during the last few weeks...

We have stayed busy the last few weeks with our dear and growing little boy, Peter's flying and the occasional hangout with the guys, and visitors.

Our friend Elizabeth Baltus came to visit for a whole week! What a joy it was to pull up to the airport curb and see a dear friend there. It was so nice to have her around and just do life with her here for a few days. We showed her around base and Peter gave an excellent tour of the planes and training building. And she was able to meet a lot of our friends who ended up just stopping by throughout the week. We went to the pool and on several walks since the weather cooled down to the 80s and 90s. And on the weekend nights we were introduced to the new Hawaii 50, kind of intense but with hilarious interaction between the characters, and popcorn tends to lessen the intensity in things...maybe because it brings me out of the TV world back to my safe living room. Ah, friends bring a richness and a sweetness to life. I have to say it was sad to have her go and I so missed her company in the days after she left.

Joshua is now 2 months old and ~12lbs. We have a doctor appointment tomorrow so I'll know a more accurate weight and height measurement for him. But he is smiling away at us and sometimes (dare I think it?) laughing. You can imagine how he has his parents wrapped around his little fingers with each smile. He really is a bundle of joy to us. And I have loved being able to take him on walks with some friends since the weather is no longer 115+, but 90+.  Those who know me can attest that walking anytime, for any reason, for any length is one of my favorite pastimes.

The last couple of weeks we've taken Josh to some Friday night events with the guys from Peter's class. He usually sleeps from about 6pm to 9 or 10pm. We were hoping he would sleep even though we were around a lot of people, noise and lights at these events, but he was wide awake and looking at everything from Daddy's shoulder. We could tell he was so sleepy, but he couldn't help but look at everything and never made a peep. We were so amazed at him and proud of him. And it was fun to take him somewhere and feel like we are now going about life as a family.

Pete solos the T-6!

Peter had his initial solo in the T-6 last week. It was quite the big deal. Spouses are encouraged to come out and walk with them through the whole "getting ready" process and to watch their husbands do their solo. So a friend came over to watch Joshua and I met Peter at work. I walked with him to the step desk where he got all of the last minute details like: weather reports, bird alerts, winds, and which plane he would be flying. Then he got all of his gear on in the Life Support room and we took the shuttle bus out to the planes. Two guys from the Madison unit were my escorts and stayed with me and explained everything that Peter was doing as Peter got the plane ready and taxied down the run way. We watched as he did traffic patterns around the run way and his several take offs and landings. My escorts explained what he would be thinking and doing inside the cockpit and what he would be saying on the radio as well. All I can say is, WOW! He has really learned a lot and is a great multi-tasker! We took pictures by the plane once he landed and taxied back. Then, according to tradition, everyone who just did their initial solo got thrown into the dunk tank. (A old, metal tank that is always full of stagnant water!) It was a fun morning and so fun to see Pete in action.

Joshua meets Granny & Gpa Bartley

My parents were able to fly here last weekend to spend a few short days meeting and holding their fourth grandchild. It was quite an adventure for them to fly here - their first time flying together since I was very young. And boy, a lot has changed in airline travel since then.
My mom had several new recipes that she had found and wanted to try out while she was here, so while Joshua was sleeping we were cooking. But any time that our little boy was awake he had more attention than he knew what to do with. A little baby can be such delightful entertainment. He wiggled and cooed and slept and cried and we were fasciated. Grandpa would often pick him up and with his deep voice start singing, "Jesus loves me" and Josh would quickly be asleep. It was such a fun visit!

Peter turned 30!

Monday, August 15th was a very big day for Pete Sailhamer. His 30th birthday. It's not every day that a man can say that they are 3 decades old. So what does a wife and son do for such a big occasion?

To start with some of our friends offered to babysit the weekend prior. So, to bid farewell to his youth, Peter and I went out on a little date and we very comfortably left Joshua with auntie Josie. We talked about birthday memories and future dreams and I gave him a couple little gifts.
That weekend we started introducing Joshua to bottles. And Peter was able to feed Joshua for the first time.  It was great father/son time for them and both of them loved it so much that I now pump a bottle once a day for Peter to feed to Josh.

