Life is a Whirlwind!

Am feeling like life is a whirlwind!
Can it really be June tomorrow? How can it be that it's been nearly 10 years since our world turned upside down? In some ways it seems like an eternity has passed. In others it seems like we were just going to t-ball games and grade school band concerts; to field trips and field days. Hard memories and sweet memories mixed together over time... and the blessing is that the sharp edge of the hard memories has been smoothed by all of the sweet ones.
It seems that a new chapter is unfolding these days that will further dull the sting of the difficult times by opening doors and granting opportunities for us to reach out to others and help them through their own hard times.
Each day is still extremely difficult, especially for Ladd, but somehow knowing that God is using the pain to enable us to reach out to others makes it not in vain.
Having the support of so many has enabled us to head out in faith and "get out of the boat". We are truly blessed.

Tribute to My Husband

Tribute to my husband... Police Week 2012

I think that maybe today's the day of Police Week to honor my best friend, Ladd Paulson. I've been waiting for the right day, and a friend posted pictures of plaques with his name on them... Medal of Honor, which I knew he had received, and Law Enforcement Purple Heart, which I didn't know existed (neither did he). Another friend posted a tribute to injured officers that brought a tear to my eyes... so, today, the day after Law Enforcement Memorial Day, I post this to honor my favorite disabled police officer. What I see him go through every day, the pain that he continues to push through, his desire to continue to serve people... he amazes me. We met in high school, married when he was a Marine, and moved from military life to police life. We talked more on the phone our first year of marriage than in person, but military life prepared us for police life. In my mind I always knew the risks he took, but in my heart I was confident that he never left our home alone. God has taken care of him, of us, through so much, and we're trusting Him to carry us through the hard days to come. Thank you Ladd, for the man that you are. I love you.