Cynthia

Merry and Bright

2009-12-15T21:59:00.003-07:00

With Christmas right around the corner, I keep hearing so much negativity about this beautiful holiday. People everywhere seem to be stressed and rushed. It makes me sad. I love the Christmas season. Sure, it can be hectic and crazy, but lets not forget the true meaning of the season. With so much bad in the world, take a minute to do something nice for someone. And enjoy all the beauty and fun this season brings!

PS-Love this quote!

"I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind is coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses." -Taylor Caldwell

Bring.It.On.

2009-12-03T22:16:00.002-07:00

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.

Some come from ahead and some come from behind.

But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see.

Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!

~Dr. Seuss

Give Thanks

2009-11-26T19:39:00.002-07:00

One of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions is sitting around the dinner table with my family and naming what we are all thankful for. There is so much to be grateful for, but I think my three year old niece summed it up best. When asked what she was thankful for, she sweetly said "all of you." To my and family and friends, I love you all and I am thankful for all that you bring to my life.

Winter

2009-11-15T20:23:00.002-07:00

Fall

2009-11-13T17:03:00.001-07:00

Just thought I would share the beautiful view from my porch.

Seriously?

2009-11-13T15:52:00.003-07:00

First on my list: Redbox. I must say, I'm a big fan of Redbox. But there is something I don't understand about the Redbox by my apartment. It is BLUE. Why is Redbox blue? Wouldn't that make it a Bluebox? Just wondering.

Next up: Trash. New people moved in across from me. When I walked out of my apartment one day, I found all these boxes and trash piled up. I thought that they would just be there for a day while they got settled in. No. They left their trash out for OVER A WEEK. Can you say....trashy?

Fall Photoshoot

2009-10-30T13:10:00.004-07:00

My sister is an amazing photographer! I have so much fun doing photoshoots with her. She is not only technically talented, but she has something extra that no amount of knowledge can teach. Thanks Jen for making me look good! I say next time we avoid the bees though!

Blog Time

2009-10-26T22:47:00.003-07:00

A very wise person once said that it is impossible to blog without an internet connection...ok so maybe I just made that up...but either way, it is the truth.

I'm baaaaaaaack! Now that I have the internet (thanks to Al Gore for that one), I can continue blogging! I can't believe it has been months (and months). I hope I still have family and friends that read this!

Anyway......life is awesome and very different! I'm slowly learning how to cook *raw meat is nasty, nasty stuff to touch...just ew*. I'm selectively obsessive about cleaning my apartment. I'm still working for the good ole' PD. I still have not achieved my goal of having the perfect amount of shoes (mostly because I think the perfect number of shoes for a girl to own is ONE MORE PAIR than she already has). I want to get a dog. I love decorating for the seasons. My family is still my amazing support system (sisters+cheeseburgers=happy), and my friends make my life fun and they keep me from going *totally* crazy.

I have some pretty entertaining stories from the past few months that I can't wait to share. However, since I should probably be awake for work in 8 hours, I better go to sleep. As we say at work....*stand by*

Still alive!

2009-04-28T22:19:00.005-07:00

My first blog post in two months should be a good one. Let's see how it goes.

I ate a fortune cookie tonight that said

"Romance comes into your life this year in a most unusual way"

I don't approve.

I read a book where the girl's motto was that she always needed one more pair of shoes than she had. Now THAT is a motto to live by.

I need these.

The End.

Who, me?

2009-02-24T20:44:00.004-07:00

Sometimes I say things that just don't come out quite right. I also enjoy pointless aruging. Case in point...

Cynthia: [changing the subject to avoid communication] "So what do you need?"
Male: "You always do that, you are impossible to argue with."
Cynthia: "No seriously, what can I help you with?"
Male: "You are so difficult"
Cynthia: "Me? I am NOT difficult, you don't know what you are talking about"
Male: "See? You are even being difficult about being difficult"
Cynthia: "I am never difficult, I'm just always right"
Male: "Whatever"
Cynthia "Don't 'whatever me'"
Male: "I'll 'whatever' you if I want to."
Cynthia: "Whatever"
Male: "Difficult"
Cynthia: "I'm not difficult, I am easy"

Silence

Laughter

Cynthia: "Stop laughing, that is NOT what I meant!"

