Try, Try Again

Here I am.

Yep. I'm back.

Trying once more to get this blog thing back and running.

As a New Years resolution, I have started writing in my journal once a week. No, I did not set a New Years resolution to also blog once a week. Lesbehonest. That would be AWFULLY annoying. But I do think this is yet another fun way to document my life. SO! Let's give it one more shot. And aim for once a month for now. Once a month sounds...manageable.

Where oh where to begin. When I last blogged I wasn't yet a cop. I was just a wee little cadet! Now look at me! I'll grown up with a badge on my chest.

Police work is hard.

It is so hard.

And not even the work. As one of my trainers said, "A chimp could do this job...and some people at the department ARE chimps!" But it's the challenge of becoming a "cop." It's a totally different mindset then I have ever had to use in my whole life. It's mentally exhausting. Do I want to quit?

Absolutely not.

This job is the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. I am not going to lie and say I have loved every second of it, because I haven't. There are days that I come home and wonder if I made the right decision. I ugly cry and listen to Taylor Swift and feel sad. But not because I want to quit. I wonder if I made the right decision because I wonder if this is the job for me. Can Katie Dunn...little Katie Dunn...really be that big tough cop.

YES I CAN!!

And I think at this point, I am the one that needs to believe that. I am not exactly in a position I want to be at the police department right now. I won't go in to details. (Sorry for all you curious readers. Call me if you want to.) BUT! I am grateful I have a job. I am grateful every day that I get to learn and grow into this job that I have always dreamed of doing. Sometimes When I put my vest on, pin my badge on my shirt, and put my gun in my holster I go, "holy crap...this is for reals!" I have been involved in some crazy shiz! Crazy scary, crazy fun, crazy crazy, whatever you want to call it, and I love it. But it's hard. Hard seems like a common word in these few paragraphs.

I never thought that it would be as challenging as it is. I thought if I wanted something bad enough, it would come easy. Boy oh boy was I wrong! I want this job SO bad. I want to be the best cop in the whole world. But just because I want it doesn't mean I get it...right away. Work work work. That's what I'm doing. And that's what I'm going to keep doing!

Sometimes I get frustrated. Frustrated because I asked Heavenly Father if I should do this job, and I felt like I should, and then I go and have struggles like nothing I have ever had to struggle though in my life. My heart is so broken because this career is not going like I thought it would. But that's when faith is tested the most. When we are sad and broken. I have prayed, fasted, received blessings, and still, I'm at a point I do not want to be at. But one thing I do know is that Heavenly Father loves me. He got me through that awful academy and all 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 push ups I had to do, and he will get me through this little road bump. We came to this earth knowing we would be tried and tested. This is just a lot more trying and testing then I thought I would get at once.

I've had the following quote up on my wall to remind me of one thing -

"So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference. To do the best we can and then choose to be happy about circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment...We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude."

Thomas S. Monson

That's my feel good quote. My "yes this sucks, but have a good attitude and it will suck less" quote. Attitude changes it all. I don't share my situation for pity. Like I mentioned above, I'm doing this to document my life! This is a time I am sure I will not forget, but just in case, I want to remind myself that so far, I'm getting through it!

In other news...Phil and I are home and dog owners!! We love it. We are so happy with where we are together right now. 

Our two little babies, Koda and Shirley, are the best. Koda came to us through some friends that couldn't keep him anymore. He's psycho. He is absolutely the most psychotic dog I have ever met in my whole life. He loves everyone. We go to the dog park and he is has to greet all the dogs and then go around and greet all the people. And jump on them and lick their faces and sniff their crotch. It's embarrassing. But he's wicked smart and will kiss you into a good mood. Or kiss you into frustration. Either one. This boy could play all day long if we would let him. He is like a baby and once he starts to get tired he just gets more psycho, then he will just crash. He sheds. A lot. It's not fun. But he's cute so I guess it's ok.