On Monday, the real Big day, Joshua got dressed in his patriotic shirt that says "All American Baby" and we went to buy Daddy a fancy coffee drink and take it to his work as a surprise. I had to coordinate this with a couple of other guys in his class to make sure that he would be in the flight room at a specific time and not doing another practice flight simulator. As I was driving over to the building he was in I got a text from one of them saying that Pete had left to go practice and they weren't sure when he'd be back. It would have typically been no problem to come back again, but I learned very quickly that things take a lot longer with a baby and Josh was all ready and in his car seat...we were coming. The next few texts told me that they had told Peter that some Captain was looking for him and he should come back to the flight room. I smiled because just that morning we had a conversation were I was referred to as a Captain! haha! The next text said that he had just arrived back, perfect... I was just pulling into the parking lot. We followed Joe's directions through the maze of hallways to get to his flight room and gave Peter(Daddy) a great surprise. We chatted for a few minutes and then left before his next flight briefing.

the Sailhamer news of the week

What are the updates on our lives from the past week you are wondering? A lot is centering around the newest member, Joshua. A friend told me once when I was pregnant that I'll just want to spend hours staring at him. Maybe I don't spend hours at a time, but I do love to look at him and am fascinated by him. I am continually amazed at this little gift God has given us and Peter and I are both so enjoying this new role and job as parents. It is a joy.

The big events in Joshua's life this week have been that he Josh turned 3 weeks on Thursday. It's hard to believe it's almost been a month now. For the memorable event Joshua and I had a visit from LtCol Moon, who is in charge of everything here, and his sweet wife Debby. Peter was still at work, so I sent him a text asking if I should tell them hi for him or invite them to stay for dinner :).  I got a surprised "No way" in response, but awesome that they are coming over. It was a lot of fun to chat with them and have them meet Joshua. Colonel Moon brought a certificate from the squadron making Joshua an official (kid) member. It was really quiet the event of the day. Also, this past week, a friend of ours came over and took newborn pictures of Josh. They are really incredible! We're so glad to have them. Peter made an album you can view at: https://picasaweb.google.com/113355348959610386847/EmilyMoonSPhotosOfJoshua?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCITOmfWClLjaDQ&feat=directlink

For Peter, training has been going well and he is loving it. Depending on how the weather goes he may be soloing the plane next week. It has been a very hot summer here and Wichita Falls has been having record highs. This week it has been 112+ and many flights have been canceled since those temperatures are too hot to fly the T-6. (Peter could tell you why). So when you are scheduled for the late shift (9am-9pm) like this past week has been, it was a toss up if it would be too hot by the time you were scheduled to fly. Not flying gave him a lot more practice time in the flight simulators though. But hopefully today and this week it will be different and he will be flying around the big puffy clouds.

I am doing well and really loving being a mother. A friend from college drove up for a visit yesterday and it was great to spend time with her. And we have some other visitors scheduled to come soon too. My parents in 2 weeks and a friend from HoneyRock around Labor Day. I've also had several visitors stop by and chat and bring meals over, which has been so helpful for me and made me feel so loved and still connected.

Videos of Joshua

Joshua had some man time with Dad this afternoon while I went to the grocery store to get a few items. I came home to some fun video clips of our little man.
This first one is of Josh waking up. This is actually one of the quickest wake ups that we've seen from him. He is a hard one to crack. There is usually a lot, up to 5 minutes, of: stretching, raising his eye brows (with his eyes closed), and going right back to asleep. I have noticed that his left arm usually goes straight up in the air too, which Pete's video caught. Could our son be a lefty someday?


And here is what Josh was waking up for, play time (ie: exercise) with Dad. Peter had Joshua doing tummy time, leg lifts, pull ups and finally ending with a little flight lesson by guiding his little hands in the correct throttle position, etc. I heard all about it. But, unfortunately, the video is only of tummy time.

Josh meets Grandma Sailhamer and Uncle David

Grandma Sailhamer and Uncle David arrived the night before Joshua was 1 week old. It was a long day of traveling for them, taking them 6 hours to drive up from Dallas with all the construction. They finally made it to our house at 2:30am. The arrival had to be documented though because it was the first time that Grandma and Uncle were meeting their grandson/nephew - the first of three babies in the next couple of months. And we were able to capture the details from Grandma's look the first time she held him to Joshua's little smile. They came just in time to celebrate his 1-week birthday with us. And yes, we did count down the minutes and have a little birthday party! (Joshua slept through it all though.) We had so much fun together. And Grandma and Uncle David were great babysitters while mom slept or for Peter and I to go on our first date! Our refrigerator and freezer have been stocked well with their visit along with some expert vacuuming from a great Uncle. It was such a nice time and we are so looking forward to the next one!

