She is with him..

Hi everyone! The week of J's graduation, they had something called the spousal panel. During this panel, 3 CHP wives spoke about their experiences, answered questions and offered advice. One of the wives read this poem and I absolutely LOVED it. I tried to find it on the internet and had no luck. Luckily though, I reached out to one of the wives (and also the author of "A CHiP on my shoulder") via her Facebook page (how 2 love your cop) and she tracked down the poem for me! I wanted to share it with you guys because it is really awesome and I think you'll all enjoy it too! 

She is with him........

Some men choose a life of service and some a life of gain.

In gain there is some fortune, while in service there is some pain.

A life of service with the Highway Patrol is definitely no exception.

The good days and the bad days come, sometimes in succession. 

Through all the good times and the bad times, one thing still holds true,

Behind every man who wears a badge, there stands a woman too.

She’s with him when he makes the traffic stop for what could be his very last time.

She’s with him when he drives the speed of light and then has to stop on a dime.

She’s with him when he fights the drunk or takes the killer in.

She’s with him when he misses dinner, cleaning up someone else’s sin.

She’s with him when he helps the victim or comforts the one who cries.

She’s with him when he is the victim or when his brother officer dies. 

She’s with him when he faces the terror, though she wants him to turn around.

She’s with him when he runs up the stairs, so that everyone else makes it down.

She’s with him when he shields the innocent, when he could have run away.

She’s with him when he makes the decision to be the last out of harm’s way.

She has to doctor, coach and counsel him, and even cheer-lead too.

She gives her shoulder to cry on and her ear to listen whenever he needs her to.

With all she does to help him so, there’s one thing upon which she banks,

He’ll get all the pats on the back, the medals and the thanks. 

Although she’s always with him, she’s not out there with a gun.

If the department thought he needed a woman they would have issued him one.

At times she might seem crazy, but who wouldn't with her kind of life.

She’s the incentive for him to come home at night, she is.....

The CHP wife.

Poem Credit: Officer Mike Jones

💚 AJ

Week 1 of FTO ✔️

Hey guys!! Long time no post- it's been a BUSY couple of  weeks!! I left off talking about how amazing graduation was and how relaxing our weekend in Tahoe was. After that.. things got busy REAL quick! J, my family and I drove down to our hometown on Tuesday to get all of our things that were still down there. On Wednesday, June 21, J and I got married in a small intimate ceremony with some of our closest family members and friends. It was perfect. J and I have been together for 12 years now (since high school), and with everything coming up, we decided we couldn't wait any longer. We're still going to have our huge ceremony, but now we can officially begin our lives as Mr & Mrs Officer J 😎.

Anywhooo haha, we made the long drive back to our house on Friday and started the dreadful task of unpacking. Luckily we had my parents & sister, and J's parents in town with us. We spent that whole weekend unpacking, and on Sunday, J got EVERYTHING ready for his first day at the office. He had to be dressed and in the briefing room by 8am, so because of traffic, J wanted to leave by 5:30am ish. His area office hosted a little welcome lunch and I thought that was really nice! I got to meet the Captain, and different officers in charge of FTO and so on. My week was spent with my sister, who's staying with me for a couple weeks, unpacking and trying to organize everything. Today though, I started my new job, so it was nice to get away from unpacking. J's week was designed to be low stress and get them ready for their first day on the road. They did a lot of paperwork, re certified in PMA and the different guns, and drove around the area to start to get familiar with it. J's first day with his FTO is Sunday, so I know he's excited/ nervous!

To the new graduates- keep your heads up! FTO is going to be tough, but you didn't work this hard for the past 28 weeks to not succeed! Remember everything you learned, and have each other's back!

💚 AJ

Congratulations CTC IV-16

Congratultions to the new CHP Officers from CTC IV-16!!! May you all be safe while you're out there keeping us safe!!

Oh man guys! These past 5 or so days have been a BLAST and everything we thought it would be and more!!! Thursday I attended the spousal panel and got to experience lunch with J in the "chow hall". It was actually a REALLY delicious lunch and J laughed and told me this is a rarity and it is NOT how they eat on a daily basis. The spousal panel was also really interesting and very I nformative on the break-in phase of their career. We were luckily enough to have 3 CHP wives come in and talk to us about their experience. Luckily for me, I didn't feel too overwhelmed with information because J would constantly keep me in the loop or educate me on certain things. I will say though that the 1 thing that really stuck with me was the fact that all 3 women told us that it is NOT all about the officers. We as the wives/ husbands/ significant others also need to be taken care of and if our officers are being assholes (one of the wives words, not mine HAHA), they need to know. Fortunately I'm blessed to have a really awesome relationship with J, but I will definitely be keeping that in the back of my mind 😉. Looking back at the seminar and all of the speakers, I can say whole heartily that the CHP really is an awesome organization and that they really want all of their officers to succeed. When everything was done, I went with J to his room and helped him pack the last of his things and we headed home. The rest of the day was spent packing for our weekend Tahoe trip and entertaining family. All of our family members were arriving Thursday and wanted to see our house, so we just had everyone meet there.

Friday, aka GRADUATION DAY, we all woke up super early to get ready! J left the house around 4:30am to get to the academy and shine his boots & brass one last time, then get ready. We left around 5:30am, had breakfast at the Dennys near the academy, then headed in!!! The first "event" was the inspection by the commissioner and the first time we'd get to see J in his uniform. Luckily for us, J was also the B Co. guidon, so it was VERY easy to spot him. When A Co. was getting inspected, I spotted B co. in the distance and patiently waited for them to march in and wait. I walked a little closer to get a better look at J and instantly started tearing up. He looked SO HANDSOME in that uniform he worked so hard to earn. When it was their turn, I must say their marching was THE BEST 😎. We watched and snapped pictures as the Commissioner and other important dudes walked up to J, shook his hand and congratulated them and asked him questions. Once he was done and marched away, I showed our family where J would be for the pinning and his parents, brother and I made our way to the gym. The rest of our family was able to go into a classroom and watch the live stream. We patiently awaited the arrival the cadets, and once they started marching into the gym, it was waterworks all over again. They all looked so good in their uniform and their marching was great! They marched in a little differently from previous graduations and luckily for us we were on the correct side of the gym to see them! Many speeches were given, and awards handed out, but soon enough was the moment we were all excited for: the receiving of their badges!!!!!!!! When J got closer, his brother and I were able to get closer to the stage to snap some pictures. They called his name, badge number and area office and I couldn't help but smile! All of the tough days, late nights, sore muscles and studying he had to endure made that one moment so worth it. We took our seats, listened to them recite their oath, and watched them march out as the newest OFFICERS of the California Highway Patrol (OOH- RAA). We left the gym and waited for them to come out to the quad  so we could pin them! When J came out and stood at attention in front of us, he gave us a quick smile- I joked with him that I would stand in front of him and dance to try and make him laugh- which I did! We were called up to approach our new officers while they held out their shiny new badge. I took it from J and gave it to my uncle (the CHP officer who helped get J where he is today) to pin onto him. My uncle gave him great words of advice, and I just tried to mumble that I loved J and was so proud of him through my sobs. We took turns taking pictures before they gathered one last time to recite their class chant! (I just missed the beginning where they say CTC IV-16) 

We all yelled and yelled and I congratulated J's roommates! J changed out his uniform, and off to Tahoe we went for a celebratory weekend!! The weekend was EXACTLY what we needed after a crazy 2 weeks! We all relaxed in the cabin, went out for beautiful hikes, hit the lake and of course J and I went out for runs together. We definitely want to try and make this an annual thing and stay at different cabins all around the lake. But for now, I'm going to enjoy the stress free days I have with my Officer because I know once break-in hits; it's going to get crazy! 