Shirley is a rescue dog and we love our Shirley. She is the most shy dog on the planet. She is completely opposite of Koda. We got her as a chew toy for Koda, and we are at a point now that if we had to get rid of one it would be Koda because we love Shirley so much! She is a hound dog so she just sleeps all day, but I can also take her for runs and she does great! She has the cutest little face. She doesn't give kisses, instead she just sniffs your face for a solid 10 seconds. She snores. She has big floppy ears, and she is finally getting house trained. We love her.

Our house is great. We are in a nice, quiet neighborhood in West Jordan. It's just down the street from my old middle school! It's kind of strange to be back in my "stomping grounds," but when we prayed about moving here we felt that it was right, and now that we are here we know this is exactly where we are supposed to be! We love it. Except the ugly box pond that the previous owners have in the back. I hate that. It's going away this summer.

Phil is working hard at his company and also is the head coach for Herriman lacrosse. He also is in a country band! Look at my stud muffin of a guy! He is amazing and supportive and puts up with me and my two crazy pups, so he's worth keeping around!

Life is good my friends. It's hard, but it's good. I am grateful for trials. I am grateful for all my blessings. Keep on keepin' on. Until next time...

-KTD

So close...so scared...

I graduate in 4 weeks. I'm not ready for this! Part of me is so done with the academy, and the other part of me feels like I haven't learned a thing and I still need another year in the academy. It's just such mixed emotions going on! Despite the fears that seem to be pulsing through my veins, I am very, very excited to get out on the streets are start being a cop! It's (almost) a dream come true!

Exciting events have transpired since my last post. I qualified in shooting, which basically means I can hit the target. Firearms ended up being pretty darn fun! And cold. We spent a lot of time at Camp Williams...in the snow...shooting guns...ya, not on my list of favorite things, but it's not the worst thing I've done. It was fun seeing myself and the other cadets progress and become good shooters! We had a good time. Everyone wanted to borrow my big, pink ear covers. Or my owl mittens that are actually the best mittens ever because they are big enough to put hand warmers in. Do you know how hard it is to load a magazine with freezing fingers? Near darn impossible. One of the instructors said my mittens were almost as cute as my ear covers. I have to kind of feel like a girl while I carry a gun, wear pants that do nothing for my backside, and march around in black combat looking boots.

I also can officially chase someone in a high speed pursuit. Not that I would ever want to after all the videos they showed us of officers killing people while going through a traffic light at 100 MPH, but I could do it! I really enjoyed the driving at the academy. It was really fun to drive fast and be running lights and sirens and talking on the radio and just having a good time! Despite the fact that I really struggled with backing up through the cones, I enjoyed myself. And we didn't have to start till 10 AM on driving days. I got to sleep in till 8. It's a miracle. Truly a miracle.

I have discovered my calling in life. Accident investigation. Ya, of all the different areas of police work I could desire to work in, I choose one of like two areas in police work that requires math.

Katie + math = kasdjf;anei;touairu092384

Ya...it's about like that.

But I love accident investigation! I loved that someone can go to a crash, look at the vehicles, draw a picture, take down some measurements, look at some tire skids, do some math, and BAM! Here's how fast they were going when they hit, what directions they came from...blah blah blah. I love it. SO MUCH. Again, just following in my dad's footsteps. He was an accident investigator for a long time. It must be hereditary.

With every positive comes a negative. I never want to be on SWAT. I do not enjoy hunting bad guys. Especially hunting bad guys in dark rooms that are waiting to shoot you with rubber bullets. They can see you but you can't see them! And it's awful. And scary. I went full on "code black." AKA - I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE **** TO DO SOME I'M JUST GOING TO HIDE BEHIND MY PARTNER AND DRAG US BOTH OUT OF HERE!!!!!! Scary stuff going down.

So life is good! Phil's cute as ever. I love him a lot. We have fun together. I can still throw him down like a boss. And ya, that's the update for now! Until next time...

KTD

He got me Alfie Boe tickets for Valentine's. He loves me.

THIS GUY! I love him!

Pink muffs. 'Nuff said.

I seriously love these kids. They make my life happy.

It's seriously been since July?

I thought I was so up to date on my blogging, but considering I just checked and I have not blogged since July, I should probably pick up the slack! Sheesh! I suppose I'll just start with some highlights as to not make this post 100000000 pages long with all the excitement going on in our lives!

