Flying Around the Country

Brian and I have been flying around the country and I haven't posted in a while. Currently, I'm sitting in the airport, drinking a Starbucks, and ready to update this blog. There's a few subjects I need to update on...

Pilot Training: Brian is in the middle of T-38 training with plans to break the sound barrier soon! He's been enjoying the flying and the places it takes him. He was in New Orleans a month ago and makes trips here and there to other places. Brian graduates on April 5th and what a big celebration that will be as he pins on his wings. This has been a long journey and we have been blessed through the process.

AF Life: Oh I love this part! So many dear friends I have met on base. It's always hard to say goodbye, which happens all to often, but I'm so thankful I've had the chance to meet such wonderful people and share our lives for as long as God has us together. My life has been enriched by all these beautiful friendships and I know The Lord uses each one!

Travel: During the summer, I made a couple trips to California. One to visit my wonderful Biola friends. We spent a week catching up, soaking in the sun, and sharing our plans for the future. It was nice to be together, hopefully we will be able to continue the get togethers each year. The second trip was with my family in San Diego. Again, soaking in the sun and spending quality time together (yes, that is my love language and my family shares it well). Nothing better than spending time with those you love. Brian and I stuck around Wichita Falls for Thanksgiving and spent the holiday with friends. Our big trip was saved for Christmas {Maui, HI}, which is what I'm returning from. We spent some glorious days in 70-80 degree weather, snorkeling with turtles, taking a motorcycle up the Road to Hana, hiking, exploring, playing cards as a family, and most importantly for all of us... Relaxing! I will make a small trip back to Phoenix in February and then, I'm planning a big trip in the summer to Kenya. First time I've mentioned this but it's been a long time in the making by The Lord. He's been working on my heart to go on a mission trip but has never been the right timing. Well, sometimes it's never good timing, so this opportunity presented itself and it's time to let The Lord continue to do his good work. I will be in Africa for two weeks working at an orphanage as long as everything goes through properly.

School: Oh yes, always teaching. Praise The Lord! He's given me a job each year even through the moves and changes. Isn't he incredible! It's work but the impact is huge! I'm praying everything works out for a teaching job for next year, but we have to wait to see what plane Brian flies to make that decision. Yes, we will wait upon The Lord!

And that, I think, sums up the big things. And The Lord continues to apply this song to my life, "Bless The Lord oh my soul, oh, my soul, worship his holy name, sing like never before, oh my soul, worship his holy name" and the lyrics continue and soothe my soul reminding me of his character and who I'm meant to be.

In a place where planes zoom overhead...

In a place where planes zoom overhead... that is where I live! All day long the T-38's have been flying over my house and while this might seem strange, it is a normal occurrence here, but still crazy to hear and think that they are flying right over my home all the time. Brian is over halfway through the T-6! Wahoo! Which means he is over one-fourth of the way done with UPT. Lately, he has been doing instruments where he sits in the back of the plane and can't see outside. Instead, he has to completely rely on his instruments to fly {pretty crazy}. Next week he should have his checkride {big assessment} and then he'll move on to low levels. And after low levels... formation! I can't even imagine being the pilot but flying right next to another plane! Although, I have to admit it looks pretty sweet.

Homecoming.

Aren't homecomings sweet? Even though it has only been two nights since Brian left, I still am so excited to see him and be with him. I've enjoyed my weekend immensely, but I'm ready for him to be home.

This weekend has been a good weekend for thought and reflection. I'm going through the Beth Moore study on James {It's incredible!} and there are so many things hitting me right now. Mainly, God has stuck James 1:19 in my mind, "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." What a powerful verse. So many big things to think about and to work on. It is so neat how God lays verses on our hearts that stir us to bring us in line with Him.

Goals this week:
1. Be quick to listen.
2. Be slow to speak.
3. Be slow to become angry.

{Carnival}

After attending the C-Scope Conference, my brain has been stuck in school mode. Uh-oh. I'm thinking about my first graders next year and how I want to welcome them into the new school year. One of the other teachers asked me what my 'theme' was going to be for next year.... uhhhh, I don't know! Well, then it hit me. Thanks to pinterest, I've been pinning flag banners, popcorn, tickets... and I just got an idea for a carnival tent made out of a sheet for my students to read in or whatever. And all these ideas together give me a carnival room! Ah! Can't wait. I just have to make sure I have it planned well so you can actually tell it is a carnival theme. My first year of teaching I tried to go with a cute green theme with polka dots... well, unfortunately it ended up being a leprechaun looking room {insert sigh here}. But I'm hopeful I can pull off a carnival themed room. Here's the inspiration:

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And wouldn't you love one of these little guys to sit on your desk if you were working quietly?! Definitely a must for my first graders.

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all over.

My thoughts are all over the place. Brian and I are all over the place {or at least the US}. It's exciting. I love adventure and experiencing new things, seeing new things, and just simply taking it all in. This last week, I was at a C-Scope Conference in San Antonio... we stayed right on the Riverwalk! I got to see the Alamo for the first time. We strolled down the Riverwalk each night and the very last night enjoyed a great little Irish pub, basically it was a piano bar and we sat for our singing along to all the songs. 

Currently, Brian is in the air on his way to Colorado. Yep, flying a T-6 on a little cross country trip for the weekend. We had one night together and now he's off flying the skies. Man, I love him! And he has a pretty awesome job {aside from all the crazy studying he has to do each day}. So what to do while he's gone? Well, go to a wine tasting of course! That's where I'm off to tonight. There is a local cafe run by some of the Dutch pilots' wives and they are putting on a wine tasting. Then tomorrow, the bible study ladies are going to an afternoon tea at a friend's house. I'm talking etiquette and dressing up, the whole thing! Love it. 

One thing I've learned as a military spouse, it's best to keep as busy as possible while my husband is away. If I don't, it gets really boring. So here's to an exciting evening! And weekend!

Flying

My husband's got a new ride: a T-6. He's been flying for the last two months now. I can hardly believe it! My husband is incredible. It's crazy to think that almost every day, he's up in the sky flying around. And that's his job. Pretty cool job, huh?!

On my end, I've finished out the school year and I'm gearing up for next year. I'll be teaching First Grade! My love. But before next school year rolls around, I plan to enjoy my summer. Tomorrow, I'm heading to Arkansas on a canoeing trip! In July, I'm headed to Arizona to see family and go on family vacations with then {my family is either going to Mexico or San Diego, but where ever they go, I'll be joining them}. Then in August, I'll be headed to visit my wonderful friends in California. Lots of adventures. The way I love it.

Posting.

The trouble with posting is I wish I did it more often. I've been thinking about blogging. Thinking about things I need to update on. Things I missed. Oh well, life happens. So in no particular order, here is life:

1. Brian started UPT! Six weeks of academics and then he flies! Already 1 1/2 weeks complete.

2. While Brian started UPT, I headed to Arizona to spend time with my family. I laid in the sun, enjoyed the family, played games, watched movies, went shopping, slept in.... heavenly. And I love any time I can get with my family!

3. Brian's still been cooking his amazing meals: Cedar Plank Salmon with an incredible cilantro sauce last night and Brian's homemade burgers the night before... Keep it up, Love! I married a great man.

4. Testing, testing, testing. Yep, its around the corner for my kiddos with the Texas state testing and so we're test preping and mock testing like crazy. I'm also getting ready for my Texas teacher's test... I was granted one year with my California credential so now I have to take all the rest of Texas' tests to teach for the next five years in Texas.

That's it in a nutshell.