Amazing

2009-02-20T15:44:00.000-07:00

Lessons Learned

2009-01-19T21:44:00.006-07:00

I realized that I haven't blogged in a couple weeks. A lot has gone on in the last little while (including craft nights and another trip to Vegas!) I will post some pictures. I have learned a few interesting lessons over the past few weeks!

1) Sour Skittles and BBQ Chips are an excellent combination.

2) If your space heater breaks, kicking it will not make it better.

3) Grocery stores don't have doughnuts at night.

4) There really is no place like home.

5) Sometimes crafting and Coke or Dr. Pepper makes everything better.

6) Blasting and singing Bohemian Rhapsody at the top of your lungs while driving down Las Vegas Blvd on a Saturday night is one of the greatest experiences ever.

7) You will eventually always find out who your friends are.

8) When the going gets tough, go to Vegas and shop!

9) The color pink really can make you feel better.

10) We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Shelbie thinks the dolls are her new chew toys.

Best friends for life!

Decorating a cake.
The finished product!

The Bellagio Gardens

The Venetian

How redneck is this? A free armchair at a trailer park!

Proof that the craziness doesn't just happen on the Vegas strip. A "toy garden" at someones trailer.

Welcome 2009

2009-01-06T21:55:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year everyone!

In a couple hours I will officially be old(ish).

On the bright side, I have decided to take up kickboxing. It will be cool.

Caution: Flammable.

2008-12-06T01:39:00.005-07:00

Ok sis, I'm updating my blog because I don't want to feel your wrath. I'm finally getting over my angry girl stage. I'm actually very happy lately! Maybe it's the Christmas spirit. Whatever it is, I'll be a lot easier to live with!

Here are some pictures from the last girls night out. Yes, we really are this weird and crazy. In our world, we call it fun. By the way, this picture is appropriate because Coke is the reason why we even became friends in the first place. Stupid Taft!

In other happy news, I saw this truck tonight in the parking lot. It was amazing. The prettiest Chevy truck I have EVER seen. Seriously. Perfection on wheels.

PS- Speaking of perfection, I met the perfect man. And I ate real food from 7-11 and I didn't die. Good times.

Love is Stronger Than Death

2008-11-10T23:36:00.002-07:00

Beautiful

2008-11-05T00:24:00.003-07:00

"With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity."

- Keshavan Nair

Cuz that smile be creepy...

2008-10-25T23:22:00.003-07:00

Seriously, there are very few things more entertaining than a very white, very pregnant Amy Poehler rapping.

Fearless

2008-10-22T22:22:00.005-07:00

So I very, very rarely post sappy things, especially about myself. But today I can't resist. I found this quote and loved it.

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

As we all know, life can be difficult. Honestly, sometimes it just seems easier to give up and let it overwhelm you. Luckily, I have been reminded that I am a tough little cookie (except I don't really like cookies...so I think I'll be a tough little cheeseburger). Anyway, I have decided to adopt this philsophy.

When life hands you lemons...
Just as life hands them to you, quickly toss them back. Yell, "You touched 'em last! Then run away...if life throws them back, make a delicous looking lemon tart, throw some exlax in it, and give it to the people you don't like. That will teach life to hand you lemons."

Ok so maybe I won't be that mean. Then again... :)

Now on to being "in a storm in my best dress, fearless!"

Vegas!!!

2008-10-19T20:05:00.006-07:00

My friend Brianne and I went on a short trip to Las Vegas. We drove down there and had an amazing time!! It was so much fun! We stayed at the Excalibur. The city is awesome. I loved all the buildings and bright lights! There was so much to see and do. I kept getting carded because nobody thought I was over 21. Apparently you have to be 21 to even watch the gambling. The shopping was amazing too! I got the CUTEST shoes ever!! I love them all. I also ran into a couple Las Vegas police officers. Don't worry, I didn't run into them because I was in trouble. Anyway, I loved the trip to Vegas. It was so much fun. Here are a ton of pictures! They are all out of order, but since my photos are coming up in html format only, I can't figure out how to move them around.

Girls just wanna have fun!

