A study I wish I would have found years ago

First off, I don't want to imply that being a police officer during the first 'season' of my marriage with Renee resulted in any negative or relationship-ruining circumstances.  But, working odd hours, arriving home with tons of adrenaline still pumping through my veins and several other factors did provide some stressful moments.

 

While searching for new study materials for our evening time together, Renee ran across this study at FamilyLife.com:

 

Link: Protecting Your First Responder Marriage

 

DESCRIPTION:

Having a strong, healthy marriage isn't always easy. For police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel, it can be grueling. Making the shift from "society guardian" to "family member" can be particularly demanding. FamilyLife understands the rigorous demands that are placed on first responder marriages, and has addressed them in this small group study.

You'll cover topics such as...
--The unique challenges faced in "first responder" marriages.

• --Handling extraordinary relationship stress.
• --Making marriage a priority.
• --Improving communication.
• --Adjusting from work atmosphere to a family culture.

And, as an added bonus, it was written by Chuck Douglas, a retired Oklahoma City police officer!  I have no affiliations with FamilyLife, so I am not getting any kickbacks, free products, etc for writing this post (However, if FamilyLife or Mr. Douglas stumbles across this post and wants to send me something, that is up to them :-)

 

While I am on the subject of couples, how about a video from Dennis Rainey, the president of FamilyLife, explaining how couples that pray together every day have stronger relationships and families.:

 

Video: Why Couples Should Pray Together

   (It can be viewed on GodTube, if you have trouble viewing this embedded video)

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How to Make $$$ with Your Computer

Finally! A guaranteed way to make $$$ with your computer - no strings attached!

 

That's right! You can makes lots of $$$$$ using the simple method described below. There is no secret to this method, it has been around for hundreds of years - before computers even existed! Read all about it below.

 

People have been making $$ this way for a long time - in fact, it is estimated that over $ 100 trillion has been made this way by hundreds of millions of people.  Don't worry this is not complicated - everything is completely automated and you won't have to sink any money into it.  Follow these simple steps and you are guaranteed to make $$$:

 

Take a look at the box below.  Simply click your mouse cursor inside the box.

  

 

Now that your cursor is blinking inside the box, it is time to get to work:

• Hold down the shift button on your keyboard.
• While holding this button, locate the "4" key on the upper left-hand side of the keyboard.
• Click the "4" key 3 times and take a look at the box above.

Congratulations!  You have just made $$$!  See how simple it was.  To make lots of $$$, repeat the same steps.  You can even try it on your favorite email program or word processor.

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Had to upgrade my lawnmower

If you will remember back a few years, I shared how I had bought a new rider mower on eBay:

 

Considering how busy I am, I needed to find a way to complete the yard work quicker.  This would allow me some additional quality time with my family.  As such, I decided to upgrade to a new power mower:

 

 

Up until a few days ago, my neighbors never asked to borrow my mower .... now they seem to line up at my door asking to use it.  Go figure!!!

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Time for a 'funny'

As a person whose history includes 13 surgical procedures within a 2.5 year window, the below video/song really 'tickled my funny bone"

 

Enjoy:

AMATEUR TRANSPLANTS: Anesthetists Hymn

Link to video on YouTube, if it doesn't display above

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Scott has been laid to rest

It has been a long week and a half.  Scott's body arrived Wednesday morning, was available for viewing Thursday and the funeral was Friday.

 

I was going to put together a post or two to share about the funeral and grave-side services, but a local LEO's wife did too good of a job not to link to (the posts include a huge amount of pictures):

     Part 1: The Memorial Service

     Part 2: The Procession

     Part 3: The Final Resting Place

     Part 4: Celebrating the Other Hero

     (Thanks 5150wife!)

 

One thing I would like to add for Part 2 (The Procession):

The distance from the church to the cemetery is just over five (5) miles, and while there were crowds and crowds of people within the main area of town, there wasn't more than 100 feet between people on the outskirts of town, where they had to purposely drive to get there!  The outpouring of people to show support for to the family was awe inspiring!

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Additional links and an image to honor Scott Hagerty

Local newspaper report on his death: Stw NewsPress

Blog post by his father-in-law: Old Sgt's Out "Post"

AP report, includes some extra info: KSWO 7news

Living his dream in Uganda: Stw NewsPress

The image to the left was taken during his time in Uganda.

I just can't quit hearing Tim McGraw's
"If You're Reading This" song
video here

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A Fallen Friend

With great sadness I use this blog to report the loss of another great man, one I greatly respected and had the honor of calling a friend: Major Scott Hagerty, US Army.

 

I received a call late last night advising me that Scott was kill in Afghanistan (no further details currently available).  I have had the privilege of knowing Scott for about four years.  During those years, he has been deployed to Iraq, Africa and Afghanistan.

 

Besides being missed by family and friends, he will also be missed by his fellow soldiers as well as those in the areas he has been deployed.  Let me explain why:

 

Scott wasn't a front line 'grunt' that went around with firearms like is always shown in the media.  While in Africa, he was the commander of Civil Affairs Team 412, a team whose mission included coordination with Ugandan leaders and the Uganda People’s Defense Force military to help carry out the government’s plan for recovery, development and peace. This initiative resettled displaced persons into villages where infrastructures have been restored.  While there, civil affairs team members repaired 63 wells in Lira and Pader districts at a cost of $120,000, positively affecting 250,000 villagers.

 

But Scott did more than the official work reported in this "Defend America" article.  In his 'personal time', he adopted an orphanage.  Mind you, not a single orphan, but an entire orphanage!  While in Africa, his communications with home didn't include requests for personal comfort items, but instead listed items for a poorly supplied orphanage in his area.  Our church had the honor of sending box after box of supplies so that Scott could share a some of our country's "wealth" with those who needed it.  Scott wasn't big on asking for himself, but he was huge on helping others.  For this reason, Scott will be missed by even those he was sent to protect/serve.

 

The only comfort during this time is knowing that Scott is currently basking in the glory of his personal Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  One day many of his family and friends will be there with Scott.  It is my hope that you (yes, you ... the one currently reading this blog entry) will be there with us as well.  If you have questions, email me!

 

From the article linked above

 

Capt. Scott Hagerty, Civil Affairs Team 412 commander, mingles with local villagers after the Acholpii Lapono PS well dedication in Uganda recently.

 

U.S. Army photo by Spc. Evelyn Rodriguez

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Outrage in Oregon!

Obama's campaign staff members, while organizing a May 18 rally in Portland, OR had porta-potties placed directly on top of the Portland Police Memorial, which honors the agency's 25 fallen police officers.  When initially quizzed about the incident, the staff members claimed the toilets were placed on the memorial for safety reasons to accommodate wheelchair access.  If you will see in the photo below, there appears to be plenty of other areas that would have provided stability for the porta-potties and proper access for ADA needs.

 

Additional information:

After being notified of the incident, Obama campaign officials sent an apology letter to Portland Police Chief Rosie Sizer, and the Portland Police Association, calling it an unintentional error.

 

This appears to be conflicting information, as the original report advises the placement was done intentionally (for safety reasons) and the apology mentions it was unintentional.

 

This photo by Officer Thomas Brennan shows the porta-potties

setup on the police memorial, with its flag still at half mast.

 

Link to original story

Link to report of apology

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