Day 1 of Big Changes

So I know I've been totally neglecting Simply Evani, which I apologize in advance for! I don't have much time to write eloquently about it right now but since I kept you in suspense for the last few months about it, I thought it would only be fair to spit it out.

For about 2 years, Rob has been actively applying for a job in law enforcement. He knew he wanted 1 specific branch and since I don't want the search results to lead here, I'm not going to outright say which department.

In February of this year, Rob passed the physical test required for him to continue in the application process. With what I would say are very rigorous standards, he made the cut and I'm not ashamed to admit I cried like a baby when he came home to tell me. He worked so hard to pass and it felt like the first of many hurdles he would overcome.

Then after the wedding, we decided to put off our honeymoon because he was still in the background check phase of his application process. I didn't want to take any chances on missing key opportunities.

After months long of background checks, psych tests, piles of paperwork, we found out on August 13th, he was accepted into the next academy of this law enforcement agency. Then too, we cried together, sharing in the first true step towards him achieving his dream of becoming an officer.

The difficult part was that the academy was slated to begin 1.5 weeks from the day he received the offer. Knowing how long it would be until we'd get to take a honeymoon, we booked a last minute trip to Cabo for 5 glorious days. I can say those 5 days were an absolute DREAM, and completely necessary to get us through this next phase of life.

We spent the last week searching for items he'd need, preparing him with knowledge that would help him there, and generally coming to terms with the fact that life as we know it would never be the same.

So what's the big dealio with him getting a new job? Well it's a live-in academy so he no longer lives in our home. For 6 months. And they completely restrict communication (no phone use, with the exception of maybe a 2-5 minute phone call at the end of the night, if that). Granted, it's located relatively close to where we live, which already puts us at a major advantage for seeing each other on those rare weekends compared to the cadets whose homes are much further. But for those of you who know me and are long time readers of this blog, Rob and I are seldom separate. In 9 years, I can count on my fingers the number days we've gone without seeing each other (I know, BLECH). We've always been blessed with schedules that aligned and the inability to become sick of each other.

Plus, picking a career in law enforcement is a big commitment, and one that requires sacrifice from everyone involved. It's been a challenge for me to deal with the idea of Rob putting his life on the line everyday, but it's something he truly wants and I support him wholeheartedly.

Alsoooo as if that's not enough change, at the end of 6 months, we will be relocating to another part of California... I'm sure I'll write more about this to come.

So thus begins the new chapter of us surviving our new "normal". He will hopefully get to come home on some weekends, provided he passes his weekly tests and fails to get in trouble. It's going to be a big adjustment, today being the first of those long days of no contact. Well, that's not true, I got a 51 second phone call that completely made my day. I miss him already and I can even tell Shay misses him, she keeps looking at the door, waiting.

Phew, sorry for the long post. I don't want to go on and on about this too much because I'm actually writing an anonymous blog the on side about our experiences with joining law enforcement and this academy. If you're interested in having the link to that blog to keep up while Rob is in the academy, feel free to e-mail, comment or tweet me so I can give that to you. If you barely get around to reading my blog, that's okay too.

Anyhoots, it's going to be a long road but a worthwhile one. Supporting him in what he believes he's meant to do is one of the many reasons I married him and I'm so excited for what is to come. He's going to make a spectacular law enforcement officer and I'm so so proud of him.

Love,

P.S. Feel free to send Rob any good vibes, prayers or thoughts. It's a reallllly tough academy and he'll need all the positive mojo he could get.