2008-10-14T00:08:00.004-07:00

My friend Amanda and I had an awesome girls night. We went out to dinner, went shopping, then made awesome Halloween cupcakes. It was fabulous. I think we came up with about a dozen inside jokes. Hey Amanda-does the gun have the safety on!?

If only you could cite people for being clueless...

2008-10-07T22:14:00.000-07:00

Hit the road!

2008-10-04T18:45:00.012-07:00

Dear Driver,

Since we all share the same roads, I thought I would take a moment to enlighten you on some of the standard rules of the road. I realize these concepts may seem extreme. However, with practice, I can assure you that you will one day master them.

Rule #1

This picture represents a common roadside sign. It is called the Speed Limit Sign. This sign is very important to pay attention to. Here is the deal- the numbers on this sign should match the numbers on your speedometer. For instance, when the speed limit is 25 MPH, please ensure that your speedometer does not read 40 MPH. You will get pulled over by a cop who has heard just about EVERY excuse in the book. Also, please ensure that you do not go 15 MPH. Going 15 MPH will result in cars following you very closely. Since they will be following you very closely, you will be able to see their faces. Watch their mouths closely. They will most likely be using crude language. When you see this, it is time to GO FASTER.

Rule #2

This is a picture of a Stop Sign. When you see this sign, you are required to STOP. This requires that you use the brake pedal. If you are not familiar with this mechanism, it is located directly to the left of the gas pedal. When you see this sign, you should press down on said brake pedal until your vehicle stops moving completely. If you fail to stop, multiple consequences may follow. You could, after proceeding unlawfully through a stop sign, hit another vehicle (which would be very bad.) You may also be pulled over by an officer in a Ford truck, after which you will be issued a $92 traffic citation (this is also not a good option).

Rule #3

This is a picture of a green light. Green means GO. Green does NOT mean slow down, stop, check your map for directions, or pick your nose. This is also an inopportune time to make a phone call or send a text message. People get very upset if you do not quickly proceed through a green light. For signs that a person is upset, please refer to rule number one.

Rule #4

This is one of my personal favorites. There is not a whole lot to say on this particular sign. Basically, if you turn onto a road and see all the vehicles coming straight at you, this is a good indication that you are now on a one-way road going the wrong way. You should probably get off the road quickly unless you feel the need for a good head-on collision.

There are many other rules that I would love to make you aware of. Sadly, I am pretty sure that these rules will continued to be ignored. That being said, please enjoy these signs. They may make more sense to you than the ones we have just discussed.

Get it out of my head!

2008-09-28T23:46:00.002-07:00

Thank you Mallory for getting this stuck in my head. I now return the favor to anyone who watches this. TODAY!

Can you see Russia from YOUR house?

2008-09-23T18:50:00.003-07:00

This cracked me up! Even if you are a big Sarah Palin fan, I would hope you could still find the humor in it.

Crazy

2008-09-12T13:38:00.003-07:00

The guy who owns this truck lives by my house. Notice anything strange about the truck? How about the arm hanging out of the bed of truck. Obviously it is fake, but I wonder how many people have done double takes while driving behind this guy! I would laugh if he got pulled over and pulled out of his truck at gun point.

I don't know if it is something in the water or if I'm finally growing up. I decided to cook for myself. I usually hate cooking just for myself, because food is not meant to serve just one person. But I did it! I even made my own sauce for the pasta. As simplistic as that may seem, I am very proud.
Some sweet lady brought in a bunch of toys at my work. Our victim advocates will disperse the toys out to children who are in difficult situations. However, I couldn't resist adding in my opinion on this. It is a heart-shaped balloon that says "ain't love grand!". I wrote a note underneath it saying "No! It sucks!" That is just bitterness talking though. I'm slowly learning not to be bitter.

Just a thought...

2008-08-27T22:26:00.003-07:00

I received this in an e-mail today. I thought parts of it were really sweet and true, so I thought I would share it!

Did you know that those who appear to be very strong in heart are really the most susceptible and weak?

Did you know that those who spend their time protecting others are really the ones who need someone to protect them?

Did you know that the three most difficult things to say are:

-I love you

-I'm sorry

-Help me

Did you that when you help someone, the help is returned two-fold?