194 days of the Academy... DONE!!!

💚 AJ

T-minus 1 day until Coach to Cadet to Officer💚

GOOOOOOD MORNING EVERYONE! Tomorrow is the day and I cannot be more exctited! I'm just going to skip to Wednesday because well.. that was the most fun day haha. Yesterday was the Capitol Run and it was amazing! I woke up at 4am, got ready, and was on the road by 4:45am! I got to the academy right around 5:15am and was constatntly scanning for that sexy guidon.. aka J 😂. Side note- J has always told me that the mosquitos at the academy will eat you alive.. and he was right! I have a huge bite on my leg and my FOREHEAD. UGH of all the places... seriously!? Anyways, next thing you know we heard the juniors yelling and I spotted that yellow flag in the distance. J saw me right away, and we smiled like little children at each other. Once they took off- I left to go run to the Capitol myself. Yes- I was that crazy girl who ran to the Capitol and back. I just figured it'd be easier than having to deal with any traffic and looking for parking. I definitely got a few chuckles from the CHP escorts and even got yelled at by one of the PT instructors to slow down 😎. When I got to the Capitol building, I didn't have to wait too long until I heard the cadence in the distance. I seriously got goosebumps seeing them run in and seeing them surround the Fallen Officers memorial. I couldn't hear the captains speech, but J said it was really powerful. We followed them to the back of the building where we took pictures of them and then were entertained with them doing knuckle push ups! I got to give J a quick hug and kiss, then he headed to the bus to go back to the academy. They had a pretty smooth day after the run. J said they had more graduation practice then took pictures with their uniforms! He told me he actually lucked out- so they were given a random badge to pin on their uniform just for the pictures, and 2 cadets down had J's actual badge!! So of course, he asked if they could switch and he got to take his pictures with his future badge!! 
Later that evening we had the cadet party, and it was so awesome! I finally got to meet J's roommates and other cadets he's always talking about. It was nice to finally put some faces to names. I must say though, J's roommates are pretty fun and hilarious! I'm sure that helped J also. After dinner, they played a little video and that was so cool! It was interesting to see actual video of some of the stuff they did while there. Oh did I mention.. Erik Estrada was there!? Yes... Mr. CHiPS himself 🤗 Haha. 

Anyways now I'm just trying to kill time until I have to head to the academy for the spousal panel. I'm really looking forward to hearing what the wives and other presenters have to say and how we can help our future officers adapt/ deal with stress/ etc. 

CONGRATULATIONS CTC IV-16! You have all working so incredibly hard, and tomorrow all those late nights, stressful days, scenarios and so on will be rewarded when you get that shiny new badge and become the newest officers in the California Highway Patrol!!

193 days down... 1 to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

💚 AJ

Days 185-190: GRADUATION WEEK

OH MY GOD GUYS!!! I haven't written in here in forever!! It's been a CRAZY BUSY last week or so! I don't even remember what the seniors did last week, it's been so hectic! Friday the senior cadets had the day off, and it was move in day into our new house, so it actually worked out perfectly! The seniors got their badge numbers, I believe on Wednesday, and did more graduation practice. Other than that- I really don't remember what else they did 😬
Our weekend, however,  consisted of unpacking, building and adding our personalities to our new home. It's super exciting to have a HOUSE and not be cramped into a single bedroom apartment. I had to come back to my parents on Sunday for my last shift at my job here- it sucks because I REALLY enjoyed working at that store and with such amazing people but unfortunately/fortunately we have to move for J's job. Luckily though, my parents are here, so I'll be back and visiting frequently. 
Today I woke up to my phone ringing for a FaceTime with J around 7am. He said they were a little bored because their morning class was cancelled and they had no idea what they were going to do instead. I spent the day running around buying things for our house and finishing up packing. I'm driving back to our house tomorrow to get somewhat settled before all the fun activities (Capitol Run, Cadet Party, Seminars). I finally heard from J again around 7pm. They were given liberty so some of them went out for dinner! They should have liberty again tomorrow, so J said he was going to come to the house and we can have dinner together! I'm really excited for that! 

I can't believe graduation is 4 days away. These past 6 months have really flown by!! I know it'll only get tougher from here with break in, and J actually being out on the field, but I really believe that together, we can get through whatever life throws at us. Even though we were apart, I feel as if the academy strengthened our relationship and helped us build on our patience and communication skills. Those daily "good morning" texts, or even the "it's going to be a busy night so we can't talk, but I just wanted to let you know" texts really helped also. I knew going into the academy, that we wouldn't get to talk every night, so with him just checking in really quickly helped calm me, especially at the beginning. 

Just a couple more days until we get to see J in those tans and he presents us with that shiny new badge! I'll try to post here after the Capitol run with pictures, but if I don't- it's because we're busy having a blast celebrating the big event!!! 

190 days down... 4 to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🤗🤗

💚 AJ

Days 182- 184

Happy happy Tuesday y'all!!! This week is already half way over (the senior cadets get Friday off!!)! And NEXT WEEK IS GRADUATION WEEK!!! Ahhhhh! I don't know who's more excited- J or me haha. Let's see.. Sunday J was still at his brothers, and I had to work, so we didn't talk too much during the day. Sunday evening, J was making a new PT shirt. Towards the end of the academy, the seniors will "decorate" their PT shirts with iron ons of the freeways, and notable places of their area office. He sent me a picture once he was done, and it looked pretty awesome! Monday was a pretty laid back day for the seniors. They started their morning off instructing the juniors for PT. After that, they had HazMat ALL day, then actually went ahead and took their test. J passed with a 93% and found out he got a 98% on his Accident Investigation test! The one that took 8 hours! I'm so proud of him- and now he only has 1 test left to pass! Monday evening we got to talk for a little bit- but most of our conversation consisted of upcoming events and going over some plans. Tuesday was a SUPER fun day according to J! They spent the whole day outside practicing "active shooter" drills and scenarios. J said it was his favorite day at the academy so far because of all the scenarios and role playing they did! We talked about upcoming events again- ah it's just so exciting with everything coming up! After graduation, our families are spending the weekend in a cabin at Lake Tahoe to celebrate, have fun and unwind; then after that we're driving down to our hometown to get all of our things out of storage AND have a small wedding! J and I are super excited about getting married- it'll be a small ceremony with our family and close friends and then we'll start saving up for our HUGE one 🤗. We just both figured it's time. We'll be starting a new life together, with new careers, and we've already been together for 12 years, and have been through a lot, so it just makes sense to start this new journey as a married couple versus an engaged couple 😍. Anywhooooo, we're on that final home stretch guys!!! 6 more academy days left! SIX!!!!!!!! I cannot wait!! 

