Days 24 & 25

Thank goodness for the short week! These past 2 days have been eventful and I can't wait to see J tonight! Wednesday started off pretty normal. I woke up, had my breakfast and coffee, then spent a few hours cleaning the house and organizing some things. I went for my run, then spent the remainder of the day hanging out with my sister- she has to head back to college in about a week. Around 8pm I got an email from the owner of the running store I interviewed with and GOT THE JOB! 🤗 I'm still waiting to hear back from the hospital but I'm so happy the stress of just finding a job is gone. They're really nice people too and are working with me by being flexible about the weekends so I can spend time with J. Hopefully this will help time fly too. I text J and let him know, even though I know he keeps his phone off during the day. I heard from him super late that night- around 9pm. Since he got gigged 3 times last week, he had a Wednesday night restriction. Their punishment was cleaning the mats and workout equipment in the gym then write their memos in the classroom until 8:45pm. He said memos are tough and he wants to put together an outline/ guide this weekend. When he got back, he was notified that their rooms were inspected and that they'd find out on Thursday if they were going to get a community gig or not. He spent the rest of his night finishing his memo then went straight to bed to try and fight that cold he has. 
Thursday I woke up with my usual text from J. It was another lazy day for me 😬. I spent the morning watching Netflix with my sister, went for my run, picked up my mom from work then grabbed dinner. When we got home we decided to take on the fun task of giving our dogs a bath 😂. Let's just say they were some dirty pups. I heard from J around 7 and we talked on the phone for a good 40 minutes. Unfortunately their quad didn't pass their room inspections (their beds weren't up to par even though they had hospital corners, shoes weren't aligned correctly and they didn't dust). So they all have a Wednesday night restriction for this upcoming Wednesday. Good news- he passed his 2 tests they took! I can't remember one of them, but he did get 93% on his sex crimes test! They started EVOC and he said it was really fun! He actually got to drive for a little bit too! He said the coolest thing they did was get in the bus where they were instructed to face forward. With the sirens on, the staff officers were in a squad car behind him shooting their guns. They wanted to demonstrate to the cadets that you can't hear shots being fired when the sirens are on😱. I thought that was so nuts! He supposed to drive on the skid pan today and then has EVOC🚓🚨🚔 all next week! I know he's excited about that. I hope everyone has a good New Years! Be safe! 

25 days down... 169 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 21-23

First and foremost- I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas🎄. This past weekend was really relaxing. On Christmas, my family, J and I took our dogs and went for a snowy hike and it was beautiful!!! After the hike, we went back home and just relaxed, cooked dinner and watched movies. Monday, J woke up and wasn't feeling well. He had a slight fever and was stuffed up. I was a little worried that he'd have to drive back by himself so he rested all morning and part of the afternoon before he left. Before he headed out, I helped him shave his head and pack up. He got back to the academy grounds and unpacked, studied, then went to bed early. 

Tuesday morning I woke up with my usual text from J. He was feeling much better AND didn't have PT, so I know he was really relieved. My day was pretty busy- I had a job interview at a local running store. I think it went well so fingers crossed I get it!! I love running and I've visited this store in the past and they truly are all about the customers and the running community. I know I'll have fun working there if I get offered a position. I got home after running a few errands and was greeted to my new running shoes 😍👟. So I laced up and went for a run!! I heard from J right around 7pm and we got to talk on the phone for a while! He was feeling much better and passed his test he took this morning!! He asked me how my interview went and how my day was and shared some funny stories about his roommates. Let me just say- I am so glad I'm not in that room after dinner 😆. He decided to study for his Sex Crimes test he has tomorrow and quizzed me to se how I'd do. Needless to say I answered the questions correctly (Thank you Law & Order SVU 😋). They have 4 tests this week BUT he said his company is starting EVOC on Thursday!! He's excited for this weekend because he won't have to study as much, so I'm thinking we can go out for another beautiful hike. 

23 days down... 171 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 18 - 20

I'm going to be super brief since J is home and he's making his range & EVOC shirt! Let's see.. Thursday was a pretty rough day according to J. They got in trouble as a class even though it was something out of their control. But that's life at the academy, sometimes you just need to take the punishment, learn from it and move on. The 2 good things that happened though: J scored 100% on his Criminal Law test AND they got their guns!! Friday they had PT in the morning, a test in the afternoon, and they were dismissed a little earlier than usual! That was actually a blessing because J had to drive in the snow to get here. He got here around 9:30pm and Zoe and I were SO HAPPY to see him. I took her into the garage to meet him when he opened it and she was crying and running around like crazy. It was actually super cute ☺️. We hung out all night and he told me stories and talked about academy life. It felt so nice to finally have him back.. even if it is for the weekend. Today (Saturday- Day 20) we've done laundry and J is currently making his EVOC and Range shirt. Afterwards we're going to go for our run then just hang out some more. Sorry for the short, no detailed post. I just want to spend some time with J 😍

20 days down... 174 to go! 

