It can be done...

.Despite there being...16 individuals, 3 youths who think their eyes are suppose to roll back and the tongues are to stick out when the camera comes in front of them, and a toddler that is so very easily distracted, and a husband who thinks hats are the greatest invention of all... WE DID GET A FAMILY PHOTO!

So sorry John for elbowing you in the face...

The Shepherd Women

Precious grandkiddos

Men in Hats

I am Blessed.

FAMILY and NATURE

Passing through time is a slideshow of photos I uploaded recently onto a digital frame. I'll add to it eventually...just sharing what I got.

Three small canisters....

http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=103444

God bless the Veterans and our soldiers today...

Going through the change?

I remember when I got up every morning and ran the sweeper through the main arteries of the house. I remember when I washed the saucers underneath the potted plants.
When spring and fall made their way into the schedule, I washed all the windows, inside and out...and pulled the frig and stove, washer and dryer out for seasonal cleaning. I remember how I routinely shampooed the carpets...and there were never drip spots in the frig...or dust on the furniture...on regular cleaning days I could clean my house really good within 2 1/2 hours.

I believe I am going through the change.

I can write my name in the dust on my furniture...This past week...I cleaned our master bath toilet on Tuesday, then I cleaned the shower on Thursday morning and the vanity/sink area Thursday night.

In the past, I would have NEVER settled for that...

Something is happening...my priorities go beyond dust, sponges, sweeper bags and cobwebs...it's unnerving accepting that there is more to life...

I guess @ 43 I'm "going through the change."

Just for fits and giggles....

She's camera friendly this visit!

Naked with a cup of coffee...

Today I shed 22 pounds in less than 5 minutes...


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In fact, I do this everyday I come home from work...


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It's just this day...I was soooooo focused on making it home....
being naked with a cup of coffee...


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First, you shed the bat belt off which weighs in at 12 pounds...


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Second, you shed the Class A uniform, duty boots and Kevlar vest weighing in at 10 pounds...


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No joking...I've weighed it all ...I go from 152 to 130 in less than 5 minutes...


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I love my job...but it's sooooooooo good to get home!

Pssst!

Passed my oral board review and my test...tomorrow I get my cruiser and my MDC...and tomorrow night...I'm on my own...fighting crime and surpressing evil, by God.

Little Bit

Becky had to have emergency appendix removal surgery this past Monday. With her not being able to lift, I've been keeping Emily. Talk about God's planning...my RDOs (regular days off) had just changed to Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday...so since planning for an emergency surgery isn't really possible, Becky had someone watching out, doing the planning for her.

Emme B likes to go for walks. Every night she visits Mimi and Papa, she gets to go on our nightly dog walk. Since she's been hanging with us for a bit longer than usual...she has gotten into a routine...she's been bringing the dog lease to me. If she could talk, I'm sure it would go something like, "Come on, Mimi, let's go." This morning she wanted to go but it was so chilly, I just took her out and let her walk around by herself...which is what I normally do after the dog walk. Captured a bit of it on video...so you and her Momma (who is missing her BIG time) can experience the "toddling" too.

Destination Evan's Orchard, Georgetown KY

We had a blast...Arrived at 11:00 am and hated to leave...but Emme was so tired...and Becky and I were like, "I can't believe she got so tired so fast." Got in the truck and found the time to be 1:00 pm!!! Two hours of walking...no wonder she was so tired! The time past way too fast.

Finally...

I finally got to go on a hike! We hiked a bit over 3 miles at Raven Run. Everyone of my children have hiked there numberous times with me in their lifetime...Every grandchild has been there except Emme B...and she's going go too sometime. Sunday school classes have been, homeschool children have been and several friends have been with me...I can't tell you how many times I have hiked at Raven Run...But what I can tell you is it never gets old to me...

It was all very dry yesterday. Lots of colors...Got to hear and see a Pileated Woodpecker...he was too high up to try and capture on film. Caught one of the two deers we saw on film though...if you stand still they can't see you. The parking lot was overcrowded which made me think the trails would be, but they really weren't that bad. Of course, we didn't take a simple trail. Maybe, that is where everyone else was. I think we took...the road less traveled.

Now, my next destination is to Evan's Orchard...with Emme, and/or Ethan, and/or Molly and Jake...fall photos...love 'em!

The World's Greatest Dog...

Say hello to Winston...

He's the best!

Brilliance...