184 days down.. 10 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 179- 181

Hi everyone!! I hope everyone had a good Saturday. My Saturday was supppppper long. Friday night I just couldn't get to sleep, and then on top of that I picked up a shift since J wasn't home this weekend, and that just made the day seem even longer 😫. Anyways, Thursday was a somewhat boring day for J. They had a vehicle code scenario test that took them 4 hours, then during their Spanish class, most cadets were out at high speed, so J just studied the area map of his new office. Friday morning they had PT, graduation practice then their Spanish test. J didn't get the results for that test yet, but he's really confident he got 100%. After lunch, they had a short run through with their range instructors on traveling with a gun, having a gun at home, and so on. Before being dismissed for the weekend,, the seniors hit the parking lot and wrote the junior cadets tickets! J said it was pretty fun and good practice. J called me on his drive to his brothers and told me they lost a couple of cadets to high speed. I feel really bad for them to fail out THIS close to graduation, but at the same time am so relieved that J already passed his high speed test. Friday night my mom and I went to a couple stores and bought some small essentials for our house. I did pick up a nice bottle of chocolate infused wine and PLASTIC wine glasses 😎. I can't wait to try it- but I think I'll open it on move in day. J passed out early Friday night because he had to be up at 4am and be at his area office by 5:30am for his ride along! He was out until 2pm today and text me when he got done. I don't think I can talk about what he got to see, but it sounded pretty exciting to me, however he called it a "slow day". I'm glad he had fun, especially since this is where we will be for a couple of years hopefully. 
I'm really looking forward to this week! It's a short week for the seniors- they have Friday off AND we're moving in to our new house on Friday! 8 more academy days left guys!! I can already feel the tears streaming down my face come graduation day! Haha

181 days down.. 13 days to go!!!

💚 AJ

Days 176- 178

Happy Wednesday y'all! And oh what a happy day it is 🤗. But before I spill the beans- let's recap the week, shall we!?

Monday was a pretty laid back day for the senior cadets. Apparently the juniors had Monday off and get a 3 day weekend every month. I personally think that's unfair considering the stories I heard about that class- but in the words of J- it gets the Staff Officers' attention off of them! Monday morning they had PT, then the same class all day (I forgot what class it was though- sorry!). After dinner, they were supposed to have their DUI test, but no one showed up to administer it, I guess they were on vacation 😝. J and I didn't get to talk too much on Monday since they were waiting to take the test but never did. Once he got back to his room, he still had to do his nightly routine of shining his brass & boots, then get ready for bed. Tuesday was a little more action packed for the seniors. They spent the day going through numerous scenarios- not for a grade or anything, just for extra practice. After they finished through those, J said they watched a movie then took their DUI test that was scheduled for the day before. J got his results back: 95%!! I worked Tuesday, so by the time I was off, J was already done with his nightly "chores" and getting ready for bed. We were able to text for a little bit and he let me know that he was scheduled for high speed today! I asked if he was nervous and he said he wasn't, he didn't want his nerves to get the best of him so he chose to feel confident. We talked for a little bit more about house stuff then decided it was time for bed. Today I woke up to my daily "good morning" texts from J. I woke up early enough to respond to him, so I wished him luck on his high speed test. I spent the day relaxing/ looking into more things for our house then went out for a run around 2pm (about the same time as J's test). It helped keep my mind off of how it's going and helped time fly by. I heard from J around 5:30pm and he let me know THAT HE PASSED!!!!! It's such a HUGE stress off of both our shoulders because high speed was the LAST really important test left from now until graduation. He called me on his way to dinner, him and his fellow area office cadets met one of their sergeants for dinner to talk about break in, policies, etc. I was soooooooooo happy when he told me, that when he hung up, I did cry a little bit. It's been such an interesting but fun adventure and it's slowly wrapping up. Only 10 more academy days until I get to see J in that handsome tan uniform and shiny new badge! 

178 days down.. 16 to go!!! 

💚 AJ

Days 173- 175

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend, but please don't forget what Memorial Day is all about: it's not about the sales and the picnics but honoring the those who lost their lives for our country 🇺🇸

Anywho, J and I had a pretty busy weekend! He surprised me on Friday by getting home around the same time I got home from work (4:30pm!!). Apparently they were allowed to sign out once they were done with their accident investigation test, so J signed out right around 2:30pm. We both changed, and enjoyed the fact that it doesn't get dark until about 9pm here, and went out for a run together! After our run, we all got ready and went out for a belated birthday dinner! Saturday was the super busy day. We all woke up and got ready and went out furniture shopping! We ended up buying a dining table, couch and some other small things! After our fun filled, money spending day, J and I worked out in the garage, then  just relaxed for the remainder of the night and ended up watching Rings 😳. Sunday morning, J and I went out for a run, then finished up his laundry and packed up everything he'll need for the next couple of weeks. This weekend J won't be coming home, he has his ride along with his future area office!!! He's super excited to see the area and meet some of the officers he'll be working alongside with. I'm excited to hear about it as well! 

We are SO close guys!! 3 weeks to go (technically 2 considering graduation week is filled with more transition classes and graduation practice) and only 13 academy days left!!!

175 days down.. 19 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 171 & 172

You guys know what tomorrow is!? FRIDAY! Which means we'll have ANOTHER week in the books! These past 2 days were actually pretty exciting for J and some of the cadets! Yesterday, the senior cadets had their LAST fitting in their tans 😍. J was pretty excited to put them on one last time until graduation (fingers crossed.. Knock on wood.. All of the above). After their fitting, they had Spanish, then 6 or so hours of DUI investigation! J had Liberty so he called me when he was free and told me some exciting news.. He had his first day of high speed!! J said he didn't pass the high speed test on his first try, but he's confident he'll be able to do it next time. He was telling me how crazy, but awesome it was. He's never driven that fast before, so he said it took a little getting used to. We texted for a little bit longer, then next thing you know, J passed out early. And by early, I mean before 9pm 😝. Today the 2nd group of senior cadets had DUI investigation ALL day. However after dinner.. They had what's called their "wet lab". Let's just say, the cadets get to practice their DUI training on some real life drunk people 😎  J and I talked for a little bit once I got off work, but then he wanted to get to bed early again. They have a pretty big test tomorrow that's scheduled for the entire day, so he wanted to be well rested for it. ITS ALMOST GRADUATION DAY GUYS! 14 academy days left!!

172 days down.. 22 days to go!

💚 AJ

Days 169 & 170

Happy Tuesday everyone! It's been a pretty normal couple of days for the cadets still. Yesterday, the seniors had a late night again, so J and I didn't get to talk much. They had PT in the morning, then Spanish, boxing, DUI and vehicle code. J said boxing was fun because he's never done it before, but he felt like he "lost the fight". I laughed at him and said he better step it up next time. He did say his nose was a little tender since he did get punched in the face a couple of times. Luckily- they wore helmets. 
Today, I woke up just after midnight to a text from J wishing me a happy birthday. This is probably my first birthday since we've been together (12 years 😱) that we haven't been together on my birthday. But that's okay, because we'll celebrate this weekend! Once again, J had another late night at the academy. They had accident investigation all day, then their stress resiliency class. I called J after work and he said he felt bad he couldn't make my birthday special. I told him it was okay- we'll have plenty of birthdays in the future. We talked about our days and he sent me a picture of what they received today... GRADUATION TICKETS!! I was so stoked about that! We continued to talk about our day, and our plans for the weekend then I let J go so I could eat & he could finish getting all of his stuff ready. I'm so excited guys! Getting those tickets just show we're slowly getting there! 16 academy days left!!

170 days down.. 24 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 164- 168

Happy Sunday everyone! Ahh, so much to catch up on!

Good news... WE GOT THE HOUSE WE WANTED!!!!!
It is SUCH a relief to have that all figured out and squared away now. I know I haven't kept up with my blogging as frequently as I used to- there's just so much going on now! It's exciting though! Anyways....

