Flight School Graduation

So I finally have time to fill you in on graduation that took place last week.

To start with I left around my lunch time from work, dealt with a horribly rude airport security guy, meet up with my parents at the gate, and got to Ft. Rucker around 7p.m. As soon as my parents and I got there we meet up with my husband his "littlest" brother and parents for dinner at my favorite pizza place Mellow Mushroom.

Next, to all of our surprise we found out that my husbands friend helped plan an evening in the Blackhawk simulator. It was so awesome!!! I helped him study and learn so much about the thing that it was great to give it a try myself. I was so shocked that I understood everything that he was telling me to do and I actually hovered and landed on a slope. Yes, I am now an official pilots wife nerd.

I was exhausted by the time I got back to the townhouse but realized quickly that there was still a lot of packing left to do there. It was all of that little stuff that you really don't want to pack, but rather throw into the car.

The next morning was the graduation, YAY! It was so cool seeing my husband with the rest of his class finally get their wings. They have gone through so much, it's just an amazing moment. It was also great to see his first IP (instructor pilot) and some of his other buddies come out for it too. I also got to pin the wings on, and lucky for everyone involved, I did not make him bleed.

We then, well just the me and him, went to a lunch that was for the wives/biggest supporter of the aviators. It was so sweet, we got our own "Gradu-MATE" certificate and our own set of wings. Mine was in the form of a necklace, while others got an actual little pin.

The graduation day ended with a big barbecue at the cabin my parents rented at the lake on Ft. Rucker. Great food, great friends, and a great way to end the day.

To wrap up the trip we finished packing the U-hal and headed to Montgomery so I could get on the earliest flight out so I could get back to work.

Once again, it was a whirlwind  of a trip but I am so very proud of my husband. Everything he went through at Ft. Rucker and with flight school, and for him finally getting his wings.

Feels Like Home

As you know from the last post we are back in Texas and ever since I landed at DFW life has been way crazy and, believe it or not, this is the first time I have turned on my computer since the last post to say I was safe.

Right now we are finishing unpacking (his things and the last minute random furniture) and this place finally feels like home. While having everything in it's place might have something to do with it, the main reason it feels like home is because our little family is all together for two whole weeks.

Promise to actually put photos of graduation and have more posts now that things are settled...for the time being.

So Tired.

Well, I made it back from my husbands graduation in one piece this morning. I then proceeded to go to work and he finally arrived in Dallas after a long 12 hrs. on the road.

I am uploading photos now and will put a full post of flight school graduation events soon. For now, we are going to get some dinner, sit on the patio, and probably go to sleep in an hour.

Happy Good Friday!

Brownies, Dresses, and Cleaning Up

This morning I woke up happy and a little stressed. Why? Because this time next week, my husband and his puppy will be here with me and my dog. So excited!

There is a lot to do to get the apartment ready as well as get me and Todd (my dog) packed for our trip back to Ft. Rucker. Not to mention, I am actually going to a get together with one of my new work friends and her husband tonight and I offered to make brownies since they are making dinner.

Right now the brownies are in the oven, and other than making those and going to the store this morning to make sure I had food for the beginning of the week and when I get back from Alabama, nothing is done.

Well, that's not totally true, I did make a list, ha.

This afternoon before I leave for dinner I am rummaging through my closet to figure out what to wear to the graduation ceremony. I have a feeling I am going to pack a few options and not make up my mind until the morning of. I also having a feeling I am going to have to buy new shoes (darn) to go with what ever options I have. A lot of my heals are warn out and I want to make sure I looked polished next to my new pilot of a husband. As soon as I figure it out I will post a picture of my final look.

Not only do I have to pack my stuff, I have to get Todd ready too. One of my buddies from Dallas offered, with out me even having to ask or say anything, to watch him for the few days. Yes, he is small enough to ride in the plane with me, it's such a quick trip it wouldn't really be worth it.

Finally, I am going to clean the entire apartment as well as rearrange things so when my husband gets here we can easily just put everything in it's place instead of having a huge pile in the living room we would just have to move later.

Well, looks like the brownies are done, now off to my closet. Happy Saturday!

No words, but prayers

I follow a blog called the {mis}adventures of an army wife and I am shocked about what I have just read but am so happy, relieved, that things are "ok."

Jessica, the author of the blog wrote a her final goodbye. Her life as a military spouse, her dreams, just everything in her life hit rock bottom and the only way she thought things could get better was by taking her own life.

Luckily, like I mentioned earlier, she was found before anything could really happen thanks to the military spouse blogging community. People who read her sad, sad story and called the MPs where her, now, ex-husband is stationed and they found her. I do not know more details other than she was found alive, but that to me that is a victory within itself.

The fact no one who commented at the beginning knows her but was willing to help make sure she was still alive and do anything they could was amazing. It proves what a strong community we, as military spouses, are and that there is always someone there to listen and help/be there in any way.

Jessica my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Oh Brother {in law}

With graduation about a week away, I have been speaking with my in-laws figuring out the details.

So far the planning is going well, they are getting a hotel instead of staying with us, we have a plan for the grad party at the lake, and even figured out family day and the simulators. However, there is one detail I am not so happy with.

My husband is the oldest of three boys, the youngest one (15) is coming to graduation, the middle one (20) is not. He said he couldn't get off of work and wants to spend time with his girlfriend. I can understand work, especially with the fact the graduation date changed a few times, but the girlfriend thing...that's my issue. There was another moment this kind of thing happened, over Christmas time, where his gf came down with him when we all visited their grandparents and he kind of blew the moments he had with his brother away to cater to her, and I promise I am not blowing that out of proportion.

Yes, I remember those moments with the boyfriend where I wanted to blow things off for them, but I always remembered that my family is blood and this situation is a little different. I also think his girlfriend is a very nice girl, but he was the best man in our wedding and he hardly gets anytime with his big brother.

My husband says it's not a big deal and it doesn't really matter but I am just worried, with his deployment coming up, I am afraid that they are going to drift even further apart. I guess I can't really do anything but be honest with both of them about how I feel if they ask.

YAY!

Great news everyone, my husband passed his final check ride this week and he is officially done with flight school. This also means, in about a week and a half I get to head back down to Ft. Rucker and pin his wings on during his classes graduation ceremony.

I am so proud of him and so happy this phase of life is now over.

Takes a Toll

Last night I was invited to this wonderful dinner at a very nice steakhouse for work. When it was over I checked my phone and saw on one of my "flight school wives" friends called me three times. I knew then something was wrong. Many thoughts when through my mind, the majority of them being something must have happened to her fiance during training.

Well I was right about one thing, it did deal with her fiance, or should I say ex-fiance. That's right, he broke off their engagement and their wedding, which was supposed to this July.

I was at a loss for words. I wanted to be there for her, hug her, cry with her, just be there....

Turns out he "wanted to live the single flight school/military warrant officer guy life" so he could party with his buddies and not have to worry about or be stressed by her just being at home all day with nothing to do and then have to only do things with her when he got home. The kicker, he said that he still wants to merry her someday. Can you say stupid? I can. It is true that flight school and the military life can take a toll on relationships but I never thought something like this could happen so early on in someones carrier.

I also think about, once again, how strong we guard (and all military) wives have to be and what military couples have to go through. My husband and I have already been through much in less than two years of marriage, all due to the guard life, and realize that moments like flight school are nothing compared to what we have coming up, like his deployment.

So I guess this breakup my friend just went through could be a blessing in disguise. If this life already took a toll on them this much their chances aren't good for handling future military endeavors. She also did not have a very good support system either, which makes me feel blessed for the women (military and non-military) that I have in my life to help me deal with the daily grind of being and Army wife.