A pep talk on the road to AWESOME!

We all need a 'kick in the britches' sometimes to put us on the road to awesome.  I guess you could say my kick in the pants came when my home was broken into -- twice -- in one year.  

Don't wait for something bad to happen to give back or to find your purpose and passion in life.  I love cooking for my special friends in blue.  I guess you could say they are my road to awesome!  

If you don't like your dream....find a better dream.   

Get out there and find YOUR road to awesome!   ♥

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The older I get, the more I realize all the 'little things' I haven't done -- especially when holidays roll around. For one, I have never been to a St. Patrick's Day party.  And I have never had green beer. Shocking, isn't it?  

Have fun today, whoever you are, and please....if you drink too much green beer today, designate a driver or take a taxi.  Don't wreck your life or the lives of others.  Drive Sober or GET PULLED OVER!

IRISH BLESSINGS

May you always have walls for the winds,

a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,

laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,

and all your heart might desire.

♥

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields and,

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

♥

May the sun shine, all day long,

everything go right, and nothing wrong.

May those you love bring love back to you,

and may all the wishes you wish come true!

♥

578 days later....

On August 14, 2011, I posted my very first blog post for AHOP. I new absolutely nothing about blogging, the Blogger program, or how to design it -- I just jumped in and started doing it. It was a Saturday, and I think I stayed in my PJs the entire day, so eager to get my arms wrapped around this project. Thanks to Heather, my friend, 'safety net', and an avid blogger in her own right, she was just a Facebook email away to answer any questions I had (and there were many.)

Until I had my own blog, I had no idea how big the blogging community was. It's huge, I tell you, huge!

578 days after my very first blog post (click here to read it), my visitor count reached 10,000....and that's thanks to you, my readers, my subscribers, my Facebook friends, my colleagues, and those of you who just happened to wander in by accident. 

More importantly, and it should go without saying, a big thank you to my special friends -- the men and women in blue who stop by AHOP for breakfast or dinner. For without them, there would be no blog....there would be no AHOP.   ♥

AHOP goes to the Academy...

The day -- Friday, March 8, 2013.  The place -- Charlotte Police and Fire Training Academy.  The event -- 2013 CMPD Promotion Ceremony.

What a special day for me - a civilian - and even more so for the officers being promoted and for their families.  It was an honor to be invited.

I arrived early to get a good seat, so I 'people watched' until the ceremony began.  I saw friends and family pour into the auditorium to stand by their loved ones as they walked up on-stage to receive their collar pin.

I have thought about this many times, but it really hit home today seeing all of the officers with their families.  These officers are someones husband, wife, brother, sister, mommy or daddy. They leave their homes every day never knowing what danger may lie ahead.  I don't know of any other profession in the US where there is a chance you may take a bullet from or for a total stranger....yet cops do it every day.

One other thing I do know for a fact....police officers have such a thankless job.  Wherever you live, if you see a police officer who is approachable, take a minute to let them know how much you appreciate them.  I can guarantee you they don't hear 'thank you' enough from the people who they have sworn to serve and protect.

2013 Promotions

7 Non-Sworn Promotions

11 Officers promoted to Sergeants

10 Sergeants promoted to Lieutenants

6 Lieutenants promoted to Captains

3 Captains promoted Majors

1 Major promoted to Deputy Chief

Congratulations to you all!  

A beautiful day in Charlotte - just look at that Carolina blue sky! 

♥