Wednesday night, J had liberty so we talked a lot. I told him we got the house we were wanting really badly, and he was super excited to find that out! We started looking at couches and coffee tables and all the good stuff! He told me about his day, and they had range for 4 hours and accident investigation for another 4. They also had PT in the morning, so he was a little tired from the long day. Thursday they had another late night because of their accident investigation class. They had Spanish in the morning and then DUI class in the afternoon. J said during their Spanish class, they were all just practicing arresting each other and giving each other directions in Spanish. When they felt comfortable, they were able to go into the other classroom and take their test.. J passed! I kind of assumed he would because he took Spanish all throughout high school and can actually speak it pretty well to begin with. Later that evening, J told me that the sergeant at his new office emailed them, and told them to text him their current mailing address. We're both pretty interested in what he may be sending- but we think it's an invitation to the welcome BBQ they have for the new cadets-turned- officers. On Friday, the seniors had a pool session in the morning, then vehicle code in the afternoon. They were released early, so J was able to make the drive home earlier and get here faster! The rest of the evening, we all hung out and relaxed and scarfed down some delicious pizza. 

Saturday was a SUPER busy day. J and I woke up super early and got a run in together, then got ready for the day. We went to so many furniture stores to look at a sofa, coffee table and everything else we need for our new home. I must say- and I'm sorry if I offend anyone- but it's really annoying when you're just walking around and trying out sofas and constantly being stalked in the process. I mean- can't a couple and a mom just try out some sofas in peace!? Anyways, we found the sofa we want and are super excited to add it to our place! We went to Costco afterwards and got a really cute matching carpet and mat for the backyard. Today was a pretty lazy day. J and I woke up late, then headed out to breakfast with my parents. J got this HUGE skillet, and he didn't even finish all of it! That's pretty shocking considering J ALWAYS finishes his food haha. After breakfast, I helped J fold his laundry and pack up, then he headed back to Sac, and I went to work. When J got back, he went into IKEA to look at some other essentials, and we added it to our "to buy for our home" list. 

Time sure has been flying this past month, and now we only have 4 weeks left! Everything is slowly starting to fall into place and I feel so fortunate about that. Everyone- please keep your fingers crossed that I hear back from some of the hospitals I've been applying to- mama needs a new job in the new city haha!!! Only 18 academy days left you guys!!!!!

168 days down.. 26 to go!! 

💚 AJ

Days 162 & 163

ONE MONTH LEFT! 

Oh my goodness guys, we have one month from today until the big day! I am so excited and hope these next couple of weeks fly by. 🙏🏽🙏🏽  Soo anyways, Monday was a pretty busy day for the seniors. They started out with PT and J said the PT officer told them "you're going to run at your own pace from here to the tower" so of course, J got super happy and booked it! After that they had a bunch of classes: Information systems, crowd control then accident investigation. Their AI class went on after dinner, so with that and J needing to shine his boots and brass, he had a semi late night. We talked for a little bit and I shared with him the exciting details of my day.. Haha just kidding, my day was pretty boring. I continued to look for houses and fill out paperwork and then continued to look for a job. That's the most stressful part honestly- trying to find a job. 🙄
Today was more of the usual as well. They had graduation practice, Spanish and accident investigation. When I got off work, I called J and he was cleaning his gun. They have to turn them in tomorrow for their final inspection and cleaning and then when they get it back.. IT'S THEIRS!!! They also got their written reports they did last week, and J passed with a 95.5%! We talked a little more about our days and the weather (it was snowing in the mountains again! IN MAY!). Just 22 academy days left! 

163 days down.. 31 to go! 

💚 AJ

Days 157- 161

What a crazy last couple of days! Between house hunting and job hunting, I feel like the days aren't long enough. But at the same time, the days are flying by which means we're getting that much closer to graduation. Let's see.. Wednesday was another academy day for the cadets. They had PMA in the morning, range for 4 hours, then accident investigation for 4 hours. J didn't have restriction, so we talked for a long time Wednesday night and went over a list houses and apartments to look at over the weekend. Thursday they had vehicle code for 4 hours, accident investigation for 4 hours, then a scenario test. J partnered up with one of his roommates and they passed! Friday they had PT in the morning, accident investigation, PMA, then 4 hours of Spanish. I got off work at 4pm, picked up my mom, then headed to Sac! We picked up J just outside the academy gates, then headed to his brothers house. We drove through some really pretty areas and it got me REALLY excited to start looking for a home. We got to J's brothers place, and hung out for a little bit then grabbed some delicious dinner. Saturday we woke up pretty early, had breakfast, then began our search! The first 2 places did NOT go as planned- 1 house was all of a sudden not available, and the next apartment complex totally cat fished us (looked NOTHING like the pictures). We were extremely disappointed but didn't want to let that define the rest of the day. The next places we looked at were all awesome, so we ended the day pretty happy. We got back to J's brothers, filled out all of our applications then went out for a night on the town. We ate at this super trendy outdoor Brazilian restaurant then went to this dessert place that mixes ice cream with cereal AND serves you a donut with it. So delicious! We got back to the house, masked our faces, then called it a night. Sunday, J and I woke up around 6:30am and went for a run together, then got ready to drive back. We dropped J off back at the academy, then booked it home so I could make it to work. It was a super quick weekend, but I really think we got a lot done in those couple of days! We have 24 academy days left guys! 5 weeks to go! Ahhhh! 

161 days down.. 33 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 155 & 156

Holy cow guys, am I feeling a little stressed! We have just over a month until graduation and I feel like there is sooo much to do. I need to pack what I have here at my parents house, finalize everything for our family's graduation celebration weekend, find a place for J and I to live AND find a new job 😬. Ahh. Luckily this weekend my mom and I are driving to Sac to meet up with J then spending Saturday looking at some houses and apartments as a back up plan. I really don't want to live in another apartment, but there are just so many houses that either don't have a refrigerator/ washer or dryer, or want sooo much personal information before even LOOKING at a house that J and I don't feel comfortable giving them that info. Plus, we really want a backyard for our dog to just run around and play in. But in the end, as long as J and I have our own place to call home and come back to after a long day, I'll be happy. 
Anyways, the past 2 days haven't been too crazy for J at the academy. Monday they had crowd control, information systems and vehicle code. They had vehicle code after dinner, so it was a late night for J. He did say they got to light flares and lay down cones haha. Tuesday they had 4 hours of Spanish then 4 hours of DUI investigation. After dinner, J and some other cadets going to the same office, met with a couple staff officers who have worked at the same office too! They gave them advice and insight on how to survive break in and become successful officers. I thought that was pretty awesome and just goes to show that they really do want every cadet to graduate and become successful. 
We're soooooo close y'all. Hopefully after this weekend, we can lock in a home and check that off the list! 6 weeks to go! 27 academy days left!!!

156 days down.. 38 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 150- 154

What a crazy last couple of days it's been! But SO MUCH FUN! Wednesday morning I flew to the OC for my best friends wedding and it was amazing! Because I was helping her with last minute details, J and I didn't get to talk much Wednesday- Friday, but it was okay. Wednesday when I got there, I helped her to just calm her nerves. We're both really similar in our personalities so I knew exactly what she was thinking and how fast her mind was going. Thursday night was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. We all went out to this really nice Italian restaurant and laughed, cried, and drank a ridiculous amount of wine 😜. I stayed with my Bff at this really cute beach cottage and the next morning.. The party began! We woke up early, gathered everything we needed and waited for the hair & make up crew to arrive. The rest of the wedding party, moms and my bff's daughter arrived and we all danced, snapped pictures, and drank more wine and champagne. The photographer arrived and we took some pictures, changed into our dresses and headed to the venue! We all watched as B (the bride/ bff) changed into her wedding dress and had her mom and daughter help her with her shoes and jewelry. She did a first look with her dad and waterworks came on full force!! We took some fun pictures outside then went back into the bridal suite and drank MORE champagne and danced! We played baby got back and sang and danced with B then took our positions!!! The ceremony was perfect, and B was such a beautiful bride! The groom is Jewish so at the end of the ceremony, he stomped on glass and we all yelled MASEL TOV! The reception was also such a blast. We walked in then introduced the new Mr. & Mrs. M!!!! They did the traditional Jewish dance where the 2 of them were lifted up in chairs and we circled around them! We all danced the ENTIRE night and just had such a blast! 
I flew back home Saturday morning and just spent the day relaxing, catching up on sleep and trying to get rid of this annoying cough. J and I texted each other throughout the day just catching up and talking about B's wedding. Today I had to work, but when I got off, J and I talked on the phone while we looked at more housing options. I'm starting to feel a little stressed because everything is just so expensive and so many houses don't have a refrigerator so that's another big purchase we'll have to make once we move. I know everything will work out in the end, it's just currently a lot to do/ deal with. Luckily I don't work tomorrow so I'm going to make a lot of phone calls and try to schedule as many house visits as I can! Only 6 more weeks and 29 academy days y'all!!! AHHHHHH

154 days down.. 40 to go!! 