According to the last blog post, I had just tested with Sandy City Police Department. That was the first time I tested! I tested again in October, again, for the experience of testing so I could go to other agencies and test. But...good things happen, Heavenly Father knows what's best, and I still have a hard time believing it, but I was hired! I know, I know, you're all thinking, "Well your dad is the chief, of course you got hired!" But the nice thing about police testing, is it's just that...TESTING! I had to earn my spot by passing a physical test, a psychological test, a background, and interviews. The one thing I know my dad and I both agree on is that I had to earn my spot. I would not be rewarded for being his daughter, (Even though being his daughter is a great reward! Oh gag me cute!) so I know that I deserved being hired. Anyways! Rant over for that one.

So I started the police academy in January. I won't lie, that first week sucked. I hated getting up at 5 am, I hated the fact that my uniform shirts were about 15 sizes too big, I hated being there for 11 hours a day, and I hated the instructors. But after a couple weeks of adjusting to that schedule I have come to enjoy it! The physical training is hard. I attempted keeping track of how many push ups we were doing, but the one day we did 300 I just gave up on keeping track. I'm getting swol. The classroom work was pretty brutal because most days it was 10 hours a day of law classes. Which the law is important, don't get me wrong! I mean...I am a LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER! But 10 hours a day of search and seizure was just....blah. Then throw beastiality, the 10 Amendments, and object rape into the blender and you just have a smoothie full of fun! Defensive tactics is a good time...until you get partnered up with guy who goes all out, 100% and slams you into the ground to the point that you can't breathe...and then it's not fun anymore. (I never partnered with him again.) Phil is hating it because I come home and practice all sorts of fun wrist locks and take downs on him. It's awesome being able to throw him around!

I am now in the second block, which is the official law enforcement officer block. We start firearms on Monday. I'm nervous. SO SO NERVOUS! Growing up my dad always said, "Don't play with guns! Don't touch guns! EVER!" And then we would see pictures of people with their heads blown off and I knew never to touch guns. Now I'm not only touching them, but I am carrying one on my hip! And have the possibility of using it! After practice I know I will be more comfortable with it. It's like...hmmm...what is it like? Maybe like the first time girls wear a bra. It is terribly uncomfortable at first, but after awhile you stop noticing...and eventually don't want to go anywhere without it! But I know at the end of a long work day, I won't mind taking it off. ;)

Going through the academy has really helped me gain more of an appreciation for law enforcement. Growing up with a dad in law enforcement, I thought I knew what I was getting into. But now going through the training, watching videos of officers getting killed, and seeing the dangers that are really out there, I am grateful for all those who decide to serve our communities. It truly is an admirable profession, but I don't consider myself "admirable" by any means. I just didn't want a job where I had to sit at a desk all day! I am grateful for the opportunity I have to serve and protect my community.

In other news, Phil is still an accountant, being smart as ever and working his bum off. He coaches UVU lacrosse in the evenings and is now a Sunday school teacher for the youth in our ward. He's such a stud muffin! We don't see each other a whole lot, as I am gone by 6:15 every morning and in bed asleep by the time he gets home at night, but I am grateful for our hectic schedules because it means we are working hard to become successful. I am very grateful for a husband who let's me follow this crazy dream of mine and become a cop! He was very excited the other day when I brought my gun home. Now all the sudden I am real cool! :)

Life is good. Throughout this journey of the academy I have become so much closer to my Heavenly Father. This life can be so hard. We have experiences that make us want to quit. Then the little miracles come that remind us that someone else is in charge and knows what we are going through and not only knows it, but allows it, and will comfort us through it if we ask. I have been amazed by the tender mercies I have noticed. Anything from a text from my Grandma saying she is praying for me to getting a good nights sleep when I was beyond stressed. A goal I set at the beginning of this year is to spread more good on social media. So I think I will link a conference talk at the end of each of my posts. Read it! This talk is one I listened to the other morning while I was getting ready. Elder Nelson is a stud.

That's all for now!

KTD

We went to Reno in...well honestly I don't remember when. Maybe October? So here are some photos from that trip! And just a few other shenanigans.