💚 AJ

Day 16 & 17

Ahh only 2 more days until I get to see J!! It's been about 3 weeks since I've seen him and I can't wait to see him, spend Christmas together AND get another day together since they don't have classes on Monday. I heard from J super early yesterday- around 5:45pm. He sent me a picture of himself in his Cadet Blues. I thought he looked good in them, but then again I am a little biased 😜. He got the results of his SOP test and he passed!!! He said 2 of his cadet mates didn't pass so they'll have to retake it. Tuesday started 2 new big things for the cadets- blue cards & the start of a new diet if they were put on the training table. J got gigged (having a blue card taken away) 3 times!! He said practically every cadet got gigged though so they weren't stressing over it too too much. They actually called it "Quagmire Day" because of all the "giggities" 😂. I told him to just not make that a weekly occurrence. He asked me how my day went and I told him it was a super lazy day. We were all still so tired from the drive, and I wasn't ready to unpack everything yet. My mom, sister and I did go to bed bath & beyond and I bought some stuff for our room... AND I assembled it 😌 Ha. J decided to take advantage of having the opportunity to go to bed early since they had PT the next day.

Today I woke up with my daily good morning text from J. I seriously love those. I spent the ENTIRE day unpacking. I really hate unpacking, but I want to try and get it all done before J comes home. I heard from J early again today since they had liberty. He had his small dinner at the academy then went out to get a little snack. He called and told me about his day. He said they're starting to notice that certain PT instructors favor certain workouts and today was the PT instructor who liked running. So, naturally, he enjoyed it and kept up. Then they had class all day- but they got their bullet proof vests today! He's hoping that means they'll get their guns soon!! We both decided to call it a night earlier than normal. He needed to study and I needed to finish unpacking. At least I get to see him soon 😍 

17 days down.. 177 to go!

💚 AJ

Days 12-15

Sorry for the lack of posts- it's been a BUSY last couple of days. First let me start off by saying WE ARE DONE WITH WEEK 2! Woooooohoooo. Ok, where to begin...

Friday-Day 12
Friday was an overall busy day for the cadets and myself! My parents and sister arrived in the early morning and we spent the day just hanging out. Around 6pm I got a call from J and he was on the road for his weekend liberty! It took him a little longer to get back this time because of the weather and road conditions. He told me about his day and it sounded hectic haha. They had their first Physical Fitness Test and he said he did decent. He got the fastest 1.5 mile time of the cadets (what a surprise 😏😜) and I think the top 3 fastest 300m time. He did okay on the gym floor and pull up exercises- he knows he has to do better and at least he didn't get the lowest score. He did say they've lost 1 or 2 cadets already. One quit because he got another job and the other quit because of the difficulty of the physical fitness. It's sad- but at the same time if they can't handle the academy, maybe it's for the best. He got the results from his 2 tests and scored 96% !! Super proud of him for that. After his PFT, they got weighed and measured and put J on the training table! That means he has too much body fat and will be on a restricted diet for the next 10 weeks. J was pretty upset because he KNOWS he doesn't have the amount of body fat they measured him at and I agree. If you know J- you know he is an active, athletic individual and doesn't have the 19% of fat they measured him at. I was talking to my uncle who's a CHP officer and he said it could possibly be a mind game. I promised J to have the house stocked with Oreos and other goodies for the weekend 😉. He finally sent me a list of all the things they received on Monday and it is A LOT! 
Blues tops x 7
Blues pants x 7
Cadet hat
Belt
CHP insignias x 2
CADET insignias x 2
Clip on tie
Tie bar
Shirt stays
CHP memo pad
2 pairs sweat pants
2 pairs sweat shorts
1 sweater
CHP water bottle
6 CHP white PT shirts
2 CHP blue EVOC/range shirts
Flashlight and charger
Baton
Baton belt ring
Duty belt
Belt holders x 6
Handcuffs
Handcuff belt holder
Gun belt holder
Range goggles
Range ear muffs
Penal Code book
Vehicle Code book
11 other manuals/guides
War bag (huge bag to carry everything)
Range bag

Saturday & Sunday- Days 13 & 14
His weekend was very simple- he spent it studying, doing laundry, finishing his marshmallow shirts and shining his boots. I spent my weekend packing up all my last minute things and spending time with my family. We did go out and do a little shopping. I bought myself some new snow boots (Sorel in fact! And SUPER CHEAP) and J a brand new buzzer- figured he'd need a nice one and can stop borrowing my dads 😋. We also stopped by the North Face Outlet where I bought myself a brand new jacket- I'm going to need it since I'm relocating from sunny southern CA to the mountains!! J and I texted/FaceTimed/ talked on the phone all weekend. It'll be nice to finally see him in 4 days. I miss him. 