💚 AJ

Days 148 & 149

Happy Tuesday y'all! These past 2 days, I haven't gotten to talk to J too much, and will only continue since I'm flying to Orange County tomorrow morning for my best friends wedding 🤗🤗. I am so so sooooo excited! I haven't seen her in a while, so it'll be nice to have some BFF time and help her out with her big day! Monday was a pretty standard day for J and the seniors. They started their day with PT, than had vehicle code and Spanish. They did get introduced to wrestling, so you know what that means: the next time I see J, I'm going to become a guinea pig and he's going to practice those new moves on me and slightly show off. But you know what, I'm okay with that because I've never seen J act so excited and talk about something with such enthusiasm before. He really was meant for this job, and I'm glad he's actually liking it. We talked for a little bit on the phone, but most of our night was spent texting each other back and forth and sending houses we found. I think we've finally found a city we want to focus our search on. It is a little farther, but J has said he doesn't mind commuting because safety is his number one priority and he doesn't want to live in the area he patrols. I totally agree with that! 
Today, the first half of the cadet's day was spent attending the annual CHP Memorial. After that, they had vehicle code and vehicle pullovers. When I finally got to talk to J, he said his day was good, but HOT. The weather is starting to finally heat up in Sac, and J isn't a big fan of hot weather. One of his roommates likes to tease him because he likes hot weather- I swear sometimes they act like little boys 😂. I had work, and still had to pack, so I didn't get to talk to J on the phone, but we did text each other and sent more houses to look at. J is going to try to look at some this weekend so fingers crossed we find something we like and is affordable! I'll try to continue to write while I'm in the OC, but if I can't, I hope everyone reading this has a good weekend!! 32 academy days left!!!!!!!

149 days down.. 45 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 146 &147

Yay, it's May! Now I get to officially say "It's my birthday month" to J as an excuse for a lot of things 😋. So anyways, on Friday we found out our area office, so this past weekend J and I spent a lot of time looking for potential houses to rent. The area we're moving to is a little on the expensive side, but luckily we found a good handful of places that we like! Saturday we did take a break from house hunting and took our dogs to the dog park. It was a beautiful day out and felt nice to finally have some sun! Later that evening, my dad cooked ribs for dinner, and we all celebrated with some margaritas! Sunday, J and I woke up early and went for a run together. We finished up some last minutes things then went back to looking at houses. J is debating going and actually looking at them next weekend since he will be in the area. I'll be out of town next weekend for my best friends wedding, and because it's on a Friday, unfortunately J won't be able to be my date. So he's going to go to his brothers place next weekend instead. J did share something with me that made me super proud of him! Earlier in the academy, each company voted on different recognitions. On Friday, J was called, not TO the Staff Office, but called IN to the staff office. So of course he said he was a little nervous. When he announced himself, he was told that his company had voted him most promising cadet! I was so happy to hear this- but I told him he still needs to focus and work hard to graduate. Even harder in fact because his company mates want see big things from him. Now that we know where we're going, everything is becoming so real, but there's also a weight lifted from our shoulders. I felt like there was SO much to do, but nothing could get done because we were still in area office limbo. But now that we know, I can start to make my to do list and get to checking things off. We're getting there guys!! 7 weeks to go, 34 academy days to go!

147 days down.. 47 days to go!

💚 AJ 

Days 143-145

Happy Friday everyone!!! I'm going to try and write this post like a speed racer because J is on his way home!!! Wednesday J and I didn't get to talk much because he had Wednesday night restriction, and by the time they were dismissed, he still had to shine his boots & brass and get ready for the next day. Wednesday they had half a day of Spanish and then another half of a day learning about accident investigation. Thursday they started their day with PT, then had range and more accident investigation. We were able to text for a bit, but because they were dismissed late and I had work, we didn't get to talk much. Today the cadets had another round of PT and their PMA class, then learned more about vehicle code and accident investigation. J said they learned how to write tickets today 😎. OH! And they also got to practice for graduation!! Apparently their marching in to the gym a different way and the lieutenant said they did such a good job, that if they graduated tomorrow, they'd look good. I wish they graduated tomorrow haha. Oh and guess what everyone.. WE FOUND OUT OUR AREA OFFICE!!!!! J and I are going to set aside some time this weekend to look at possible houses to rent. I'm so excited and so nervous at the same time. Luckily I have some family where we're going, so it shouldn't be too too bad.  We're getting so close everyone! 7 weeks to go, and 34 academy days left! AHHHH 🤗🤗

145 days down.. 49 to go

💚 AJ

Days 141 & 142

It's a new week, and after such a fun weekend, it's back to reality. Monday was my last day of my mini vacation, and it was back to a mixture of classes for the seniors- no more first aid and EMR training. They started their day with their final PFT! J scored his highest score so far (83) and was super happy with that. I think he said he had the 19th highest score of the class AND this PFT goes towards their badge numbers! After their test, they had range and started to learn about rifles. J's roommate said that if you got how to use a shotgun, a rifle shouldn't be difficult. After range, the senior cadets did a mock assignment draft, and J told me the area office that he got. If it ends up being that city, I'll actually be happy about it because it's not too bad. It's not home, but it'll do 😝. After lunch they had 4 hours of Spanish! I think that'll be somewhat easy for J since he took Spanish classes in high school and had to speak it on occasion in our hometown. I flew back home Monday evening and by the time I landed, J was already passed out. Tuesday morning they had graduation practice (!!!!) then practiced PMA, then had 4 hours of vehicle code and 4 hours of accident investigation. After dinner, J said they had their monthly stress resiliency class, but they got dismissed early. We chatted a little later than usual, so it was a short and quick conversation. J did warn me that he is restricted Wednesday night.. I know, super disappointing 😜. We're starting to slowly see more and more light at the end of the tunnel guys! 8 weeks left, and 37 more academy days! Eeeek 🤗

142 days down.. 52 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 137-140: HOMEWARD BOUND