Did you know that it's easier to say what you feel in writing rather than in person? But did you know that it has more value when it is said in person?

Did you know that when you ask for something in faith, your wishes are granted?

Did you know that you can make your dreams come true-like falling in love, becoming rich, staying healthy, if you ask in faith. And if you really knew, you would be surprised by what you could do.

Chicken Crossing

2008-08-17T00:29:00.003-07:00

I saw this and couldn't resist posting it!

I got it from http://funnyforward.blogspot.com/

Why did the chicken cross the road?

BARACK OBAMA:The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a CHANGE! The chicken wanted CHANGE!

JOHN MCCAIN:My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON:When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes m e uniquely qualified to ensure -- right from Day One! -- that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.......

DR. PHIL:The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on 'THIS' side of the road before it goes after the problem on the 'OTHER SIDE' of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on h is 'CURRENT' problems before adding 'NEW' problems.

OPRAH:Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

GEORGE W. BUSH:We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

COLIN POWELL:Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road...

ANDERSON COOPER - CNN:We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

JOHN KERRY:Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

NANCY GRACE:That chicken crossed the road because he's GUILTY! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN:To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART:No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.

DR SEUSS:Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why i t crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY:To die in the rain. Alone.

JERRY FALWELL:Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth?' That's why they ca ll it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media white washes with seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side'. That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.

GRANDPA:In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS:Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE:It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON:Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

BILL GATES:I have just released eChicken2007, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book. Internet Explorer is an integral part of the Chicken. This new platform is much more stable and will never cra...#@&&^(C% ......... reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN:Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

BILL CLINTON:I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE:I invented the chicken!

COLONEL SANDERS:Did I miss one?

DICK CHENEY:Where's my gun?

AL SHARPTON:Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

Night Out

2008-08-11T18:16:00.005-07:00

I'm really getting bad at updating my blog. There isn't a whole lot new in my life though! But here are some pictures of the past couple weeks.

These pictures are from South Salt Lake's 'Night Out Against Crime'
Thanks to my sister for taking the last 3 pictures on here. She's such an amazing photographer!

I do not like mascots. I think they are creepy. I wasn't too excited when one of the detectives shouted out to this lion-ish thing that I wanted my picture taken with it. It made me sit on it's lap. Creepy.
K-9 Demonstration

Photoshoot

2008-08-01T14:32:00.004-07:00

Last night my amazing sister Jen was nice enough to take pictures of me. It was a lot of fun! Thanks Jen for making me feel pretty! I love the pictures. Here are just a few samples.

In my dreams

2008-07-16T00:34:00.004-07:00

Disclaimer: I did not just get back from Hawaii. These pictures were from a trip back in 2005. But since I can't think of anything creative to blog about, I thought I would recycle some of these pictures. Hawaii is one of my favorite places in the world. It is so beautiful! I hope I can get back there sometime in the next year or two (by the way, thanks mom and dad for leaving me behind while you guys went to Hawaii in the coldest January that I have ever seen in Utah....I'm still bitter!) Anyway, I thought I would make a list of my top 5 favorite things about Hawaii.

5. The yummiest plate lunches and food. Eating a fresh pineapple on your porch while enjoying the morning breeze and the sound of the ocean is amazing!

4. The sheer beauty and color of the green mountains and colorful flowers.

3. The warm weather (which is the most appreciated when its freezing here!)

2. The ocean. It is stunning. I don't even know how to describe it.

and number 1...drum roll.....

1. Polynesian fire dancers!! They are just too good looking.

Lanikai Beach

I can almost feel that breeze
Hibiscus Flower Awesome mountains!

Please excuse my strange sense of humor

2008-06-25T20:40:00.004-07:00

Ok I haven't posted in a few weeks, but I promise I am still alive. My staph infection is healing nicely. I have developed a strange liking for 40's music. I am still searching for the yummiest cheeseburger in Utah. My work is going to 4-ten hour days which means I will have every Friday off! Hopefully that will be fun. Speaking of fun, I thought I would share three very funny pictures. I realize some people may not understand the humor behind them, but try laughing anyway. Its good for you.