getting to know Joshua

Joshua did come that week, his birthday being only a few days after the last post - July 14th. He was born at exactly 41 weeks and is healthy and absolutely beautiful (this might be the only time in his life that I can call him beautiful!). He weighed 6lbs and 11.5oz at birth and has: dark, wavy hair, fine facial features, long eye lashes, large hands and feet, strong, Sailhamer legs, and the faint appearance of dimples that might show more when he learns how to smile. He's a hard sleeper and hard to wake up. For the first few minutes he just stretches and has his eye brows raised, a look that we see often. Personality wise, he's very calm and peaceful. He is so perfectly formed and wonderful. While I was still pregnant, the Lord told me that this would be a strong baby. And we've been praying that the Lord would use that strength for good, that he would have a strong character and follow hard after the Lord and love what is right.

Today he is two weeks old. And already he is changing and passing out of the sleepy, newborn stage. We noticed the difference last week as he started becoming more aware of his surroundings and really looking at us. He is also starting to hold his head up. At the doctors today we learned that he has gained almost a whole pound in a week, which is above average. Grandma Sailhamer and Uncle David's visit to meet him was perfectly timed, catching both stages of newborn to this more-aware little Josh. For Peter and I it's just been a joy to be parents. We are loving this new work and life-role. And with it, my love for Peter seems different too, deeper and sweeter are the words that I can think of to describe it.


The birth story. Some of you already know the story, but for those of you who are curious it was surprising and covered in grace. I started feeling contractions early in the morning and knew that they were different and true contractions. Peter and I prayed for the baby and labor before he went into work that morning. Then I went on a walk and kept praying as the day dawned. The Lord told me that this was a holy moment. His perfect timing in bringing the new life that he had created into the world. Contractions continued steadily, but I could walk, talk, do everything in between. Peter came home at 5:30pm and still not much had changed, the contractions being only a little stronger. I called a friend who prayed with me over the labor and delivery. She reminded me that God gives us the strength to bear up under things in that moment (the present contraction) and not to worry about what it might feel like later. For the next couple hours contractions continued and became work. Never was in un-bearable. Peter was with me through each one, counting out the time each one took and cheering me on. At 8:00pm my water broke and I thought I felt the need to push. Surprised, we knew it was time to go to the hospital, but I still thought I had a long way to go. Peter very calmly and effectively got me in the car, which wasn't easy when all I wanted to do was in on my hands and knees and not move. We were on the labor and delivery floor at 8:30 and I was complete. The doctor was called. At 8:56 the doctor walked in and at 8:58 Joshua was born. It was an amazing moment to see him born (possible since the nurses didn't have time to break down the bed). And to hear Peter say, "It's a boy. Angela, it's a boy." After the months of not knowing, we knew...God gave us a son! The other moment that is marked with such sweetness in my mind is seeing Peter bend over to pick up and hold his son for the first time. "This is a holy moment..." God has brought new life into the world and gifted us with a wonderful, little son. After it was over I was surprised that it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would and am reminded that God gives us the grace to bear up under the things of the moment. And that when we are weak, he is strong in power.

What will this week hold? Flying and....a baby?

Now, one week later, we are still waiting on this little baby to come. He/she seems to be taking their time.  I am a little over 40 weeks now.  So at the last appointment we had a bpp ultrasound to make sure the baby was still healthy and not under any stress. And baby looked great and so cute. It won't be long till we can hold him/her. And our whole lives will change. The Lord knows the number of our days even before He starts forming us in the womb. He has the birth date picked out already. Come on baby! We are so excited to meet you and, besides, everything is ready. Peter and I even had a fun date weekend together. So our to-do list has grown pretty short.
But an exciting event to note this week was my first dream of the baby. I know! It has been a long time in coming. Finally though, after 40 weeks of pregnancy I have had a dream about the baby. (Peter, however, has had countless dreams of both boys and girls being born). But in my dream we had a little boy with lots of dark brown hair. He was born in a small fishing boat and labor and delivery only took about 15 min. Incredible. And not quite realistic. But it was a dream. In one of Peter's dreams we had a little girl who came out talking and told him that she liked being in the living room.
Peter will hit the flight line this week, meaning that he starts flying the T-6. His first ride, called his dollar ride, will be on Thursday. It's called a dollar ride because you give the instructor a dollar after you land. Why a dollar when they just risked their life flying with you? I don't know.... But Peter is ready and excited. It's amazing to think of him flying the planes I see over head.