Monday- Day 15
Monday was a very emotional day for me- it was moving day. Around 9:30am we loaded my car and my dads truck and said our good byes. For the last year or so I've been living with my grandparents because we anticipated J getting into the Academy. My grandparents and I are very close and they've always been nothing but supportive so it was really hard for me to say bye and move about 500 miles away. Naturally, I cried when I said bye and cried a little more during the drive. The drive was gorgeous and we took a couple pit stops to get gas and let my dog out for some potty breaks. When we were almost there, I got a call from J and we talked about his day. He said PT felt a little easier today but it was still challenging. During their PMA (Physical Methods of Arrest) class they had to do knuckle push ups with the baton in their hand. One of the cadets forgot their handcuffs so as punishment, they all had to stand with their arms straight up, holding the baton for 7 minutes! They also set up their belts with their baton, handcuffs and gun holster (but no gun yet). One of the senior cadets said they might get their guns this week though so that'll be exciting! He had his SOP test, and he thinks he did pretty good on it but needs to wait on official results. 
Once we got home, we had to unload everything (in 20* weather 😬). I got up to my room and was greeted with the most beautiful roses! J had left me a card saying he missed and loved me and appreciated me uprooting everything and making the move to support him. If I weren't cried out already- I would have teared up reading it. It does feel good to know he appreciates it.



15 days down... 179 to go!!

💚 AJ

Day 11!

Thank goodness it's almost the weekend! Today was another non productive day 😬. Okay, it was somewhat productive! I went for my first run since my marathon and it felt great! It felt good to be able to run like I was before my marathon, not to mention I've been annoyed with this slight cough. I woke up with another text from J- he was SUPER EXCITED to get to run on Thursday- especially if it was going to rain! I got a text from my aunt (she's married to a CHP Officer) later that afternoon with a picture attached. It was a picture that the CHP Academy's Facebook page posted of the cadets during their first PT session. Of course in the running pictures- I SPOTTED J! I figured I'd send it to him once I heard from him. I heard from J around 7pm- he said it was a loooooooooong day. His first class was on policing and the community and then...wait for it.... PT IN THE RAIN! He said it felt so good to run, he was actually smiling the whole time (and yes, staff officers were right next to him 😬😳). Only 4 people from his company kept up on the run (J included). He said it was easy and it felt like they did 1.5 miles around 6:30-6:45 pace. But even though he crushed the run- J is now a marshmallow. Since he didn't keep up on the floor exercises, and didn't complete 4 pull- ups- he lost his CHP PT shirt and has to make and wear plain white shirts with his last name on the back. He wasn't too down on himself though because out of 149 cadets- only 2 kept their CHP PT shirts. He also lost his voice from all the yelling they had to do. I told him to make sure he gets a tea or something during meals to help with out. We chatted for a little longer- but I could tell he was exhausted and let him go. I'm sure he's ready for the weekend though! 

11 days down.. 183 to go!!

💚 AJ

Day 10!

Wooo! We are done with day 10 and have finally hit DOUBLE DIGITS! I woke up to a text from J saying, "MORNING FUTURE MRS. ******! Can't wait to see you and Z next week!!!" (Z is our pup). I seriously love waking up to these texts and am so grateful that J finds an extra minute before his busy day to send them. I spent most of my day both packing and procrastinating on packing, luckily I don't have A LOT to pack so I should be okay. I heard from J around 6:30pm, he was at Chipotle grabbing a bite to eat with his roommates- super happy to be out on their first liberty! They got back to their room a little later and had to make more of their PT shirts with their last name on the back. He sent me a picture when they were all done and they came out pretty good 👌🏽. We talked on the phone for a little bit and he gave me a rundown on his day. His company had class first and then PT around 10am. He was really excited for class because they were going to start to learn about EVOC. J said they took a tour of the facility and got to see all the different cars. Once they were down with class, they reported to the gym in their blues and got ready for their first PT session. They took a tour of the gym, learned where everything goes and started the process of making their shirts. Then they received instructions on how to properly do the exercises, and got to work! J said they ran through all the exercises back to back which made it a little tougher than he thought. They did exercises like sit-ups, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, push-ups, and nose through the ring. They cleaned up then had to report and see his "counselor". Their counselors are still their Staff Officers- just in a different role. He says that they are there to talk if they ever need to talk about something or are feeling stressed, etc. I can't wait to hear from J and hear how today (Thursday- Day 11)- went. They went for a run and since J loves running and is pretty good at- I'm interested in seeing how he does 😎. For now- I'll ATTEMPT to finish packing and finish watching "How To Be Single"- so far it's hilarious 😂

10 days down.. 184 to go! 