You know how some people look out the window and they see popcorn popping on the apricot tree? Well...when I look out my window during the day or while I'm driving down the street, this is what I see!I believe I should pass this cartoon along to the county jail. Since budgets are a big issue for law enforcement all around the state, this would be a perfect idea!
This hairstyle is just in case I move to West Valley. No offense to anyone who lives there or actually has hair like this. Personally, I think the look needs the big "Utah Claw" bangs and a tattoo with some old boyfriend's name on it with a heart and arrow. Maybe then I could finally get a man!

"It is worthwhile to live and fight courageously for sacred ideals"

2008-05-15T21:55:00.012-07:00

Most people know that I love my department. Unfortunately, the SSLPD came under fire after the tragic homicides of three people. I just wanted to make a couple brief points for anyone who thinks that my department does not do enough.

Concerning the homicides-You can't force an adult to leave a relationship. Everyone is entitled to their due process rights. I think all officers would love to see victims of abusive relationships leave their abusers. However, if the victims claim nothing is wrong, there is nothing else law enforcement can do. It is not the fault of the officers. If you want to place blame in these recent homicides, try placing the blame on the man who pulled the trigger.

I read a comment on KSL that the South Salt Lake Police "never do anything but sit in doughnut shops." The ironic thing about this statement is that the individual who made the comment may, in the future, need the help of the very officers that he has ridiculed. And those officers will respond and help.

In reply to this man's comment, here are some statistics. South Salt Lake is a small area geographically. But that does not mean that it is not a busy department. Last year my department responded to 43,596 calls. They made 2,501 arrests. They responded to 1,624 traffic accidents. That leaves very little time for "sitting in doughnut shops"

This has already been an incredibly busy and emotional year. This leads me to my last point. It is easy for people to judge law enforcement when all their information comes from reading the news. They don't see what goes on in the day to day operations.

I have seen nothing but dedication and hard work from the officers. They may get exhausted, irritated, or even discouraged, but they never give up on helping others. How many of us can say that?

By the way, today is Police Officer Memorial Day. It is a day to honor all the fallen officers. Last year was the deadliest year in decades. Many wonderful, brave officers lost their lives in the line of duty. God bless them for their dedicated service.

"A hero is simply someone who rises above his own human weaknesses, for an hour, a day, a year, to do something stirring."--Betty Deramus

The fun of being an aunt!

2008-05-06T21:48:00.007-07:00

I love being an aunt! Aly slept over the other night and we had a blast!! She was so excited. We watched the Jazz game together. She would get so excited every time the Jazz scored! We also played Twister, Scrabble (or at least Aly's version of it), colored in coloring books, and listened to music. I got a two minute lecture after we listened to the Taylor Swift song "Picture to Burn." Part of the lyrics say "I really, really hate that stupid old pickup truck". Aly told me that we shouldn't listen to that song because it has a "poo poo" word in it and that we should never say that word because it makes people sad. Way to raise a good kid there sis! Anyway, we had a total blast. I haven't had that much fun in a long time!

Aly enjoying her ice cream.

Cheering for the Jazz.
Aly watching the Jazz game.

Playing Twister

All tired out :) I don't know how you do it Jen. You must have ten times the energy I do!

I can't leave out the precious little Amy in this post. Even though she didn't sleep over, we have still had a lot of fun lately!

Fun with the new camera!

2008-03-18T23:09:00.004-07:00

I got an AWESOME new camera! It is a Nikon S210. It is an 8.1 Megapixel, 3x optical zoom, image stabilization, 2.5 inch LCD, up to a 2000 ISO, and face focusing technology. And it is TINY. It can easily fit in my purse or even in my pocket. But it takes amazingly clear pictures! And it is so much fun to just pull it out and take fun photos. Here are some goofy ones.

So tiny and yet so powerful!

Cute girls!

Big eyes!!!

Displaying the sticker from my camera. It was WAY past her bedtime!

I like my new camera so much I'm modeling the sticker.

Ending Meth

2008-03-02T23:46:00.003-07:00

I made a little video about Meth. It is such a dangerous drug. Utah is actually one of the leaders in Meth use. It truly does such horrible things to a person, and then effect doesn't stop there. I hope we can all become educated about the devastation that comes from this drug. I think anyone who gets involved in fight against this drug can and will make a difference.