Aw man, what a fun weekend. But first, let's rewind a couple of days. Thursday was their 5th day of EMR training, and they had their POST EMR Test. J passed with a 95% and NOW we have OFFICIALLY passed the checkpoint. It's a good place to be at worst case scenario. By the time I heard from J, I was already back in our hometown munching away on some legit Mexican food 😍. It sucks not having delicious Mexican food where I live now. Ugh. Friday I was in charge of babysitting and just hung out with my grandparents while I waited for J to fly in. J got in right around 8pm and guess what we all got for dinner... Yup you guessed right.. More Mexican food. We hung out for a little bit after dinner, then went to bed. Saturday was a super eventful day! J and I woke up early and went for a run together then got ready for the day. For the first half of the day, we surprised our athletes at an invitational they were competing at. It was good to see them and I'm pretty sure they were happy to see us 🤓. After the invite, I was on babysitting duty again, so we spent the afternoon watching zootopia and playing around. That evening we went out to dinner for J's mom's birthday. After dinner, J, my uncle and me met up with my other uncle (who recruited J) and we caught up over a couple of drinks. They just kept swapping stories about the academy and what not. It was pretty funny watching how excited J gets when he talked about things he gets to do. It was such a long day that once I got home and started to wind down, I felt like I just ran another marathon I was so exhausted. Sunday morning J and I drove to the local golf course/ park to meet up with some athletes and go for a run together. It was nice to get in a run with them and catch up some more. Afterwards J treated us all to some post run donuts, then we said our goodbyes. J left to fly back to Sac later that afternoon and I spent the day with my uncle and baby cousin at the animal park. I haven't been there in years and it was so much fun. Super hot, but super fun. We got home, had dinner and relaxed, then next thing you know I was knocked out. It was such a fun weekend, and was soo good to see our families. But now it's back to our weekly routine and counting down the days. 8 weeks to go! 39 academy days to go! 

140 days down.. 54 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 135& 136

Happy hump day! I really don't have much to report since the senior cadets are doing the same thing all week! Yesterday they had their first aid class all day, then took their agency first aid test- J scored 95%! We didn't talk too too much yesterday because I worked a closing shift and J had to read/ study in preparation for their other test on Thursday. Today I woke up somewhat early then headed to the University's track and did a track workout with my bosses and other people from a local training team. It was definitely nice to get out there and not run by myself for once! Anyways, I heard from J around 5pm once he was dismissed to enjoy his Wednesday night Liberty. He told me that today in class they watched a video and learned how to deliver babies 😱. We joked that when the time comes for me to have babies, we will be good because he'll know what to do 😝. We talked on the phone for a little bit, then he needed to study more and get his things ready for the rest of the week. I cannot wait for this weekend though!! 41 academy days left! 9 weeks to go! Ahh we're getting so close! 

136 days down.. 58 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 130- 134

Holy crap batman! I didn't realize it's been this long since I last wrote 😬. Let's see.. Thursday the senior cadets had their final. J scored a 91%! He said it felt really good to pass and is a really good checkpoint to have! After their final they had their riot/ crowd control class, discrimination class and then started gang awareness. Later that evening, J and another Cadet went for a run and ran the perimeter (4 miles I think?). All I know is some of his fellow cadets need to get on it... That Capitol run is going to sneak up on them faster than they think! Friday they had PT in the morning and J said it was super fun because the PT instructors played music for them! After that, they had their riot/ crowd control test and J got 95% 🤓. Then they spent the rest of the day learning about first aid. J got home around 7:45pm- the earliest since he started the academy! When he got home, we all went for some delicious Chinese food, then relaxed at home. Saturday J and I ran some errands, then spent the day doing laundry and talking about some specific plans for the future. Our weekends are usually no "fun", but very relaxing. Sunday we cooked a little Easter breakfast, then hung out until J had to leave. I didn't have to work, but unfortunately J left around the normal time because he was racing the weather. It was SUPPOSED to snow in the afternoon, but didn't actually start until later that evening. Oh well 😞. Today I woke up super early to watch the BOSTON MARATHON! I've been watching it and dreaming of doing it for years now, and next year I'll get to race it! Anyways 😝 I heard from J around 5:30pm. He said the day actually went by pretty fast- which is good considering they have First Aid/ CPR/ EMT training ALL WEEK. He did get 2 gigs today though.. I know.. I'm pretty upset too 😛😏. They did get picked on a little more than usual today since the junior cadets had the day off, so I guess I can't be too mad at him. We chatted for a bit about the marathon and other stuff, then J called it a night pretty early. 43 academy days left everyone!!!

134 days down.. 60 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 128 & 129

Happy hump day y'all! You know what that means!? We are THAT much closer to the weekend! Yesterday and today were pretty easy for the cadets. Yesterday I heard from J around 6pm. He was shining his boots and brass and studying. They have their final tomorrow which gives them a good checkpoint to come back to. IF a cadet passes the final, but should fail anything from then to graduation, they have the option to come back to the academy when the next class gets to week 21. For example, the seniors now are having a good handful of cadets joins them once they reach week 21. J is confident he'll do well, but he was still studying and reviewing to properly prepare himself. They were supposed to have scenario retesting yesterday, but since they finished it all on Monday, they had a study hall for the first 4 hours of the day, then their discrimination class for the next 4 hours. Today was a pretty good/ interesting day according to J. They had a mock trial based on the report writing they were tested on a couple weeks back. J said that the instructors/ staff officers chose poorly written reports and the cadets who wrote them to show how important it is to be thorough and detailed on your report. J said during this mock trial, cadets served as jurors and they even brought in a "defense attorney" to do the questioning. I think that was actually a really good idea because it can show the cadets first hand how important their reports are. J didn't have to stay in for restriction today, so he treated himself to some in n out then went back to shower, study and get ready for tomorrow. We chatted for a little bit, then J called it a night pretty early. I'm just happy he's coming home this weekend! 46 more academy days left guys! 

129 days down... 65 days to go! 

💚 AJ

Days 124-127

Just 10 weeks to go y'all! To be honest, I don't even remember what J did at the academy Friday- but it must not have been anything crazy since I can't remember haha. This weekend J stayed at his brothers place nearby- unfortunately the pass got pounded with snow which would've made the drive for J super difficult. Saturday and Sunday were both relaxing days for the both of us. Saturday morning J and I FaceTimed and worked on our dream sheet! Luckily for me, J actually ranked the offices already and I only asked for 1 change to be made. We talked about the different areas, where they were, etc. It was a pretty easy task for us and to be honest, I'm kind of excited where this could take us! For the remainder of Saturday, J did his laundry, watched soccer, NAPPED, and just overall relaxed. I spent the day hanging out with my mom and relaxing as well. Sunday was the same also. I had work and J had to head back. When he got back he did the usual Sunday academy routine- iron his blues, shined his boots & brass, dusted and unpacked. He had to finish 1 report (I think part of the scenario testing?), then got some dinner and went to bed. Today, I woke up to my daily good morning text from J. I had to work an earlier shift today so I got ready, worked my shift, then got home and ran. My mom and I worked out in our little garage gym and let me tell you- the TRX "machine" we have is FREAKING AWESOME! I'm so happy I went ahead and bought one for our future home haha. I heard from J around 5:30pm and showed him the awesome video that the academy's Facebook page posted. He took a screen shot of himself and his 2 roommates and I was so bummed I didn't catch it earlier! In my defense, you literally cannot blink, otherwise you'll miss him! Buuuttt guess what they got today!? Their "cheese its" and J got the yellow guidon! I BELIEVE that means they've officially been given senior status, but also means it can be taken away now. J said he got gigged today too because when he went to go in to switch flags, one of the staff officers said his boots looked nasty. J wasn't going to argue with him, even though he literally shines his boots every night. They had a test today on PMA and J got 100% on it 🤓! Unfortunately though, they lost 1 cadet today during scenario retesting.. I believe they're officially at 129 cadets left out of 150 I think started.. It does suck, but it goes to show how serious the academy is. After everyone was winding down, J said himself and 6 other cadets went out to go for a run! They did 4 miles, then him and another cadet added 1 more mile on the track. I could tell J was super stoked! Whenever he usually asks other cadets if they want to run, he struggles to find 1 other person to go with him. I'm glad a bunch of them decided to go out to run, I mean 1. It's good for your fitness 2. Their Capitol run will be happening in 10 quick weeks and 3. Did I mention it's good for your fitness?! We talked for a little bit longer, then J decided to call it a night. Just 4 more days than J is home for the weekend!! 48 academy days left!!

