Hero

The other day at work there was a little fire across the street. Me and all the other employees were staring out the windows as the firemen and police came. As I saw the firemen get out of the truck and finish putting on their equipment I couldn't help but feel so proud. My dad has been a police man my whole life...20 years, and just a couple of years ago he retired from being a fireman and my oldest brother Brandon has taken his place on the fire department...I'm so proud of them both! I don't know all the sadness in homes, the devastating accidents,how many times he has been spit at, cursed at, the fights, the drugs, the violence, or the abuse he has seen. Or the people he has helped, given someone comfort, taken the heed for someone else, came to someones rescue, carried a family out of their home that was nearly dying from carbon monoxide poisoning.

My Dad has always been so good at leaving his work at work and once he's home he's home. I never really heard a lot about his experiences at work growing up, but now that i think about it I'm so thankful that I didn't, I would have worried about him so much more. I bet there were nights he would come home from just experiencing something he didn't want to but you would never really know.

Everyone has their views and opinions about a police officer but I know my mine. I love you Dad and I'm so proud of what you do day to day. You have always been my hero and example. Thank you for being so strong in all that you do and especially in the church. I love our handshake and being a daddy's girl! I love you dad so much!


I am the Officer"

I have been where you fear to be,
I have seen what you fear to see,
I have done what you fear to do -
All these things I have done for you.

I am the person you lean upon,
The one you cast your scorn upon,
The one you bring your troubles to -
All these people I've been for you.

The one you ask to stand apart,
The one you feel should have no heart,
The one you call "The Officer in Blue,"
But I'm just a person, just like you.

And through the years I've come to see,
That I am not always what you ask of me;
So, take this badge ... take this gun ...
Will you take it ... will anyone?

And when you watch a person die
And hear a battered baby cry,
Then do you think that you can be
All these things you ask of me?

(Author unknown)

Baby Kai

My sister Anjali had her little man on February 24th. His name is Malakai Ashton Boden. He is such a little heart melter. Garett and I love going and seeing him any chance we get. He has such amazing parents that love him so much! Tonight we were at their house and we were watching him have his "tummy time" which is probably one of the cutest things we've ever seen. We love you baby Kai!!!

What every wife needs :)

A couple of weeks ago I had just had a really bad week at work.People were on a "I'm going to yell at whoever i can" streak, and not to mention I somehow did a huge big no no. I came home one night just feeling like i couldn't take anymore and next thing i knew Gar had left the house and went grocery shopping and came home and fixed me a steak dinner. And as if that wasn't enough while he cleaned up and refused to let me help with the dishes he boiled hot water and got a bath ready for me. Not only that but he kept the hot water coming! It was so relaxing and much needed. I'm so grateful for a husband that loves me so much and cares about my sanity hahaha. He made that night so relaxing for me. It's the little things like that he does that just show me how much he cares. Thanks Gar I love you more than anything. :)

Butterfly

If you haven't already asked me I'm sure you've pondered the question "why does Lisa like butterflies so much..." The reason why I'm writing about this is because the butterfly pictures up above was how I had my room painted at my parents house. They just recently painted over them and it has had me thinking about it. About 2 years ago I was really going through a hard time in my life and was feeling SO lost. I would cry in my room almost every night to my dear mom and my bunk bed buddy Anj had to hear it a lot of nights too. I'm sure everyone has felt that way a time or two in their lives, so I'm sure you know the feeling I'm talking about. Feeling like you don't know what you should be doing and even if you did you still wouldn't feel 'whole'. The way I would describe it to my mom is that it felt like i had a hole in me...something was missing... something just wasn't making sense. I had the best family in the world and was about to graduate my hair school, had recently received my young woman recognition, moved out for a little bit and had a blast with my sister and 2 friends...... I just couldn't make sense of things. Well during that time in my life I had been praying and reading my scriptures more than ever because I just wanted this empty feeling to be gone. One day i was at the mall and i saw this shirt with butterflies on it, for some reason looking at those butterflies made me feel something... I felt this joy and freedom, they looked like these little creatures that had to go through something to be the beautiful creatures they were...they didn't start out that way, it took time. So more and more I found myself getting drawn in to butterfly things. I remember deciding one day that I needed to put something in my room to brighten up my world! So my patient and understanding parents let me paint BRIGHT green and BRIGHT blue walls with butterflies on them. It sounds so silly and probably not something anyone can understand but it really did brighten up my world. That is why butterflies are so meaningful to me. I love my butterfly wedding ring because for me it represents growing into an eternal relationship that has happiness, challenges, and Joy, but isn't always easy but at the end of the day is something that is so beautiful.