I took a lot of information from www.endmethnow.org

I also copied a lot of pictures from internet sites that I will post the links to later.

You can have your cake...and you can eat it too!

2008-02-28T00:09:00.004-07:00

I made a cake today. It was a very...interesting experience. I decided to make a bundt cake (the cake that's made from that funny looking round, squiggly pan). It is a devils food cake. Two batches of frosting, a kitchen covered in powdered sugar, and one broken butter dish later, I produced a very yummy cake. I ended up sprinkling powdered sugar over it. I also made a EDIBLE frosting out of powdered sugar and milk which I also drizzled over the cake. It ended up being the perfect amount of sweetness. I have never had a cake turn out to be so delicious and moist! The pictures don't really do it justice. I'm very proud of this cake.

PS-When a review on a recipe says that the frosting tastes like lard, DON'T make it...because it REALLY tastes like lard. Hence the reason why I went through two different batches of frosting.

Right out of the oven

Not a great pic, but here it is with the powdered sugar.

Well I have had my cooking experience for the month. Yay!!!!

Crafty times

2008-02-17T23:37:00.004-07:00

It has been a LONG time since my last post! Don't worry, I'm still alive and well! School and work have been very busy. I'm pretty sure that I study too much. I even have dreams about proving concurrance between the actus reus (physical act) and mens rea (mental element) of a crime! You know you are crazy when you dream in latin legal terms.

So...to keep my sanity I have been doing craft projects. I've made a few bracelets and utilized the vinyl cutter as well. I'll post pics of the bracelets later, but here are some craft projects that I made today!

Glass Block that says Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Frame with glass

Thankful...

2008-01-21T23:21:00.000-07:00

I found this online and I think it is wonderful. Since my department was involved in a pretty extreme situation today (the officers are safe), it has me reflecting on how things can happen so unexpectedly. I'm so thankful for the men and women in every department who are willing to go into dangerous and potentially deadly situations. And I hope we can all keep them in our prayers to stay safe.

Here is the poem I found on the website. So many officers are just seen by the public as nuisances. But they really put so much effort into serving their communities. I think this prayer echoes what most officers feel.

Police Officer Prayer

Lord I ask for courage
Courage to face and
Conquer my own fears...
Courage to take me
Where others will not go...
I ask for strength
Strength of body to protect others
And strength of spirit to lead others...
I ask for dedication
Dedication to my job, to do it well
Dedication to my community
To keep it safe...
Give me Lord, concern
For others who trust me
And compassion for those who need me...
And please Lord
Through it all
Be at my side...
--Author Unknown

Tag!

2008-01-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

I guess I'm it!

Jennifer tagged me!
Here are the rules:• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, we all want to know them.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Hmm I'm not sure if I can think of 7 random facts. But I will try!

1- I love older TV shows. I Love Lucy, Bewitched, The Andy Griffith Show, etc. They are still so much fun to watch! The humor in them is more funny than anything on television these days.

2- I think Chevy trucks are just about the greatest things on earth. Someday I want a big, beautiful Chevy Silverado 2500hd. When I'm driving and I'm stopped next to a Chevy truck with the Duramax Diesel, I roll down my window and turn off the music so I can hear the beautiful sound of a big diesel engine!

3- I am obsessed with lotion. I have almost every scent of lotion imaginable. I literally have dozens and dozens of lotion. In fact, I bought a couple new ones last night! So if you ever need to borrow lotion, you know where you can find it!

4. One of my most favorite places on earth is the ocean. There is just something so wild and untamed about it. I love the ocean in all of its moods! I think Hawaii has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world!!

5- I love quotations. There are so many amazing and inspiring quotes out there. We can learn so much from all the wise people who have lived before us. Here are some of my favorites-

"I long to accomplish a real and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."

-Helen Keller

"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time."

- Abraham Lincoln

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

6- I love to do crafts. They are so much fun! There is nothing cuter than a fun, holiday craft. I'm going to make fun crafts for every holiday! Now that I have the vinyl cutter, I can make lots of crafts. It's such a great cathartic release! Here is a picture of one of my favorite crafts from Halloween.

