.family sunday.

This has been one of the most emotion-filled, action-packed weeks of our lives that has been filled with life-changing news.

B - You got your wings, Braum. I am so proud of you. The 32,789th US Naval Aviator in history.

J - This has been a hard week for you and your brother. A lot has been expected of you; a lot of ceremonies to sit through and a lot schedule disruption. You always maintained a smile and were polite to everyone you met.

W - You love a good party, and that was so apparent this week. You are also an extreme night owl, so you loved the late nights. Although this week has been extreme and hard, you have never wavered from who you are.

A - You are the biggest ham, ever, girl. And the prettiest. I had such fun watching you pose for the photographer this week. You are so friendly and sweet to everyone you meet; it is just so cute.

 

 

.abandoned.

 

This has been one of the most up and down emotional weeks of my life.

 

Braum was pinned with his gold aviator wings (I can't wait to show you pictures!) And with those wings came orders...to the last place I wanted to go.

 

So I cried. Like a little spoiled child who didn't get her way. It was not my finest moment by far.

 

And then: perspective. You may have heard about the helicopter accident off the Florida coast. That's where we live. Those beaches are where my husband has flown for the past two years. That debilitating, horrible fog is what our friends have struggled to fly around. The duty station they were from is the place we are going. And those Servicemen who were killed? Those are our brothers. Although our family did not know them personally,
their stories and sacrifices are very personal to us.

 

And that unwanted duty station? Not important any more.
Where we go, we go as a family.
And we go with orders from the Almighty God.

 

I had to share with you a song that has been rolling around in my thoughts the past couple days. I choose to relinquish the pretense that I have control over my life and follow orders with abandon.

 

I'm Abandoned.

Steve Fry

 

I'm abandoned to the Captain

Of the mighty hosts of Heaven

And I pledge Him my allegiance

'Til the earth beholds His Kingdom

We've been raised for such a time

History comes to the finish line

And the saints who've gone before

Watch to see us end our course

So lay aside each weight that binds

And enter in the harvest time

Until the Kingdom of this world

Become the kingdoms of our Christ

.family sunday.

B - Flight school is done. So hard to believe you flew your last flight of flight school this week. Can't wait to celebrate with you!

J - First eye exam this week; you rocked it! It was definitely something intimidating for you and you met it head on!

W - My little logophile, I love listening to you practice new words. This week you've been practicing authors' names and the word "woozy".

A - You got to go shoe shopping with me this week; your love for sparkle shoes makes me smile, little girl!

 

.flight school.

This week, my husband flew the last flight of flight school. 

It's been a long journey. A really long journey. 

Nearly 10 years in the Marine Corps. 

7 years of marriage.

26 months of flight school.

3 kids. (We even had one during flight school).

Countless hours of studying, planning, and flying. 

 I thought today would be a good day to take a look at just a few of the big milestones that led us to this point.

Summer 2008 - Braum graduated from Officer Candidate School

Summer 2010 - Braum graduated from the University of Washington

Fall 2011 - Braum was commissioned as an officer in the Marine Corps

Summer 2013 - First day Braum got to wear his flight suit!

Summer 2014 - The day we found out Braum would be flying helicopters!

Next week, Braum will get his Aviator's Wings of Gold.
And we find out what specific helicopter he will be flying. And where we will be living for the next 3 years. 

It's exciting. It's nerve-wracking.

His winging will mark the end of one chapter of our lives, and the beginning of another. 

And we can't wait.  

.family sunday.

The kids and I have all been sick this week, which has slowed down my thinking, which has slowed down my blogging. I should be back soon, though!

B - This week didn't go as planned with flights, but I'm glad we could still celebrate a little.

J - Captain America has become your new favorite thing. This week you picked out shoes and an action figure. So fun!

W - You have been memorizing Madeline this week. There is nothing cuter than hearing you recite, "To the tiger in the zoo, Madeline just said, 'Poo, Poo!'"

A - We had so much fun together with our first tea party. So grateful for my girly girl!