook with fear,

and sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place among the people here.

They never wanted me around except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be so grand,

I never expected or had too much, but if  you don't...I'll understand"

There was a silence all around the throne where the Saints had often trod.

As the policeman waited quietly for the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, policeman.

You've borne you burdens well.

Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets.

You've done your time in Hell"

(Author Unknown )

Stated Simply

While surfing the internet I found a website that has tons of police poems, actually it was policepoems.com.  This couldn't be more accurate. 

"A Police Officer's Wife"    

A special kind of woman: a cut above the rest,
That's A Police Officer's Wife, rating her best.

How many good byes are whispered, joined with a fond embrace?
As duty steals her man, for the danger he must face.

How often have meals been ruined - or tender moments disturbed,
by a call for special duty, sparking loyalty un-swerved?

It's a devil of a job, for an angel like this,
Who......for the love of her man, must forsake that kiss,

She can run a garden tractor; even paint a room in need,
How she can stretch a dollar is a miracle indeed.

She's mother, lover, chauffeur and nurse, A living symbol of: "for better or for worse."

Rich is the man, reaping his rewards in life,
Who chose to be the other half of

A Police Officer's Wife.

(Author Unknown)  

More than meets the eye

People think a lot of different things about police officers.  It's no secret, not all of these thoughts are good.  However behind  almost every man with a badge, is a family at home.  We have learned over the last few years to make the most of what you have.  Weekends that hubs is off work is family time, we try not to schedule much activity with anyone else just so we can enjoy our time as a family.  I know as the kids get older it won't happen as often.  One of the things that we do as a family is baseball.  Thing 1 is on a team, Thing 2 is on another team.  That's right 2 different teams, 2 different schedules, the works.  Hubs however has found himself helping with Thing 2's tball team this year, at least when he is there.  When I say helping, not only do I mean helping coach one of the bases and telling the kids when to stop and go, but also helping with crowd control. Let's face it, and 4, 5 and 6 it is as much crowd control as anything else. 

So for all the folks who think the man writing you a ticket is a ____________ (insert ugly word here), just remember that somewhere there is a little fella waiting on daddy to get home to play ball.