💚 AJ

Week 2: days 8 & 9!

Well as expected, these past 2 days have been super busy for J. Monday (Day 8) we talked for about 2 minutes total. They spent the whole day in the Staff Office and received A LOT of gear. We were FaceTiming and all of his stuff alone covered his bed AND the 3 desks for him and his roommates. He said he'd tell me this weekend what they all got because it was just so much stuff. We texted each other goodnight around 11pm and called it a day. 

Yesterday (Tuesday- Day 9) I got a text from J around 7pm and said something like "wow you're done early". He laughed and said they could've been done around 6pm but some of his classmates didn't follow directions while filling out paperwork; so in true academy fashion, they all got disciplined for it. He called about an hour later and filled me in on the rest of his week. They have PT Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning. His company  has PT at 10am, so he has to report to class first, then go out and get their workout on 💪    . They have 2 tests this week: one on Thursday about the Constituion, US History, etc. J should do pretty well on that considering he focused on history in college. Friday they have their first PFT (physical fitness test). He's also really excited because today they get to start EVOC🚓🚨 (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course) classroom instruction! He doesn't know when they get to start driving, but I know he's totally stoked to start learning more about it! We're both keeping our fingers crossed that they get to have Liberty tonight- a lot of them were unsure because they kept getting yelled at due to some cadets not following directions. Hopefully they do- I'm sure he's craving some in-n-out or something by now 😋. 

9 days down.. 185 to go!!

💚 AJ

Day 5 & the first weekend!

WE ARE DONE WITH WEEK 1! I don't know if I can say the same for J, but that week flew for me! Friday, day number 5, seemed to be a real inspirational day for the cadets. They spent their day finishing up setting up their laptops, then got their first LD (Learning Domain). The Captain was leading the lecture and was talking about things like integrity, and how becoming a CHP officer is not just a job you apply for, but a calling. Towards the end of the day, they all gathered in the gym, and started watching numerous videos and video clips. J noticed that on the last video, they turned the volume WAY up, and he was thinking that the staff officers would come in after and start yelling at them to get them ready for week 2. When the video was done, the Captain started talking and re- emphasizing that the CHP is a family, and that everyone there has their back. As he was saying this, he gestured to the back of the gym and as the cadets turned around, there stood EVERYONE who works at the academy- staff officers, office employees, cafeteria workers, literally every person. J was telling me once he saw this, he actually started to get a little emotional. I was starting to get emotional when he told me because it made me realize that CHP truly is a family. It's not some bullshit (pardon my language 🙊) cliche that most jobs nowadays try to make you believe. I used to work for a travel nurse company that preached the whole "we are family" line, but at the end of the day, they were totally okay with the experienced workers back stabbing the newer employees. Needless to say, J and I truly believe that the CHP is one big family, and at the end of the day, they're looking out for you and want you to succeed. 

They were dismissed right around 5pm, so J grabbed his bag (he packed it up Thursday night), signed out and was on his way! Luckily (or unluckily- depends on the day maybe) his room is close to the Staff Office, so he didn't have to wait long to leave. It took him about 2.5 hours to drive to my parents house- he did hit some traffic just outside of Sacramento and then some slower patches through the mountains where visibility was bad because of some rain. He picked up some fast food, then spent the rest of the night relaxing. Once J got there, he let me know he saw the gifts I bought him 😊. We had gone to Cabelas a few days before and I bought him this utility bag and multi-tool. I figured since he'll be driving through the mountains a lot, he could use a tool kit/ first aid bag. I told him to add some stuff to it- flashlight, gloves, hand warmers, etc. I also bought him butterfinger bites (his fave!) and this cute little voodoo doll (no not the "take a needle and stab them in the arm to cause pain" type of voodoo) that is supposed to help with stress! J's weekend consisted of doing laundry, relaxing and watching soccer games (6 or  7 to be exact 😂). We texted and FaceTimed A LOT since I'm still down south packing up my stuff. I asked J if he was ready for week 2 and he said he was. He's most excited about getting his blues and PT!!!! I know he's been itching to get some physical work in- especially running. For now- I'll just assume he's having fun until I hear from him later. 

1 week down!! 27 to go!!

💚 AJ 

Days 3 & 4!!!