127 days down... 67 to go!

💚 AJ

 

Day 123- The last of the scenarios!

He did it guys! J passed ALL of his scenarios on his first try! Ahh I am so happy for him! Today, J only had to take care of business on 2 things: the last of his scenarios and his terrorism test. He's still waiting for the results for his test, but he's confident that he did well! J and I talked on the phone for about an hour once I got off work. We talked more about the dream sheet and hilariously enough had the same cities in our top 10- I guess that's what happens when you've been together for as long as we have 😉. I still don't even know where to begin with ranking them all. We still have some research to do, but essentially I told him however he decides to rank the offices, I'll support him. We talked for a little longer, then J went off to get ready for bed. 51 academy days left! 

123 days down.. 71 days to go!!

💚 AJ

Day 122- DREAM SHEETS ARE IN!

GUYS! THE DREAM SHEETS CAME IN!! Isn't it funny how I was JUST talking about it last night, and now they're here! J FaceTimed me right around 5:30pm and then slyly interrupted me to flash me the list. He emailed me a copy of all the offices that need officers and how many spots are available. They all look pretty good except for 1, and J is genuinely concerned about that one because of how low he is on the priority list. I looked over it over dinner and I must say its actually REALLY difficult looking at all of the cities and ranking them in order of favorite to least favorite. Luckily we have until Sunday to figure it out. 
Today was a really easy day for J and his fellow cadets. They had PMA, a class on discrimination, the fountain ceremony, then released for Liberty! Unfortunately they lost 1 more cadet due to shotgun remediations. Tomorrow J has to finish up the last of his scenarios then take a test on what they've been learning in their terrorism classes. Just 52 academy days left!!

122 days down.. 72 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 120& 121

I really hate being sick 🤒. Or at least starting to get sick. I woke up today feeling a little warmer than usual, snot filling up my nose and a scratchy and sore throat. Blah. But.. I'd rather be sick now than next weekend because unfortunately J isn't coming home this weekend. The pass is supposed to get ANOTHER nasty snow storm (it is Spring isn't it 😑😒😒) and they're expecting 8-12 inches Friday night. So to be on the safe side, J and I agreed for him to just stay in Sac for the weekend. Yesterday and today were really long, but easy days for them at the academy. They've been having terrorism classes and learning about what to do in big tragedies. J also said they won't be having PT as much as they did when they were junior cadets and he's actually a little bummed about it. I think they're going to go from 3 times a week to maybe 2 times a week. On a positive note, the cadets should be getting their dream sheets in a couple of weeks! I'm excited to see what the options are! J told me that sadly, the senior class lost 10 cadets on shotgun remediation and A Company is taking theirs tomorrow, so they may lose even more. It's sad, but J always reminds me that his fellow cadets could be someones partner- and if they can't handle a gun or the stress of being a CHP Officer, would I feel comfortable having them be his partner. I guess I just get sad for them because they've worked so hard and have gotten this far along in the academy, but J makes a VERY GOOD point. On the positive side, that does open up the availabilities of offices we could end up in. J's last 4 of his social rank him pretty low on the priority list (like 2nd to last 😫), so we'll take whatever help we can get (I know that may make me sound cold- but there are some cities we both DREAD going to). 

Buuuuuuut hopefully I'll kick this wannabe cold in the booty and get back to feeling more like myself in no time! 54 academy days left!

121 days down.. 73 to go! 

💚 AJ

Days 116- 119

GUYS! J passed ALL of his scenarios on his FIRST TRY!! Words cannot express how proud of him I am! On Thursday, he was telling me he was a little concerned about 1 of them, then on Friday when they were dismissed, he told me passed ALL OF THEM! It's actually really cute seeing and hearing J talk about all of the things they're learning at the academy. You can tell in his voice and demeanor that he's really having fun (when he's not getting yelled at or in trouble haha) and enjoying all of it. This weekend was the usual no stress- have fun- do laundry type of weekend. Saturday, J and I woke up then went out for a run together, then spent the day with my parents and sister running errands, hanging out, etc. Today was a sad day though- at the same time I was leaving for work, J was leaving to go back to the academy and my sister was leaving to go back to school in Oregon. Overall though, for J, it was a very successful week. He passed all of his scenarios, got shotgun certified, got his advanced PMA certification, passed his DUI report test, passed 3 LD tests and got ZERO gigs 😎. But anyways.. It's April y'all... We are soooooo close! 54 academy days left! 

119 days down.. 75 to go! 

💚 AJ

Day 115! Scenarios start tomorrow!

Oh man. These next 2 days are not only going to be stressful for the senior cadets, but anxiety filled for those of us at home. Tomorrow and Friday J and some of his fellow seniors will be scenario testing all day. They won't find out if they passed or not until the end of the day on Friday- so that can make this weekend interesting 😝. J has been practicing so much leading up to this so I'm confident he knows what to do- I'm sure it'll just be a big case of shaking off the nerves and trusting in himself & his training. 
Today, they had PT in the morning, then PMA. J was happy because they ran the perimeter again so they ran about 4 miles. In PMA, they got tested on some of the methods they've been learning (take downs, taking away guns, etc) and he passed! After that, J and the rest of B. Company spent the entire day at the range. He said they went over a 190+ PowerPoint slide then got ready to be TASED! He said it wasn't nearly as bad as the OC spray or tear gas. I asked J if he got the results from his other test on Monday and he said he got 92%! J didn't have restriction tonight, so we were able to talk for a good chunk of time while he was cleaning his boots and getting everything ready for the next couple of days. Around 7:30pm we hung up so that J could continue to study and get ready, then around 9:30pm he decided to call it a night. I have full faith that J will pass his scenarios, but until Friday, I'll just have to remain hopeful and stay positive! Slowly but surely, we're getting there y'all! 57 ACADEMY DAYS LEFT!! 

115 days down.. 79 days to go! 

💚 AJ

Day numero 113 & 114

Tomorrow is Wednesday- which means the week is halfway over and I'm that much closer to seeing J! These past 2 days have been really busy for J and the senior cadets. Yesterday morning they had PT and J was really excited about that- they ran just under 5 miles and a couple of those miles were faster paces like J likes. Then they had their different classes and 2 tests! J's first test was on drugs/ controlled substances and he got 96.6%! (29/30). Their second test was on crimes in progress, but he didn't have a score for that one yet. They spent a couple of hours practicing scenarios then they were dismissed. J called me shortly after and we talked about our days, this weekend, the usual. He did send me a picture of the view from his room and I must say it looked beautiful! 

Today J text me around 6pm just to say a quick hello. He had a couple of minutes to spare before he had to report to the range for night shooting. Unfortunately he didn't get back to his room until about 10:45pm and he still had to clean his gun and get his uniform ready. He text me a quick goodnight then went to bed. I'm really excited that these days are really starting to fly by. Hopefully graduation day gets here quickly. I can't wait to see J in those tans! 

114 days down.. 80 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 110- 112

First and foremost- I am so happy that the drive to Sac (pending no weather delays) is an easy 2 hours. 

