Hello all!
K has been plugging away at the academy these last few weeks, I just haven't been writing updates as often ;) Today marks day one of his eighth week at the academy, here is a recap of the past three weeks...
K has been plugging away at the academy these last few weeks, I just haven't been writing updates as often ;) Today marks day one of his eighth week at the academy, here is a recap of the past three weeks...
Week Five:
This week was, by far, the best week yet because the cadets got Thursday AND Friday off for Thanksgiving! It started out great because PT was cancelled on Monday so they only had it Tuesday and Wednesday. K didn't get gigged at all this week and no cadets were sent home or quit...hooray! They were supposed to be released at 5pm on Wednesday, but they got out early and were let out at 3pm. I left the house as soon as I could to get my cadet home for our long weekend together. This really was the best Thanksgiving we have had as a couple. My parents were out of state for the holiday so we got to pretend for a few days that we had our own place again which was really nice and relaxing. We had Thanksgiving "dinner" for lunch on Thursday, and that night we actually went Christmas shopping and had an awesome time just being together and doing normal married couple things. Friday morning we woke up before 4am to go wait in line for Black Friday deals. It was quite the experience standing outside in the cold for hours, annnnd that is probably not a tradition we will be continuing ;) The rest of the weekend we basically did nothing which felt amazing and so relaxing. Our time together was a much needed boost to keep plugging away on this six-month adventure, and I don't think I'll ever forget that Thanksgiving. Then Sunday night I drove K back to the academy and the party was over :( Back to reality.
Week Six:
The week back after the holiday started with a nice 16-hour-day on Monday. I can't even remember all that the cadets had to do that day, but it was one of those long ones where I didn't get a text from K until really late. Company A started their EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course) training this week, but since K is in Company B he won't start driving until February. Statistically, most of the cadets that fail out will do so during EVOC, but so far K's class has been doing alarmingly well! No cadets left during week six for any reason. This week K had his first "earned" Wednesday night liberty! I picked him up once he got off and we drove downtown to have dinner. We also made a pit stop at our bank to deposit his first check (woot woot!). Due to the nature of difficulty at the academy, I sometimes forget that K is a paid employee of the CHP right now...I'm so thankful that he is getting top notch training AND they are paying him to do it ;) Compared to last weekend, this one was really rough! We had been so spoiled with four days together last week that two honestly felt like nothing. Plus, K brought home more shirts that had to be stenciled and I nearly lost my sanity in the process of completing those darn things.
Week Seven:
All the cadets made it through week seven which means they haven't lost anyone since back in week four. Hopefully they can keep it up and set some sort of a record for lowest attrition rate! K had another Wednesday liberty this week so I got to spend some extra time with him. We went to Kinkos to print some academy stuff, made a Target trip, and ate dinner at a hole in the wall Chinese restaurant. It has been such a blessing to soak up every bit of time we get together, and we really had a great Wednesday night running errands and connecting with each other. On Friday, instead of the usual routine, the cadets suited up and met at the academy's indoor pool for PT. According to K, he would take swimming over normal PT any day. The only downside was they got out late and had to rush to get changed. At breakfast, K got to meet the CHP Commissioner, and then did his best to cram some food in before he had to run off to class so he wasn't late. Over the weekend we had to fix some of the stenciled shirts but I think they are officially completed, thank GOODNESS. I will never look at a fabric marker the same again...I'm dead serious. Saturday night we got to celebrate one of our friends from college graduating her police academy which was really fun! K had to write out a memo of his autobiography which he didn't end up finishing until late Sunday night and we drove him back a little later than usual.
All that being said, if we are being honest this past weekend was one of the harder ones. As most of you know I am starting an accelerated nursing program in January, and my schedule is going to be crazy. I found out this weekend that my clinical days are going to be Saturday & Sunday, while most of my classmates got Sunday & Monday. I'm not going to lie, I was, and still am, pretty bummed out. K and I hardly get to see each other as it is, and once my 12-hour clinical shifts start we will have barely any time together. Plus, we won't be able to make it to any services at our church together which is really important to us. I am trying my best to hold onto perspective, that this is a short season in the grand scheme of things, but I'm having a hard time keeping that mindset. Please be praying for us as we prepare for this change and for me as I enter a very difficult academic season. We also need major prayer for some events currently taking place at the academy. I really can't divulge much, as a lot of what K tells me is confidential, but please pray for the staff involved and that they would make wise decisions. If it all goes south, you'll hear all about it, but if it goes as we hope, all will continue as planned and you won't need to worry about a thing ;)
As I drove K back last Sunday I thought "I can't believe we are in this now, we're just out here really doing it." Over a year of planning, applying, interviewing and praying for this life, and here we are living it. It is easy for me to get discouraged when things aren't going our way, but then I look back and remember what God has brought us through and to, and I know He is orchestrating it all in our favor whether we recognize it yet or not.
Love you guys,
D
All that being said, if we are being honest this past weekend was one of the harder ones. As most of you know I am starting an accelerated nursing program in January, and my schedule is going to be crazy. I found out this weekend that my clinical days are going to be Saturday & Sunday, while most of my classmates got Sunday & Monday. I'm not going to lie, I was, and still am, pretty bummed out. K and I hardly get to see each other as it is, and once my 12-hour clinical shifts start we will have barely any time together. Plus, we won't be able to make it to any services at our church together which is really important to us. I am trying my best to hold onto perspective, that this is a short season in the grand scheme of things, but I'm having a hard time keeping that mindset. Please be praying for us as we prepare for this change and for me as I enter a very difficult academic season. We also need major prayer for some events currently taking place at the academy. I really can't divulge much, as a lot of what K tells me is confidential, but please pray for the staff involved and that they would make wise decisions. If it all goes south, you'll hear all about it, but if it goes as we hope, all will continue as planned and you won't need to worry about a thing ;)
As I drove K back last Sunday I thought "I can't believe we are in this now, we're just out here really doing it." Over a year of planning, applying, interviewing and praying for this life, and here we are living it. It is easy for me to get discouraged when things aren't going our way, but then I look back and remember what God has brought us through and to, and I know He is orchestrating it all in our favor whether we recognize it yet or not.
Love you guys,
D
