I wanted to share two important events that happened for me this weekend! For the past seven months my boyfriend, James, had been driving 4 hours to another town two days a week to attend a required law enforcement training course to become a volunteer sheriff's deputy for his community. This has been a strain on our relationship because it meant that there was very limited time for us to spend together. He lives in another town that is an hour away from me, he has a demanding job with his local newspaper, and he has two children with his previous wife, so the cards were already stacked against us. Then the law enforcement training took out another two evenings that we could not spend together. It was really hard on me because I missed him so much! But even though it was hard we stuck by each other and now the training is over. James graduated, at the top of his class nonetheless, and now he is officially a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for his community. Mama was right when she said "This too shall pass!"
Even though it was difficult on our relationship, I am very proud of James for what he has accomplished and for the man he is. He went through that rigorous training so he could be the best volunteer deputy so he could help people and to keep the peace in his community. He believes in protecting the innocent and doing good. He believes in fighting for what is decent and right and I am thankful he is out there to keep others in his community safe. 
At the graduation ceremony there were some pipers and a drummer (not pictured because he was talking to someone else during the photograph) that played music at the beginning of the ceremony. It had never heard bagpipes being played live like that and it was a neat experience! It was special to James also because his mom is Irish and his dad is Scottish!
Here is James giving his speech since he was the Valedictorian of his class. He talked about the importance of balancing volunteering with spending time with family and also learning from your mistakes. It was a very good speech that inspired everyone in the room. 
Here he is taking his oath of office. I know he is proud of what he has already accomplished and I am proud of him too! I know he will do well and make a difference for others in his community. I know that is important to him. 
I was very honored to be a part of this special day with him. James is a very loving, kind, thoughtful man and I feel very blessed to be his special girl. I love him very much and I hope our relationship continues to grow!
After the graduation ceremony and lunch, James and I went shopping and then headed to my mom's house for my brother's birthday party. He turned 33 on Saturday! It is really hard to believe that my little baby brother is 33-years-old now! I can remember when he was just 3 and how cute he was and all the funny things he did and said that made everyone laugh. He is still doing that! Mom made a carrot cake and we had ice cream with it. It was delicious! My mom is such a good cook! We come from a long line of good cooks and I am so glad some of that talent rubbed off on me! It was really good to see my family at my mom's house for Jeremy's birthday. I hope he had a good birthday and I hope he has a wonderful new year filled with many blessings, abundant happiness, and good health.I wish many blessings for you, too!
Love Tammy
Congratulations to your special man upon his completion of his training and happy birthday to your "baby" brother. I guess we always think of them as being our "baby", don't we?!! Glad you were able to be a part of both occasions!
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