Friday was a relative easy day for the senior cadets. They had drill in the morning, then 4 hours of range and 4 hours of scenario practice. J wasn't planning on coming home this past weekend because there was supposed to be another massive storm, but it actually never came Friday evening or Saturday. Friday evening I went for a run after work and J went to go work out with some other cadets. Afterwards, I waited for my sister to get in from her drive from Oregon and J met up with some other cadets for dinner. We text a little later that night then both just passed out. Saturday I woke up and went for a run, then my mom, sister and I got ready and made the drive to Sac! The weather was awesome and the roads were clear and we arrived in just over 2 hours. We met J at the Starbucks across the the street from the academy, then spent the day galavanting around Sacramento. We went out to dinner and watched March Madness ('SCO DUCKS! FINAL FOUR!), then had dessert at the infamous Gunthers Ice Cream Parlor! The line was so long, but the ice cream was so good! The drive back home was a little tougher this time- we left a little later than usual and there were patches of serious fog. We got home and all knocked out. Today I worked and J spent the day getting ready for the upcoming week. They have a couple of tests and scenario testing at the end of the week so some of the cadets got together to practice more. We talked for a little bit and even FaceTimed later in the evening. I got to see his roommates for a quick second and we all waved to one another. It's nice to be able put faces to voices and stories now 😋. J went to bed early since their PT resumes tomorrow. We're almost there y'all! This week is super important to pass and get through, so positive thoughts are appreciated! Only 60 academy days left!

112 days down.. 82 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 108 & 109

It's almost Friday! Yay! Yesterday, I heard from J around 9pm. He had Wednesday night restriction, even though he's not sure why he had it. He said it was fine though because they spent their restriction studying for their scenarios that are coming up. J did mention that he had to participate in a DANCE OFF in the staff office 😂. It was him versus the C Company Guidon but he didn't win 😫. Apparently J got DQ'd because he used his guidon flag in an inappropriate manner 😂🙈. I could not stop laughing when J told me this. He even said the staff officers were laughing hysterically. It was pretty good to hear that they were having some fun though- they work so hard all the time that I'm sure it feels good to let loose every once in a while. J spent the rest of his evening shining his boots & brass and studying. We both called it a night pretty early though. Today the seniors had their 6 hour report writing test. I got a text from J around 1pm but he prefaced it with "Hi! Not kicked out so chillax" 😝. He knows me so well. Anyways, once they were done with their tests, they were allowed to head back to their rooms until their next class at 3 pm. J said he felt really confident he passed and hopefully will get 100%. They practiced going over scenarios in their room then he took a quick nap!!!!! They had 1 short class left- ABC Law & Drug review, then were released for dinner. I called him when I got off work at 8pm and we chatted on my drive home. The weather looks like it'll cooperate on Saturday so we just might make that drive over the pass! Well just have to pay attention to the weather so fingers crossed! I'm also super excited because my little sister is taking her last final tomorrow then driving here for spring break! I can't wait to see that little munchkin, I do miss her! Until then.. Here's to Friday! 

109 days down.. 85 to go!!

💚 AJ

Days 106 & 107!

Ahh I love that we're getting so close to the finish line! Monday I barely got to talk to J because they had night range after dinner and didn't get released until about 10:30pm! He said they practiced reaction shooting with targets that moved and turned, etc. Tuesday night I heard from J around 8pm. He was going to go to his junior cadets room and teach him how to shine his boots and everything. I thought that was so adorable. J called me when he was all done and back in his room shining his brass. He said his cadet is so shy but will hopefully open up soon. J said the reason he picked him was because they are both graduates from the same university (double adorable 😜). I asked him how his day went and he said it was SUPER long. They had 6 HOURS of their report writing class. They do have a test on it on Thursday so I do understand why they're having such long classes on it. And when they're out on the field, report writing is such a huge part of their job. We continued to talk and J asked me if I have been saying "very well" a lot lately. J has been using the phrases "good to go", "outstanding" and most recently "very well" SO MUCH lately (he picked it up at the academy 😒😂). I do use "good to go" and occasionally "outstanding" but told J that "very well" doesn't really fit into my daily vocabulary. He repeated that and one of his roommates responded "What?! Deal breaker" hahaha. So naturally I responded "Shut up *insert cadets last name* ". We all had a good laugh and J said he can't wait for all of us to meet- he thinks his roommate and me will just constantly make fun of each other- which we probably will 😂. I must admit I can't wait to meet his roommates- it'll be nice to put faces to names, voices and stories. Plus it'll be nice to meet the guys J spends so much time with. J won't be coming home this weekend unless snowstorm # 1 million something stops, or they get a lot of scenario practice done. If he does stay at the academy, and the snow stops, I may make the drive over to Sac. It just depends on the weather... As usual 😒. On the bright side, only 63 more academy days left! 

107 days down.. 87 to go!! 😄

💚 AJ

Days 102- 105!

I haven't written in here in a few days, and for once, I really have nothing to write about. J said they had a LOT of report writing classes for their big exam on it this upcoming week, but other than that, it's been a pretty mellow few days. J got to come home this weekend and we did our usual laundry, run & spend time together. It was a nice relaxing weekend & much needed. Next weekend though, J will be staying at the academy. They're going to have scenario practices and he wants to get in as much practice time as possible before the testing begins. I don't blame him & in fact, I'm really happy and proud that he's trying to prepare so well. If the weather permits- were supposed to be getting ANOTHER snow storm this week- we might drive over to Sacramento for the weekend. These days and weeks are really starting to fly by and hopefully before you know it- if everything goes according to plan- we'll be preparing for J's graduation. Only 65 actual academy days left y'all! 

105 days down.. 89 to go! 

💚 AJ

Days 99- 101

What an eventful week! The new junior class started, so J said they haven't seen AS MUCH of the staff officers as usual. Monday they had classes (report writing & PMA) in their classroom all day BUT had night range at 7pm. They were tested on night pistol shooting, without a flashlight, with their targets ranging from 2-10 yards away. J hit the target 30/33 times and had 3 head shots! He said it was so dark out that they could barely make out the silhouettes of the targets! I always tell him, but it's so crazy how proud of him I am. I know he's working hard and learning lots, and I know that he wants to earn that badge come June 16th! 
Tuesday was a rough day for the seniors. They had a PT session after lunch at the drill pad because they were late to class. J said it would've been impossible to be on time, but sometimes they just have to suck it up and deal with it. After the PT session, the instructors decided to do a uniform inspection and practically everyone got gigged for something. J said the officer circled him twice, looked at his shirt, brass and boots then said "misaligned name tag. Gig!"  😂 J & I laughed so hard when he told me that. Sometimes you just have to laugh at the reasons and let it go. Tuesday night they had their monthly stress resiliency class and J said it was a real emotional one. They read the letters that they wrote to themselves during week 1 of the academy, and some cadets even shared theirs. 
 Today J said was probably one of the most fun days at the academy they've had. They had PT in the morning, then range for 4 hours! He said they treated it like a stress class where they practiced shooting drills and baton drills as the instructors were yelling them out. J went first because he wanted to help load shot guns for the rest of the company and ended up being the Guinea pig. He even said some of the instructors were having fun with this drill. One instructor asked J "what's rule 41 of zombie land?!". They even made some cadets run up to the other instructors and say I love you or give them hugs. J said it was pretty entertaining and I'm glad it sounded like they all had a good time. They don't get too many of those at the academy! We talked about some other things on the phone and J told me that tomorrow they get to wear their tan uniforms to be fitted in! He FaceTimed me a couple hours later AND HE WAS WEARING IT! They got a message to go pick them up and J and his roommates all tried them on! I was overcome with emotion (but I didn't cry!). I know now that since J was able to put his tans on, he's going to work his ass off to make sure he gets that badge pinned on in June! Just 68 academy days to go y'all!! 

101 days down.. 93 to go!

💚 AJ