7- I like to shoot. And unlike my sister, I'm not talking about cameras (although those are fun too). I like to shoot handguns! But don't worry, I like to shoot them at a shooting range. After all, what would you expect from a criminal justice major? Here is a picture of my target from my first time shooting. Check out the bulls-eye!

A picture is worth a thousand words...

2008-01-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

It's finally time to post some of the (literally) hundreds of pictures that were taken over Christmas. Later this week I will post some birthday ones as well.

Here are pictures my talented sister Jennifer took

Here were some pictures I was able to take with Jen's awesome camera. Thanks for letting me use it sis!

These pictures were from my pink Christmas tree. It was so much fun! I wanted to post these along with my birthday pictures so my friend, Sister Rothe, could see them. She can actually look at my blog to see the pictures! She is serving right now in the Little Rock Arkansas mission. She is the greatest friend!
This picture is a few years old. She would probably kill me for putting it on here, but she can't because she is in Arkansas almost getting sucked up by a tornado!

Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do?

2008-01-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

So I was thinking today (yes, go ahead...laugh and make jokes) about our society and
a) how crimes and punishment are perceived and
b) what this perception means for society

Just to offer a little insight-laws of some form have been in place for thousands of years. One of the first set of laws ever to be created were compiled in the Hammurabi Code in 1760 BC!
The Babylonian king Hammurabi set forth these laws (including the first juvenile truancy laws!) to better rule his kingdom. Many of them were very harsh.
For instance, law 22 stated that anyone caught stealing would be put to death.

In our current day, theft is not seen as a horrible crime. Now, theft should not be punished by death (or even by months in jail depending on the circumstances).
However, are we doing enough to prevent crimes from happening? So many crimes go unpunished. I'm not necessarily saying that I am an advocate for punishment, but what kind of message are we sending to criminals when they continuously just get a "slap on the wrist"? Are we digging our society into a hole by allowing so many crimes to be unpunished? Also, if we don't punish a crime or seek for restitution, what happens to the victims of crime? They lose. Maybe this doesn't concern us. But I can almost guarantee that if an average person becomes a victim of crime, they would want justice. And I can also guarantee that justice for them would not be a waving of the finger at the perpetrator and a stern voice saying "don't do that again".

The Code of Hammurabi also stated that, if the thief could not be found, the community would help offer restitution to the victim.
Being a selfish society, we would not want to burden of another persons criminal activity to fall on our backs. But maybe this ancient law teaches us something, even if it is only the principle that society should help one another more. Would it really be so bad to help others when the situation is beyond their control? Just a thought. There are so many victims of crime out there who need more than just money. For instance, victims of violent crimes need support, guidance, reassurance. Instead, society often gives them a "cold shoulder". Just because their reality is not our reality does not mean that we should not help.

As a side note, I don't think this problem of not punishing criminals is the fault of the police. They can only do so much. Jails and prisons are so overcrowded they cannot accommodate many criminals. Again-what can our society do about this? Maybe digging a little bit deeper into our pocketbooks would be an investment.

Anyway, this is probably the most boring blog ever to be written in the history of blogs! But
those were just my thoughts for this evening. I'm going to try to go to bed early tonight! If anyone actually reads this blog all the way through-I owe you a cookie.

Out with the old...

2007-12-30T21:20:00.000-07:00

In with the new!

Since we are about to move into a new year I decided to join in the modern practice of blogging!

This has been quite the year! I have been very blessed with some wonderful experiences in 2007. Who would have thought that I would end up falling in love with the crazy world of criminal justice? I never dreamed that I would end up here, but I am loving every second of it! It has been wonderful to find something in life that I have not only an interest in, but a passion for. I'm grateful to work with people who are dedicated to make our communities safer places to live.

"It is the spirit and not the form of law that keeps justice alive." ~Earl Warren

This year has also been a fun one for my family. I have the two most adorable nieces in the world! I love seeing how much they grow! They are both so smart and fun! On a side note, Jen I hope you don't mind me using a lot of the pictures you have taken. My sister is such a talented photographer! This picture is one of hers that she took earlier this year.

My favorite picture of me with the girls

Here is another one of Jen's pictures. I'm so proud of everyone in my family!

I'm so excited for the new year. I have a lot of new year resolutions that I want to make! I wish everybody the very best for the new year!