18 Days and Counting

UPT starts in 18 days and it’s about time! Over the last month I have done a lot of soul searching. I took a trip home to California and a trip to Denver with Greg for Christmas and I realized how truly blessed I am. In the past I have often got caught up in the little meaningless things in life, like what he said or she said or what people think.  I realized that that is no way to live and that I have bigger things than that to concentrate on in life. Soon as this realization set in I was able to get a much clearer view of what I wanted in life.  I’m excited to start UPT because it’s what I’ve been dreaming of doing since I was little. I love flying and I know that I’m supposed to be a pilot, but I feel that God has more than just that in his plans for me.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:11-13

Fighter, heavy aircraft or FAIP (first assignment instructor pilot), it’s up to the Lord.  My goal is to do well enough in UPT that when the time comes to decide, that I am able to make the decision and that it isn’t made for me. I am beginning to see that all have their pros. Fighter, well no need to state the obvious. Heavy, I would hope to head back to Cali and be stationed at Travis or shoot for C-21s and fly the bigwigs around in their private jets. And FAIP, I could do what I love to do, teach others how to fly once again (just this time I get to do it in a plane that actually has an engine).  

I have so many great opportunities ahead of me and the next year of my life will put me in the exact spot that I am supposed to be.  All I have to do is do my best.  Sounds cliché but I realize that it’s that easy!  

In other news, here’s a little catch-up on life.  I burned most of my leave in December and headed out to California to see my family and friends before the holidays.  It was good to be home, I got to spend time with a lot of people that I have been missing a lot; but I was also solo on this trip, so I missed Greg and Tazer a lot too.  Greg’s sister Amy flew out to Oklahoma while I flew to Cali. She stayed a few days and then made the drive back to Denver with Greg and Tazer.  Tazer did NOT like the drive; he got sick and shook for most of the 10 hour drive.  I flew out to Denver on the 24^th to spend Christmas with Greg’s family.  It was an eventful first Christmas as a married couple.  We woke up to Tazer throwing up that morning, and then Greg got sick later on in the day.  Poor guys, but overall it was a really nice Christmas and we enjoyed being there a lot. Greg and I drove back to Oklahoma on the 2^nd (Tazer did better but still hated the drive) and started back into our usual routines.  I have the last day of my causal job at the HAWC this week and we have a last minute visitor flying out on Monday to spend the next week here with us… My best friend NICOLE! I’m so excited! I guess we couldn’t get enough of each other when I was home.  It’s perfect because this will be the last bit of free time I’ll have for the next year.  She’s also the person that I can always count on being there when I need to just have a good laugh and get my mind straight for the next big thing in life.  Greg should also be starting the Oklahoma Police Academy sometime this next month so it’s going to be a busy month for the both of us!  I’ll start posting more regularly now that life’s about to start speeding up and getting interesting.  Happy New Year!