We are almost done with week 1 ya'll!!!!!! And it actually flew by! For me at least. Yesterday was day 3 for J and it was the same as previous days. I actually left my parents house yesterday to fly back down south so I can finish packing up and what not. Right as we boarded the plane, it started to snow, so that made me a little nervous. On top of that, the flight was pretty bumpy, but when I looked out the window and saw the snow zooming by, it actually calmed me a little. When we landed, it was nice to not be freezing for once 😜. I got home, said hi to my grandparents, then got ambushed by my puppy love. I can't remember the last time I was away from her that long- yes I REALLY love my dog, she's a member of my family.  I heard from J around 8:40, but his phone was acting up and sending and receiving texts out of order so he called me. They continued their stress resilience class, learned more about their benefits and got their laptops! His cell service was still pretty sucky so we just decided to call it a night. It's not worth it to get frustrated over something we have no control over. There was a moment when I was able to hear him clearly and I told him not to move from that spot, but then he told me he was standing right in front of his roommates bed blocking him and I heard them both laugh. He seems to really like them, and I'm super thankful for that! 

I woke up this morning with another good morning text from J. I REALLY appreciate those, but know in the upcoming weeks not to expect them. Things will start to pick up and he'll need every minute of every day to sleep/ do homework/ study/ etc. I was surprised to hear from J around 6:30pm today and he joked that there was no night class today so it was "ONLY a 12 hour day instead of 14" 😂😳. He texted saying today was the usual- stress classes, setting up their laptop and signing up for their insurance plans. He did mention that his company took a tour of the museum on the academy grounds and got to sign up for a laundry service. While he was texting, he had to stitch one his pant legs and told me he'd call me in a few. I told him that whoever told him that he should buy a sewing kit sure is awesome 😉😌. He called not too long after and we had our usual conversation. He mentioned that he didn't eat lunch today- it was chicken salad and the last time he ate that he got food poisoning and we had to take him to the ER. I told him once PT starts he may need to suck it up and eat it because his body is going to need to fuel. We talked more about some random things and he told me a story about his roommate. He was laughing so hard he could barely get it out!! Apparently his roommate was on the phone and said "I can't hear you, 10-1" which means reception poor- I could hear them all laughing and I started joining in on the laughing and thinking oh my god, J is already starting with the corny law enforcement jokes haha. Then J mentioned that his class came up with their chant and he hopes that during the chant and when they yell, that his voice doesn't crack. I couldn't help but laugh because his voice did crack more than a couple times when we would coach haha. (Love you J 😘). J said he wanted to pack up so that tomorrow when they're dismissed he can leave as soon as possible. We hung up the phone, exchanged a few texts about who's going to beat who in fantasy football this week (Which will be me haha). Cheers to it almost being the weekend!!! 

💚 AJ

Day 2

Day 2 is officially done! I actually woke up with a good morning text from J at 5am which made me smile. I actually had a much deserved lazy day. I literally sat on the couch for most of the day. Not necessarily because I wanted to, but because my legs were still super sore from Sunday 😅. I did get up and clean a little here and there, went to the grocery store with my dad and stopped by Bed Bath & Beyond to pick up a few things. So I wasn't ENTIRELY lazy 😎. My phone went off with J's text tone around 8:45pm and he said it was just a long day. He woke up, had breakfast, then HOURS of their stress resiliency class. J texted saying he wanted to get his suit together for the next day, then would call. It was so good to hear his voice- he didn't sound tired, which was good. But I do know in the upcoming weeks that will change big time. He said at lunch he actually had some coffee (I know... shocker!) and he was glad he did because right after lunch, one of the staff officers showed a 50 minute video and made any cadet who was dozing off, stand at the back of the class. Apparently, one of the female cadets who is there went to college on a track scholarship and can run a super fast 400 meters (1/4 mile), so he's really excited to run fast against her. He said he doesn't care if she beats him, as long as it helps him run faster. Knowing him, I'm sure he's going to give it his all and try to finish as close to her as possible! We started talking about the weather (yes, the weather) and I told him that it was FREEZING here- 30 DEGREES!!! Where we're from, 60 degrees is considered cold! This is one thing we both have to get used to. J loves the cold, I only like it if I'm prepared for it 😆haha.  We chatted for a little longer about the random things we always talk about, then I decided I better let him go so he could finish his homework. We said our good nights and off he went. 

2 days down, 191 to go!!!! 