Happy 4th of July!

Peter had a 4-day weekend for the 4th of July. Even though it would have been a great few days to spend traveling somewhere, we decided it would be best to stick close to home in case the baby wanted to be an Independence Day baby (but so far, no appearance yet). I am 39.5 weeks, the "due" date  being this Thursday, July 7th (another good day to be born). It's so fun that the Lord already knows the birth date and the gender. So many surprises to look forward to. :-D

Our Fourth weekend started off with Peter getting dressed in his mess dress, the equivalent to a tuxedo and ushering for a class' graduating ceremony. This time next year, he will be the one graduating and getting wings pinned on his chest. For now, he just has a few ribbons pinned on and looks SO handsome.

And Saturday was spent at a festive, fourth-themed barbeque with the whole class. There was plenty of Texan food, red white and blue, games, and beer. Relay races, slip and slide, dizzy stick, music playing, people everywhere. It reminded me a lot of "Freedom Fest," at HoneyRock - only without the beer. (That's something that I'm adjusting to seeing more often now that we live and work in the military world.) There are plenty of moments that bring back such fun memories of Wisconsin and our friends there. It has been a fun and relaxing weekend for both of us. We won't be seeing fireworks this year though since it's been  too hot and dry in Texas....maybe next year. But there is still a little bit of time left for something exciting to start with the baby and maybe meet them tonight/tomorrow morning. We will see....    

the baby's room is READY!!

This last week we finished getting the baby's room all ready. It is decorated, the clothes are washed and put away, and little, tiny diapers are in the changing table drawers. The nursery slowly developed to have a vintage theme of airplanes and teaching/learning (very appropriately reflecting both parents, I suppose). The colors are mainly blue and yellow, which now that I think of it, are also his/her parents' favorite colors. The verse written on the chalkboard by the rocking chair is Isaiah 54:12, "All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be their peace." Our car is also ready with the car seat is installed and inspected and is waiting to bring our little one home to us.

Getting ready for baby

Last Friday I officially reached full-term, that is 37 weeks. That means the baby could be born anywhere from now until week 42 (at which point I would be induced if the baby still hadn't made an appearance). I have felt a couple contractions in the last few weeks - nothing painful, just new and exciting. And I think the baby might have dropped down a bit. There are not many days left on this countdown. I have loved being pregnant and am so excited to start motherhood/parenthood with Peter. It is such a gift. There are a lot of life changes happening with us right now with Peter's training and the baby coming. And, for the most part, it's been joyful work getting ready for both and doing both. This past week Peter built a clothesline and I washed the cloth diapers and hung them out to dry. It was so much fun to see the diapers on the line and our little garden out back. I had Peter take a break from studying and come and enjoy the view with me...and take a few pictures too. :-D

New things

There are some new chapters in our lives to tell you about.

First of all, Peter started the second training school called UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training). So this is a picture of him in his Blues on Day 1 of class. No more sleeping in for us, Peter has to get up early for school and I need to get up to make his lunch and send him off. (And soon I'll be up with a baby too). UPT  is a little over a year long and is pretty intense and fast-paced from what we have heard. We know to expect him to have many 12 hour days at work and then need to come home and study the material he's learned or prepare for his next flight. Right now he's doing a lot of ground work, but in about a month he will be flying almost every day. There are 24 guys in his class: 10 Nato pilots (Germans and Italians), 8 Active Duty and the rest are Guard/Reserve. We've spent time with the guys a few times this past week and they're great guys. Definitely not the Christian crowd that I'm used to though.

And second... we bought another car! We are now the proud owners of a Mazda3, our baby car. After research and months of looking for a good car/deal we finally got one. It's used and in great condition. Peter did a great job bartering for it and I silently cheered him on. It really seems just in time now that Old Faithful, our Jeep, is getting old and not quite as reliable as it once was. But it is getting Peter to work and back every day. But if we are going anywhere together we take our sporty, new car that we like to refer to as Zipper. And it is oh so much fun to drive. (And, for those of you who are keeping track, I am 36 weeks along in this picture).