We were walking the dog tonight and I was talking to Pa..."Can't wait till I start 2nd shift next week...I'll be able to get back into a cardio routine. "
*Third shift just makes it incredibly difficult to run. You come in at 0800 and go to bed...you wake up at 1130 and toss and turn for an a hour. You go back to sleep and sleep off and on until 1700. You get up, shower, eat, take care of business, visit with the family and get ready for work leaving at 2115. That is on a semi normal day...if you have court or a grandbaby or two birthdays to celebrate in one weekend...like this week with William's 15th and Jake's 6th...or if the pet needs the vet...etc...you get the picture...the time issue is so much more dramatic when you work 3rd shift.
So, I said, "Can't wait until I get to get back into my cardio routine...As an officer I need my cardio...Cardio is what pulls you through when you think you can't go any further."
And Pa says to me, "Oh, yea? I thought that was Oreos."

*grin and sigh*

TIPTOE

Pursue your goals...

With a bit of determination and effort...nothing is out of reach.

Power of Suggestion

The mere mention of Brown beans and cornbread...along with the weather change...puts me in the mood for a good size bowl...wish I could visit Megan right now...she's bound to have some left over.

It might not be good for the 10 hours I spent in the crusier with my FTO though...

NOTICE:

Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil:
the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.
We apologize for any inconvenience.

Don't despair...You can always look up.

P.S. I'm out on the street right now...my faithful blogger is posting this for me. If you think of me now and again...lift me up in prayer...this is a rough rotation.

It's the perfect time for...

I got up at 3am today...trying to keep myself on a sleep through the day schedule so I must not sleep through the night on my days off. Do you realize how hard it is to pull yourself out of the comfey cozy bed at 3am? Just to wake up and go study...cause I do anything else without waking the rest of the household. However, I should be taking advantage of the time and studing since I have another oral board review coming up Monday, the 22nd. It's just so dark and quiet and a perfect for sleeping.

Yesterday, the weather was fabulous. It was the perfect time for hiking. But instead I had to sleep...This third shift stuff takes a special kind of animal. I pray I do not get placed on third shift after my final rotation. I need time to hike. I need time to be more regimented in my physical training. Sleeping through the day does not allow for these important asspects in life. When the clouds are big and fluffy and the sky is so blue and the leaves are in crunch mode and the air is fresh and inspiring...it's the perfect time for hiking...


I wrote this over six years ago...hiking is aways in the back of my mind.

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Thinking of hiking up a steep, rocky trail?

Listening to the sounds of bugs and birds mixed together.

Catching a glimpse of a "toad lizard" as William calls it,

scurrying up the tree for safety.

Tripping over a rock in the path a time or two,

but knowing it will be worth it once you get to the lookout.

Laughing at Craig as he seems to get all the spider webs

that the rest of us shorties have no idea are even there.

Stopping to take photos of the wildflowers that are

just about finished for the summer.

Thinking it would be tasty to try the blackberries that are

abundant along the side of the hiking trail.

Feeling shaky in the knees once you are

at the top looking over the huge rocks,

realizing how far up you came.

Taking your new hiking boots off,

wishing you had broken them in better before you hiked this far in them.

And thinking how nice a cool brook would be about this time

to stick your feet in and cool them off.

Going back down the hill looking up into the canopy of trees,

seeing blue skies above,

feeling closer to God, the Creator in these spaces.

Realizing His awesome power and detail

as you watch the breeze fan through the many different leaves way above you. ..
I know these thoughts are running through your mind today.
At least, now they are.

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Besides...You Never Know What You Will See....

Happy Birthday, Ariel!

Twenty three years ago, I gave birth to a sweet little girl...

and what a blessing she has been every since.

23rd celebration

I would have had photos of her older sisters with her on this post...except for the fact that I have split all the photos up and they are in boxes in my bedroom where my prince is sleeping soundly. These were already scanned and in my picture archive.

Digital cameras did not come soon enough!

Just for the fun of it...brother and sister 23 years after the photo on the right...whoathunkit?

Adjustment Time

I have been awake and drinking coffee since 0330 hrs. My time has been occupied by studies of patrol duties, proper procedures and many other topics. I am fighting myself to stay awake. You know that overwhelming feeling similar to your computer going into "sleep mode"? You feel it happening, you know you shouldn't give in, but the "screen" seems to slowly shut down. To combat this "computer" trouble I thought I might deviate from my studies and spend a minute or two with my blogging buds updating my travels through the FTO phase.