💚 AJ

Day 1

The day is finally here. J is officially a Cadet in the California Highway Patrol Academy- Class CTC IV- 16 🎉- one of the toughest and most prestigious law enforcement academies out there. Out of the thousands of applicants that begin the process, only about ~120 or so get an invitation! To say that we're all proud of J would be a huge understatement! Ok, enough bragging about my fiancé 😉

I woke up at 6am Monday morning only to find that J had already showered, shaved and dressed in his suit. J has always been a morning person, so I know that's a plus for him going into the academy. We all got ready, grabbed his suitcase and headed over to the Starbucks across from the Academy to meet his parents. As we pulled in, I realized J didn't have breakfast, so I ran inside to buy him something to eat. Apparently we weren't the only ones who thought of Starbucks because as I walked in, I was surprised to see so many men in suits with shaved heads 😂. He took a couple bites, looked at his watch and then said its time. We all gathered and said a little prayer for J, and he started with his goodbyes. Once it was my turn, I was already crying. We kissed, said I love you, and I reminded him that I was proud of him and believed in him. He got in his car, and off he went. We all exchanged our goodbyes then headed back to our hotels. My phone went off with J's text alert and when I read it, he sent me one last "I love you boo!". He knew me so well, I couldn't help but chuckle. We got back to our hotel, packed up then hit the road to head back to my parents house. Once we got there, we brought everything inside and I brought all of my bags back up into my room. I was once again surprised with a note on the mirror from J- "I love you! See you soon! -Cadet". After this past weekend, J and I won't see each other for about 3 weeks since I'm heading back home to pack up for my move. He knows how much I appreciate these little notes and I love him for it! Around 4 pm we had to take my uncle and baby cousin to the airport, so while we were waiting, I checked my Facebook. I was so excited when I saw that the CHP Academy page posted a picture of J's class being addressed by the commissioner himself! We tried to spot J in the crowd, but between all the shaved heads and dark suits, it was a little difficult 🙊. Around 8pm my phone went off with J's text tone and I was super happy to hear from him. He said the first day wasn't too crazy- they got sworn in, filled out A LOT of paperwork, bought some gear from the PX, took a tour of the grounds, then headed towards the classroom to be addressed by the commissioner. I told him about the pictures and he said his seat was in the VERY front. He sent me back the picture zoomed in on where he was (how could I miss him!? Haha). J said he liked his roommates already and that they seem like awesome guys!  I, of course, had to ask him about the food and he said it was actually really good! Lunch was a salmon burger with vegetables, chips, a salad and dessert and dinner was a pot pie with the same sides. He said for dessert after dinner he had a pb&j chocolate chip pizookie slice and added almond butter. If you know J, then you'd know that's EXACTLY what he would choose 😂. We chatted a little longer but then he had to go because their quad wanted to meet up to get to know one another better. He text me goodnight a little later, and off to bed we both went. 

1 day down, 192 to go!! 

💚 AJ

Marathon & Orientation Day!!

Sunday was a big day for everybody. J and his family were attending the orientation at the academy while my family would be waiting for me at the finish line of my marathon. Our day started around 3:45am! J & I got up, got ready, and he drove me to the busses that would take me to the starting line. Once we got there, he gave me a kiss, told me I was going to crush it, then headed over to his parents hotel room to run and get ready for his day. We all stood in line, freezing our butts off until the busses arrived right around 5am. Luckily for us, the busses were nice and toasty and available for us to stay on so we could stay warm. As race time started to approach, I took off my warm clothes, checked them in, then took my spot on the starting line. The gun went off at 7am sharp and the race started! From miles 1-20 I felt great! I actually ended up going ahead of our pacing group for a couple of miles. I kept telling myself that I'm strong and I can do this. Once we hit mile 22.5 I started to feel like I just ran 22.5 miles. My legs started to feel heavy and my feet were aching. I just kept telling myself that I could do this and even looked down at my bib & ring a few times to draw inspiration. I made that last turn and started towards the Capitol. Even before I crossed the finish line, I started to tear up. I had done it. I ran a new personal best (3:13:23) AND got my Boston Marathon Qualifying Time! I celebrated with my family, bought my Boston qualified shirt, took some pictures, then headed out to grab some food! About halfway through our lunch, J called me, congratulated me and told me they were heading out to lunch as well. We were both having lunch at the shopping center right near the academy, so we walked (well I hobbled 😆) over to meet them. J gave me a congratulatory hug & kiss and we started to exchange our mornings stories. He told me that the orientation was very informative. Some of it was information that our division had already given us, but it was good to hear again nonetheless. He said there was a part of the orientation where the cadets had to break away and go to the cafeteria where they were greeted by the senior class. They instructed them to lift the chairs, not drag them, sit up tall, rest your hands on your knees, etc. J told me a couple cadets got yelled at for showing up late and then smiling while the officers were talking. The one cadet who was smiling was also wearing a bright orange tie so unfortunately he drew a lot of attention to himself. One thing we remember from our division's orientation was to stick with dark neutral colors- avoid standing out! The rest of the day was spent by just hanging out at his parents hotel room, going over the health insurance paperwork he received and making sure J had everything he needed. Once we said our byes and got into J's truck, I started to tear up. I had a mix of emotions going through me. I was excited that J's report date was finally here, sad that I couldn't just pick up the phone or drive down the road to see and talk to the man that I love, and nervous for this new chapter of our lives. But I know that my job during these next 28 weeks is to be strong and support J in whatever he may need. I mean lets be honest, 28 weeks can fly by....right? 😉

💚 AJ

2 more days!!!