a vacation day

Today felt like Peter and I were somewhere on vacation. It all started with sleeping in....
We had a relaxing breakfast and lingered over our coffee and tea, chatting and enjoying the morning sunlight coming through the window. Today was going to be a baby shopping day, but first I had an 11am appointment for a prenatal massage that Peter had made for me at a Spa in town. (The baby is getting heavy now that I'm 35 weeks!) Peter wanted to come and see my face after I was done, so he brought a book and some study material to keep himself busy for the hour. It was a beautiful place that was decorated with stone and ferns and fountains, with candles and beautiful lamps glowing and soft music playing. I was pretty impressed. And the massage felt wonderful! I didn't want it to end. :-D I was so relaxed afterwards that neither of us wanted to go shopping anymore. So we went home. And since the day was already feeling so special we had a special lunch of toasted turkey, swiss and basil sandwiches with iced coffee. And then spent the rest of the afternoon soaking up rays by the pool. It really felt like we were on vacation... somewhere. The one thing that seemed like "normal" life was that, just like everyday, the National Anthem was broadcasted at 4:30 over the base load speakers and everyone at the pool stopped what they were doing and faced the direction of the flag until it was over. A new normal if you live on a military base.

The Colonial - a PGA event

Last weekend Peter and I headed down to Dallas/Ft Worth for a PGA event. Guess which one of us was super exited? Well yes, we both were. I have to admit that I do like going to golf events with Peter. The courses are so beautiful and I love watching him get so excited about things and explain them to me. The first person we saw was Jason Day, a classy golfer from Australia who was hitting a punch shot right next to us as we walked in. That was one of Peter's highlights for the day. He also had a brief conversation with David Toms at one hole, just congratulating him on his shot. It was a super hot day, just like the one we went to a year ago. So there were times that I sat in the shade drinking water while Peter walked around following some of his favorite payers or the leaders. I joined him and the crowd at the end and felt the intensity and the energy as the final couple played the last few holes. Cameras weren't allowed since it was the final day, so sorry that we don't have any pictures to post. But it was so fun to come across this event and just in time for Peter to be able to go to it before this next school starts.

the NAF sale

I'm not exactly sure what NAF stands for, but what it means is that the hotel on base had a big garage sale. It was a obviously a bigger deal than Peter and I thought it would be since people started lining up a half hour before the sale started, waiting to get in and get the good deals. Peter and I got there about 2 minutes before the doors opened and watched as the first people in line sprinted through the doors as soon as they were allowed. Was it worth it? Yes. Things were selling fast, within 20 minutes most items had a SOLD sticker on it and there was an buzzing energy about the place as people scurried around. I'm not sure what the early birds walked away with, but we couldn't be happier with what we bought. Lamps for our whole house, dresser and night stands, a buffet table, picture frames and a green-striped, brass studded reading chair, all for $39. So we have re-arranged the living room/dining room, set up the lamps and put in the dresser and night stands. The house looks so transformed and homey now and we will always have a piece of Sheppard AFB with us when we move.

Mother's Day

Wow,  there is a lot to catch up on since my last update from Panera Bread. That was the last time I had an internet connection until now.

I am now back home, writing this from our study. I am home! And so is Peter. He finished IFS much earlier than we originally thought and after doing paper work in Madison got back home last Friday. Yesterday was my first day home and it is so nice to be here together. And without further travels planned, and Peter's next class starting in a few weeks, and a baby coming in two months it feels like a new chapter is starting.

I was able to spend Mother's Day with my Mom and have breakfast and tea, just the two of us. Later that day we saw my brother and his family and enjoyed the warm sun while my nephew tried flying his kite. It was special to think of being a mom this mother's day and to share it with my mom and two of my sisters-in-law. That's right. There will be three Sailhamer babies born within 4 months of each other this year. How fun for the little cousins and future family vacations. We know that Jason and Betsy are having a little girl, but both Johnny and Kelly and Peter and I are waiting for the big surprise on the birth day.

I had to be home yesterday because we had an OB appointment that could not be pushed any later. They did a sonogram since I am a new patient and it was so fun to see our baby again. Everything looks great. He/she is measuring in the 47% (so average size baby!). Right now they weigh a little less than 4 lbs. We saw their little hands and feet, their kidneys and full stomach, and their little heart beating. The tech could even tell that our baby has hair. Their face has filled out a lot and is much rounder than it was when we had an ultrasound at 18.5 weeks. But, I forgot to drink something with caffeine and he/she was sleeping again and in the same position that they were the last time too - with their arm over their face! Now, I'm excited to see if that is how they like to sleep once they come out. :-D After our appointment we went to the hospital to visit a friend who just had her little girl that morning. She was beautiful and perfect. And the sense of being a mom was so real to have just seen my baby on an ultrasound and then to see a new little one and know that in a few more weeks that Peter and I would be there as well. What a fun Mother's day (and birthday present!) to me.