I have completed my first rotation. It was eventful and enlightening. It was first shift 0700 to 1700. Except for having to get up at 0530, These hours weren't that bad. My second rotation begins Thursday...2200 to 0800...these hours are just plain out NOT me. I sleep when it's dark. I get sleepy at night. I love the sun. In order to try and get my system to accept the insufferable hours, I am spending my weekend, getting up at early morning hours...even before it's "time to make the doughnuts."
Any suggestions on making this easier? I'm going to bed at say, 2300 and sleeping 4 hours...getting up with hopes of lying back down at 1000 and getting 4 more hours. Hence, adjusting to being awake during night hours and sleeping during the daytime hours. A fellow recruit officer who was the smartest guy in the class suggested this. (I was the smartest girl, fo shizzle!)

I am using this time to study as the FTO phase of oral boards is approaching. I'm also listening to third shift radio traffic to get an idea of the going ons.

This would seem like everything is in working order. BUT...I have had a horrific headache for the past two days. When I awoke today, I still have remnants of it...I have to wonder if the whole sleep schedule adjustment is going to cause more issues with it. Migriane medication isn't working, nor asprin and tylenol. I have moved up to 4 Ibuprohen. I guess it could be my bodies reaction to Emme's virus she had this past week while she was visiting. Just don't know...I do know...it's got me by it's claws and when I took a report yesterday referencing criminal mischief; I found myself relating to the the piece of cement brick and the shattered rear glass. It is exactly how my head feels. It took the whole thrill of running lights and sirens to an emergency call tetotaly away.

For the record...my cat thinks I'm great...someone to roam the house with in the wee hours of the morning.

Should you at any point ...

Should you at any point decide to talk politics with your hair dresser...and should you know ahead of time that you are of different political affiliations...then wait until the color and cut are complete BEFORE you open the floor to political opinions. I left there looking at my hair saying, "What the heck?" I picked William up from school and he turns to me first thing and says, "What did you have done to your hair?" I get home and the Schwan's man is ready to take my order and he says, "Say, now, did you get a new 'do?" I said, "This is what you get when you are a republican and your hair stylist is a democrat." He said, "Why didn't you just tell him, we're gonna win no matter what." *Smile* ...a friendly face. Then Papa comes home and says, "Your hair is a bit shorter than usual." Oh, yeah...let me tell you about a disgruntled man with scissors and a point to be made.

AND everyone says...it will grow out in no time.

Now, to change the topic because I am NOT going there with any of my blogging friends....

Yesterday, I sat down at the main computer in the home and found what I thought was a poem by Papa. It read:

A drink before the war

darkness, take my hand

sacred

gone baby gone

prayers for rain

I read it and thought, geez, Pa, that is pretty deep stuff...and I read it again...recoginizing the fourth line of the poem...I realized that this is not a poem at all...it is a list of titles by the author Dennis LeHaye...Man...how did I pass that psychological test anyway? Must have been a good week...I'm praying for more.

And finally, yesterday, I left with my grandkiddos to take them back home. I got a piece down the road and realized I did not have my license. EEK! I told Molly and Jake that I had to turn around and go back and get my license. Silence in the truck...

Then Jacob quietly says to Molly, " We could get in trouble with a Police officer." Molly, in a disgusted, get real tone, replies, "Jacob, we are riding with a police officer."

Grinning just replaying it on my head.

New Music Video

Check out Anna's first music video...She is Awesome...John did an Excellent job!!!

Mending

Mending

Patty-cake

*I know I sound rediculous and I'm standing all slouched...but...I had to post it! I was pretty sure Emme would out shine me anyway. :O) Besides, the clips were too big to email to Becky and I wanted her to see her little princess.*

The Employee Extra

Squeezed in there between two males is a little woman who is living a big dream...and though she may seem behind the scenes she will be making big waves.

And be advised...she will be fighting crime and suppressing evil, by God.

Want to contribute to a GOOOOOOD thing?

VOTE FOR SHELLY COLE
http://www.lex18.com/global/Story.asp?s=8797824
PLEASE go to the link, fill out the registration and vote for Shelly Cole. Shelly was in the youth group I was a part of years ago, some may already know her. There couldn't be a better candidate for this contest! You can watch her video clip on the page that the link takes you to...and see for yourself.
Thanks...do it soon...B4 August 24th!!!!

Tripping at the Gorge

It was a beautiful day.

"Molly Pebbles"

Silas fishing with Papa

AND...one last swing....

Early today,right after the hike to the overlook...while trying to save Jacob from a mad swarm of ground hornets...as he was taking a leak in the woods...I acquired two stings...one to the palm of my left hand and the right forearm. I think if I hadn't have taken the "sting" Jacob would have suffered some serious pain...and emotional damage...if you know what I mean.

It still burns now some six hours later.

Dang ground hornets! NOT my photo...I wouldn't waste my time documenting their existence!

Latest Family Photo

Check it out...

It has been a very busy day.

I have great support

I am blessed.