We have 2 more days people! And so much to update everyone on. Last Sunday, J's parents threw us a little going away party! It was so awesome and so heart warming to see all of our family and friends show up to show their love and support for us. 😍 We know we're going to need it during these next 28 weeks. Then on Tuesday, we attended our division's family orientation. There was SO MUCH useful information given out, and I was finally able to meet J's background investigator and some of the recruiting officers! I couldn't stop staring at their uniforms and how shiny their badges are. I told J afterwards that that could be him come June 2017. It was so awesome to see other cadets and hear about their journey as well! Wednesday morning, we woke up SUPER EARLY (4am to be exact), loaded up J's truck with everything we needed and headed to my parents house. Once we got there, we were in for a treat! IT WAS SO COLD!! So different from what we're used to. The next 2 days were relaxing, we just hung out mostly. Yesterday, we packed up everything again, and headed out to Sacramento! These next 3 days are going to be so crazy. Today, we're going to the Sacramento Convention Center to pick up my marathon bib, tomorrow is my race/ J's academy orientation, and Monday is J's report date! Sunday is both exciting and sad for the both of us. I'm going to miss the academy tour and orientation and J is going to miss my marathon. But that's ok, we both know and understand that in this line of work, things and events will be missed. For now, we're just going to hang out until J has to report! 




💚AJ

13 days and counting!!

Time is FLYING! We are now 12 days out from my marathon and 13 days out from J's report date!! Luckily for us, we got SO MUCH done this weekend! It actually started on Friday. We were both GLUED to the CHP Academy's Facebook page where they shared some special moments of CTC II-16's graduating class! (CONGRATS ON GRADUATION OFFICERS). Watching those videos made me tear up and become super excited to hopefully one day be standing where those families are standing, witnessing J receive his badge. All I can do now is support J and make sure he is doing everything he needs to be doing!

Saturday was a looooonnnggg and emotional day for us as coaches. We had to be at our CIF (County Championship) race by 5:30am to help set up the course then get in coaching mode to get our athlete's ready for their biggest race of the season. Our kids poured everything they had out on the course that day, and as a coach, that is all we ever ask for. Unfortunately, none of our boys qualified for state, but we are still so proud of them and EVERYTHING they've accomplished this season. Our girls team, on the other hand, performed so well! As a team, they finished 5th, and we had our 1st ever girl qualify for state! Luckily for us, our coaching career got extended another week 😉. After attending awards ceremonies and cleaning up the course, we had to rush home and get cleaned up and prepare for our team banquet. This was by far the most emotional banquet I have ever been to. We were so overwhelmed by the amount of love and support we were receiving from our athletes and families. Some of our athletes know about this journey J and I are going on and they all wished us nothing but luck. It was a tear filled night, but we are so grateful knowing that we have that many supporters in our corner 💚

Sunday was our "Academy preparation day" haha. It started with the one thing I was dreading the most... buzzing J's head. Now don't get me wrong, J's had his head buzzed before, I've just been used to the hair style he has, well had, now. We went out to his backyard, and he handed me the clippers. He said "You should do it. Might as well practice since I'll need your help doing this every weekend". I must admit, it was pretty fun. Here are some before & after pictures so you can see what I'm talking about. 😝

After the dramatic make-over, we went to target to pick up a few more supplies. Shirts, socks, tide pens, a sewing kit, a duster and more shoe polish. There are a few more things J has to get, but I'm pretty sure we've gotten the main things. Now, we're just focusing on packing up everything we need for our respective moves and spending as much time as we can together. 

13 days to go!!!


💚AJ

3 weeks and counting!

Holy cow... time flies; I swear it was just yesterday that J got his invitation! We officially have 20 days until my marathon in Sacramento and 21 days until J has to report to the academy- and we still have SO much to do. Our last cross country season is slowly coming to a close, however we still have some kids competing. Not to mention setting up their banquet, collecting uniforms, etc. In addition to that J and I still have to pack up what we're taking with us and whats going to go in storage and purchase whatever else he'll need at the academy. Luckily for the both of us, we only have a couple days of work left so I'm sure we can get everything done in time!