Peter's training update

I'm sitting at a Panera this warm, Spring morning, drinking chai and catching up on my email. I drove into town from my parents last night to skype with Peter. And it was so fun to have a long skype date with him and see his face. It felt like we were just sitting at the kitchen table talking about our day.

He's been doing really well and getting great marks on his flights. They fly every day, sometimes twice a day. A few of his flights have been canceled due to weather, but not too many. He was able to take off yesterday before a storm came over Pueblo and then had to fly longer, skirting and looking down on the storm, waiting to land. He said it was a lot of fun and that he was probably smiling from ear to ear during that flight. It was looking like he was going to finish early, sometime next week, even with some flight cancelations in there. But yesterday he was given a proficiency advance. So he will skip his next couple of flights and solo today as well as do a "pre check ride" right afterward. Tomorrow he will do his check ride (final exam) that includes ground and flight time and then done and leave on Friday! Awesome. I always knew he was advanced :-D. He will have to go to Madison, Wi to do paperwork called in/out processing with his unit and that will take a couple of days. But he will (if today and tomorrow go well) be back in Texas sometime next week, probably mid-late week and then I'll be back on Sunday night, May 8th. 

I can't wait to see him again. We have an appointment on the 9th with our new doctor and they want to do an ultrasound for their records. Now he'll get to be there for that, which I was hoping would be the case. 

I'm doing well. The baby is growing and kicking and having the hiccups regularly. :-D I can't believe that he/she will be here so soon! In 7.5 weeks I will be considered full term. Full term = 37-42 weeks, so they could come over a period of 5 weeks, what will the birthday be? And I wonder if they (he/she) still looks like their dad. Can't wait to see their face again too!

Hope you are all well. Looking forward to seeing the Bostonians tomorrow!

2 years!

Yesterday Peter and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary. It has been a wonderful two years, the best years of my life. He called in the morning before his day got started to say happy anniversary and surprised me with 2 red roses that were delivered to the door. Why do I just love getting flowers from him? We ended the day with a long date, a sykpe date in the McDonald's parking lot (my parents don't have the internet). It was a happy day, one that I was constantly thankful for my husband.

We did celebrate our anniversary about a month ago, right before Peter left for IFS. We slept in, made a special breakfast of pancakes and sausage and packed a picnic lunch. That afternoon we hiked around, ate our lunch and exchanged our "cotton" presents, since cotton is the 2 year anniversary theme. For dinner we went to a place called Meers, which Bon Appetite Magazine has ranked as the #3 best burger in the US. It was great, very reminiscent of the cowboy days. It didn't look at all like a modern-day, popular restaurant.

AZ time with my Bro and Heidi

I just got back to an internet connection to catch up on last weekend. I spent few days in Arizona with my brother and a friend from college, Heidi. Amazingly too, Wichita Falls, TX (my new home), was quite a bit hotter than Phoenix, AZ was...it was only 88-92 degrees while I was visiting there and over 100 in Texas. I am sure not living in Wisconsin anymore. 

I met Andrew's roommate, saw where he worked, and ran some errands with him - just normal life. He took me to a favorite restaurant of his, In and Out Burger, and a Red Wings playoff game. We wore Wings shirts and represented Michigan along with half the people there. Our seats were near the Phoenix goal, so we had plenty of action and checks to watch. It was fun. 

Heidi and I took some long walks and talked about our big life changes, my baby and her up-coming wedding and marriage to Sean. It was so good to have that time. They "had" to go up to Sedona one afternoon and I tagged along. We had a picnic looking at the red rock formations and walked around the town. 

And then I flew to Michigan on Tuesday morning and, after several delays and detours because of storms in the mid-west, arrived Wednesday morning. But I got to know the man next to me well and hear all about his family and work. I think he was a little nervous about flying the way he kept chatting at 3 in the morning. 

one crazy day

I'm sitting in a shaded outdoor patio of a Starbucks in downtown Tempe, AZ. The temperature is perfect and there is a light breeze. There are a lot of people around me slowly enjoying a Saturday morning coffee while marathon walkers quietly go past. I've had several "congrats" and offers to buy me a coffee as strangers notice my growing stomach. It is a beautiful and calm morning. And it makes everything that happened yesterday seem so unreal.

