Dog the Bounty Hunter

About to finish the Academy with a great man by the name of Peyton S. (won't post his last name for his privacy) who I have been having great discussions with about Sonny & Leland. He grew up & graduated with Sonny, and has had nothing but positive things

Sure it's great to become friends with someone who really knows them, but I am blessed to be working with this amazing guy regardless. He has been a great partner during the past few weeks we have been in the Academy together! We are graduating next week, which is exciting. No, we are not becoming cops..our official titles are "group life coordinators" which basically boils down to counseling juvenile inmates. Though we have a week left of training, we are already working with our youth and this is a challenging but very rewarding opportunity to change the lives of young men who are on a path to prison for making negative choices. Though the past four years of college have been difficult to say the least, with trying to raise my own kids and work at the same time, the effort is finally paying off. As I was telling Peyton the other day at lunch, even if we were to work 20 or 30 years at this and upon retiring could only remember one young man who changed his ways and went on to lead a healthy & productive life, it would all be worth it. :)

I have heard such amazing stories about the benefits of Hawaii, as well as the beauty & spirit. I have always wanted to visit the islands, but now even more so. He tells me that what we see on television is 100% true, not only about Hawaii, but the Chapman family as well. He has had a few relatives who called on the Dog & family for help, and the counseling, care, and real emotion we see each week on A&E is true. I don't think any of us real fans have ever doubted that anyways, but to hear the testimony from someone who's blood family has experienced this treatment firsthand is beautiful.

It is somewhat similar to what we are doing ourselves, as we have to be careful and aware of safety risks working in a correctional facility, yet at the same time, we are able to provide positive reinforcements for change and try to inspire these young people to see that there is hope for them, that they can leave their past behind them and create the life they want and deserve. As my grandma always said, "To thine own self be true."

I am looking forward to my girlfriends & I's getaway to the Aloha state next year more than ever before! Now, rather than visiting just the advertised tourist spots, my new friend/co-worker has told me of many places to experience that are not so well known here on the mainland. I look forward to meeting his family there as well. And who knows, maybe I'll be lucky enough to get in a boxing lesson on the big island. lol

♥Much Love to All♥