I can't express into words just how proud of J I am and how excited I am to go on this new life changing journey with him. He really has worked his butt off and I KNOW that same attitude and determination will continue once he's there. Yesterday we practically spent the whole day together running errands, watching football, and hanging out. Towards the end of the night, he started to sort through his things and separate what he was taking and what he was leaving behind. He found his file of CHP paperwork and found his very first "acceptance letter"- the one he received after passing his Physical Abilities Test and granting him entrance into the Written Exam. It was pretty cool to see it and think of how far he's come from that. In that same pile, he found a planner that I bought for him- originally it was supposed to be used as his running journal but I think we decided it will be more useful to J if he could write down test dates, PT days, etc ;). As we were looking through the dates, I just laid my head on his shoulder, gave him a hug and started tearing up. I think it was FINALLY setting in that all of this is really happening (or maybe it was the Luke Bryan song we were listening to, who knows). After almost a year and half of "I hope I get accepted", "What do we do if you don't", etc. it is such a relief to know that now we are moving in the right direction!

21 DAYS EVERYONE!



♥AJ

Invitation to the Academy!!

On November 2, 2016, right around noon, J received his invitation to the CHP Academy! We were confident/ hopeful that he would get in, but getting that email was just icing on the cake! While at work, I just kept looking at the date on the calendar thinking to myself "God I hope he hears from them soon". During our lunch, he came to say hi and we chatted for a couple minutes. Before he left to go grab some food, he said "Oh yeah, look at this email a parent sent me" and handed me his phone. I started to read it, thinking it would be an email from a parent complaining about something, and then realized it said:

CONGRATULATIONS!

You have been selected to report to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Academy for Cadet, CHP, training.

I looked at him, and then out came the water works! I was just so happy, excited and proud of him! He has worked so hard this past year and half and it felt great to see all his work paying off! I cried, hugged him, and cried some more when some co-workers/ friends came in and started yelling and cheering (J couldn't hold it in, so he told them on his way to see me). After wiping my eyes, we started face-timing my family, calling and texting our friends and loved ones, sharing the amazing news with them. It was so heart warming to see/hear them all talking about how deserving J was for this opportunity and how happy they are for him and us. Later that night, we went out to celebrate with some much deserving pizza & beer with his family and my uncle (the CHP officer who recruited him ;) ). We wanted to pick his and his wife's brains about what to expect and how to cope with the stresses we know will be taking place. We're so fortunate to have such an amazing support system behind us that I know we will do just fine and can handle whatever gets thrown at us. 

So for now, until J's report date, we plan on spending as much time as possible together, getting everything he needs, and packing up what I need so I can move closer to the academy to support him on his liberty days :)

I decided to include J's timeline so you can see just how strenuous and intense the application process is just for an opportunity to get accepted into the academy. Enjoy! 


June 2015 - Attended Informational Seminar
July 6th, 2015 - Submitted Online Application
Aug. 17th, 2015 - Mock Physical Abilities Test & Written Test Workshop
Sept. 26th, 2015 - Physical Abilities Test
Sept. 27th, 2015 - Written Test
Oct. 13th, 2015 - Received Test Results
Dec. 9th, 2015 - Contacted by Backgrounds Unit to complete Personal History Statement (PHS)
Dec. 21st, 2015 - Submitted PHS & several other documents
Feb. 10th, 2016 - Background Investigation Orientation
Feb. 23rd - Initial Background Interview
Mar. 8th - Academy Preparation Workshop
May 26th - Computer Voice Stress Analysis
Aug. 15th - Final Interview & Written Psych Test
Aug. 20th - Ride Along with CHP Officer
Aug. 29th - Medical Exam 
Sept. 24th- J PROPOSED
Oct. 19th- Oral Psych Test
Nov. 2nd- ACADEMY INVITATION 

Who we are!

Hi all!!! You can call me AJ and this winter my fiance and I will be embarking on a new and exciting adventure! I originally wanted to start this blog as a way to help me keep my sanity but decided it can also be used to keep friends and loved ones in the loop. My fiance, "J", just received his invitation to the California Highway Patrol Academy in Sacramento, CA. It's a 29 week live-in academy where they will be tested mentally and physically practically every single day. J has been working his butt off to get this invitation, so now that he finally received it, I know the fun is just about to begin :)

J:
So a little bit about J: he's 27 years old and the middle of three brothers. We both coached high school cross country and track teams for many years- in fact we actually met when we were both on the cross country team in high school. J never really considered a career in law enforcement until we were at my aunt & uncle's baby shower where another uncle talked to him about his job as a CHP Officer. He started doing his research and attending seminars and really liked what the CHP had to offer. Fast forward about a year and here we are today! Getting ready for the Academy!!!


AJ:
I am also 27 years old and am an avid runner. I am actually running a marathon in Sacramento the day before J's report date, so needless to say that weekend is going to be an emotional roller coaster! J and I have been together for 12 years now (high school sweethearts) and throughout those years he has been my rock. Now, as we decide to travel through this adventure together, I hope I can be his rock and support him during this crazy time!