Yesterday was the day that I left Wichita Falls, TX to go see family for the next 3 weeks while Peter is finishing up the first training school. My friend, Josie, picked me up to take me to my first OB appointment in TX. It was very long and thorough, 2 hours to be exact. But it was great. I even found out what position the baby was in and heard their little hiccups as the nurse checked for the heart beat. Afterward we went back to my house, loaded my luggage in the car, picked up another friend and headed for the airport and shopping in Dallas - a good 2.5 hours away.

After making a couple wrong turns in the construction traffic and finding out there were 2 airports in Dallas and that we were heading for the wrong one, Josie got a call that her neighborhood had been evacuated due to wildfires. The fence in her back yard didn't exist anymore and the news was calling Wichita Falls a disaster area. Thirty minutes later another call said that the training area on the base had been evacuated as well. And then, as I was getting out at the correct airport with little time to spare, another call saying that base housing was now being evacuated. I debated if I should just cancel the trip and go home with my friends to face this disaster, not knowing what I could do or where people were being evacuated to. Josie told me to just go and leaving would also meet the goal of evacuating. It was with a very strange, surreal feeling that I stood in line to check in.

After going through security though, I received another call that my dear, old Gran had fallen down the basement steps and was still in x-rays after being rushed to the hospital. My mom was very upset as she waited on the results and fearing what could-be. There was nothing for me to do at that point but to fly to Phoenix and hear an update there. But before boarding I got another call that base housing was clear and no longer was under evacuation, our homes were "safe" from the fires.

In Phoenix, my brother picked me up from the airport. The news was that my Gran had a few broken ribs, some staples and stitches on her head and face, and bruises and scratches. It will be a long recovery, but she will be okay. Praise the Lord. I will be in Michigan in a few days to see her too. I was able to call and talk to Peter after that and tell him all the un-expected craziness that had happened. It was good to talk, but it seemed so unreal. And unreal to have felt so calm through it all. The Lord's peace is supernatural and transcends understanding. And He is so GOOD.

the happenings while we're apart

Peter had his first flight yesterday, called the dollar ride because you give the instructor a dollar afterward. Although, if you're Peter you only have a $20 in your wallet and will have to get back to him. Needless to say, the flight went really well. As well as the academic instruction when he was called on and to tell what he would do in such a such scenario and answered correctly. When he sends me a picture of it, I'll put it up. His flight (class) are all still in their dress uniform though since someone each time has failed the Bold Face/OPS limits test, so hopefully soon they will all pass and be able to wear their flight suit all day instead of just when they fly.

I have been home, knitting and trying to figure out how to make this house more of "home". I've also met several wives on base and have spent a lot of time with them. It almost feels like starting Wheaton again with how many people I'm meeting and that they are all the same age as me and with husbands that are all flying. I volunteered to sell trinkets at one classes graduation and meet a few girls that just looked like they were Christians (it must be something with the eyes or the smile). They were and invited me to a wives Bible study on Tuesdays. I feel very much like this is becoming home and that I'm building community already, which is way more than I expected. It is such a blessing. Some of my new friends will drive me to the airport tomorrow so I can go visit family for a couple of weeks while Peter finishes this first part of training. They're even going to check our mail, water the plants, and care for the lawn too.

Peter starts IFS!!!

Peter left this morning for Pueblo, CO to start IFS or Initial Flight School. He'll be gone for 3-6 weeks depending largely on the weather and how much flying time he gets. It's exciting! We've been waiting for an opening in this school for the last 6 months and he's finally starting it. He feels well prepared and is ready. And me too. Although, anticipating the good-bye, and the good-bye itself, seems to be the hardest thing about the separation. Now the countdown begins till we're both home again. (And we'll be able to talk/skype while he's away too). I'll also be doing some traveling to see family and friends while he's away, a good use of time.

I have things to knit and sew for our baby and our niece who will be born in August. And cheery, yellow daffodils that Peter got for me. He heard me say what a happy flower they were and went to buy them for me yesterday before he left. When he got to the florist he found out that he would have to special order them since they were no longer in season, but he was determined to get yellow daffodils as a reminder of him. I love them. And I so love that man!