Officer Jentzsch

I started this post weeks ago but haven't gotten to finishing it until tonight. This is Greg's swearing in. Now he's official. Officer Gregory Jentzsch of the Medford Police Department. This picture was right before the ceremony.

Yep, that is a loaded gun. He is totally allowed to go ANYWHERE with it- isn't that CRAZY?!!! So crazy to me. He came to my salon for a haircut right after work and he had a gun on him and I was freaking out like, "Is this ok? Are people gonna freak out seeing a loaded gun?" But I think I'm just used to Eugene and their anti-gun ways. I think a lot of people carry guns in Medford.

The man on the right is the Chief. He gave a nice speech to start off. He introduced each officer and told a little about each. Everyone all had different backgrounds. Out of 150 applicants, only 3 made it in and Greg was one of them!!!

I really enjoyed the ceremony much more than I expected! It was very heart felt. This whole thing has been very family feeling. Like they're our new family and they're very vocal about taking care of us and making sure everything is always ok. I like that. It's so reassuring. The chief was really nice. I talked with him a bit afterward.

The whole thing started with a flag raising. It was very military. It was weird for me. Also, there was a prayer! A pastor came and prayed for the officers. I was SO SURPRISED!!! Usually prayers outside of church make me feel funny, but this one didn't at all. I liked it! It just surprised me because I'm SO in the mindset of separation of church and state but I thought this was just nice!

Ok, this was the worst.

All the wives pinned the badges on and it was so hard to push through his uniform I finally had to have Greg do it for me. How humiliating. All the wives struggled, but I definitely had the hardest time. I was the only one who gave up, but I really don't think I could have managed!

Here we go!

"I, Gregory Alan Jentzsch, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America, the Constitution and Laws of the State of Oregon, the Charter and Ordinances of the City of Medford, and that I will faithfully perform all the duties of the office of Police Officer, for the City of Medford as now or hereafter required by law so help me God."

How patriotic is this?

I like how official he looks here.

Pat and Randy were able to come out. There was a lot of people that worked there that came to the ceremony. They all sat in the back and then there were tons of empty rows in the middle while we were front and center with 3 people behind us (family of another officer). It just felt funny to have such a drastic gap in the audience.

One of the detectives did a mini photo shoot afterwards. They ended up blowing this picture up really big for us. At first I wasn't sure if it was too much, but I've decided I'm just gonna put it up, front and center in the living room.

Then we had the rest of the day off and relaxed in our new home!

My own personal Policeman!

Things have been going incredibly well. The first two days of the Academy were kinda rough on Greg, but now he's really enjoying himself. The classes have been pretty interesting and he just started learning hand to hand combat. The schedule is CRAZY!!! They get up at 5:15am and have class until 5pm. But then they have to clean and do homework and get to bed around 9:30 or 10pm. There is a ton of food options, which has been nice and he's met a lot of great people already. There is a handful of members as well! One is from New Zealand and he's teaching the class a warrior dance. They might do it at their graduation ceremony! I hope I get to see it! We average a 15 minute phone call a night. I've been surprised how that's been enough. Granted, those first couple nights were more one hour conversations, but generally it's been quick.

As far as me, I never thought I'd be doing so well. The Lord has really been blessing me. I seem to just keep busy! I don't know how it happens but the day passes and by the end of the day I just think what a good day I had! There's no explaining it and that's why I think it's a miracle. I'm really grateful and I want to just soak it up while I'm given it!

I cannot believe how tired I've been. I plan something out and only get an 1/8 of the way thru and then I need to lay down. Crazy. Things just take me longer now. But I'm ok with that. It was driving me crazy last week but now it's fine. I have the time to move at a snail's pace so I may as well if that's all I can do anyway, right? I'm starting to feel really grateful I'm not busy at work. Lately I don't even want to go in at all.

I feel like I'm back in the happy zone. The first three years Greg and I were married I was ridiculously happy all the time. There'd be moments or a day or two, but generally I felt like my life was perfect everyday and nothing could be better. I knew it wasn't normal and that most people don't feel that way and that this feeling probably wouldn't last forever but I was livin' it up while it was around. Then we moved to Europe and it wasn't misery, but it was NOT the same. I HATED my job, it sent me into a mad depression for a month and then we moved in with my in laws for 10 months. Anyway, life was so consistently hard it made me wonder if my "happy" days would ever return. I feel like I just crossed the line back into them and it feels good. Maybe that sounds weird because Greg isn't even around and I'm not accomplishing anything remarkable (you know, besides the baby in my tummy), but life is just suddenly at that perfect pace and I'm loving it. More and more I realize how many blessings we have and they just keep coming. I loved our house the day we bought it, but feel even so much better about it now. I was so excited to be pregnant, but feel such a stronger connection to her every single day. More and more I love that Greg's gonna be a cop. I've already made two new friends I feel a real connection with, and I never have friends! More and more I feel my life smiling at me! Anway, life is just happy and I'm glad!