Proud Wife

As we near graduation from flight school, Dave is require to return his training equipment, including the  helmet that he used from his first Apache flight, to his final check ride. I think it's a bit like saying goodbye to an old friend, even knowing that he will be issued a new one at his unit when we get to Pennsylvania.

I'm so proud of my guy. Becoming an Apache pilot has been his dream for years -  it took 6 long years of paying his dues to get to flight school, and then an incredible amount of dedication to make it through the program. In three weeks, I will have the huge honor of pinning wings on his chest - the symbol of an Army Aviator. I couldn't be more proud if I tried. 

We recently discovered two cool date correlations that made us smile:

* Dave's first flight of flight school was March 26th 2012, and his last flight was March 26th 2013 - exactly one year apart! 

* The date Dave got his civilian helicopter license was May 2nd, and the date of his flight school graduation, earning his wings, and becoming an Army helicopter pilot will also be May 2nd. 

Making these discoveries felt like a little confirmation that this has all been part of a greater plan for Dave's life. 

I can't wait to pin those wings! 

Here's a picture of the painting we just bought a copy of and had framed as an early graduation gift: 

This painting is called "Deliverance" by Dru Blair. It is one of Dave's favorites. 

Summer Jams

Down here in Alabama, Spring has sprung and Summer is on its way!

Monday I went on a walk with a friend and then sat out in the sun to start working on my tan. I got burnt on both shoulders, but I welcomed the color and celebrated my first tan lines of the season! Next weekend is the Toadlick Music Festival in Dothan, AL - three days of country music!! I can't wait to put on my cowgirl boots and jam to some country tunes!

 I'm a country girl at heart, so here is my playlist for this summer.

Summer 2013 Country Playlist  

Cruise - Florida Georgia Line
Summer Jam -  Jake Owen
Pontoon - Little Big Town
Drunk on You - Luke Bryan
I Can Take it From There - Chris Young
Put a Girl In It - Brooks & Dunn
Somethin' Bout a Truck - Kip Moore
Beer Money - Kip Moore
All Over the Road - Easton Corbin
Georgia Peaches - Lauren Alaina
Get Your Shine On - Florida Georgia Line
Time is Love - Josh Turner
Jump Right In - Zac Brown Band
Don't Rush - Kelly Clarkson
Point At You - Justin Moore
Long Hot Summer - Keith Urban

A Time to Read

A time for every season... this is my season to read....

Before September, I couldn't have told you the last time I read a book for fun. The end of high school, and four years of college were jam packed with textbook assignments or required reading. Many of those books I hope to read again for fun, when I can fully enjoy them.

I was that child that sat next to the nightlight late into the night trying to finish a book before school. I couldn't stand having to wait a whole day to get back to the story and it's characters.

After moving to Alabama and temporarily becoming a stay at home wife, I finally had the time to get back into one of my favorite past times - devouring books like it's my job. Its not uncommon for me to read one to two books per day, especially if they are part of a series and I want to know the ending. 

Thankfully, I have a mother in law who faithfully kept me in books. She has a large Christian romance/ Amish/historical fiction collection, of which I'm sure I have read almost all of them by now. My favorite author is now Beverly Lewis, whose Amish fiction I adore. I can hardly wait to get back to Amish Country and do some exploring!

Here's a picture of the books I am currently borrowing. There are many more not pictured that I have already sent back.

Funny Moments

It's good to be able to laugh at yourself! Here are two funny "Kendall Moments" that might make you smile:

1. Dave's parents bought us a CD at a concert they went to. Tonight, I popped it into my computer, downloaded it to iTunes, and couldn't wait to listen to it. So, I'm be-bopping around the apartment with the instrumental music playing in the background, and I keep thinking to myself "Wow, all of these songs sound very similar". Two hours later, I finally check my computer, and notice that I had been listening to the same song on repeat 29 times!! NO WONDER!

2. On Valentine's Day, I finally made that age-old mistake of washing reds with whites. I've never had an issue with my laundry colors bleeding into each other, but I got a good laugh when I pulled out a dish cloth that is now a nice shade of pink. I decided to think of  it as my washing machine sending me a Valentine's Day smile :)

Models for a day :)

Yesterday David and I got to do one of the coolest things ever - we got to re-live our newlywed bliss by being "models" in a wedding and engagement photo shoot! Sherei Jackson, the photographer, was looking to build her portfolio for a bridal expo she will be doing this month, and Dave and I were more than happy to help (I mean let's be honest, who would pass up an awesome chance to dress up again and have professional pictures taken?).  Sherei and her husband were so sweet, and invited us out to their family cabin to take pictures in the wheat fields and by their pond. We immediately became friends as we found that we had a lot in common, including our shared faith in the Lord! David and I had a blast chatting with them as we got ready and then posed for pictures.

I had hoped to get my wedding gown sent down, but it was far too expensive, and it would have needed to have all the wrinkles steamed out for it to look presentable. Instead, I brought my short reception dress, and thankfully fit perfectly into Sherei's dress that she was kind enough to let me wear.

Her home is so picturesque! Beautiful fields, an adorable log cabin, a pond, tree lined paths, and a fun hilly driveway that David and I "off-roaded" with the Jeep on our way home. We seriously dream of living in a place like that!

The pictures that she took came out fantastic. I would highly recommend her as a photographer! Here is the link to some of the pictures from yesterday:

David + Kendall | A Prince and his Princess

The title, A Prince and his Princess, is so fitting  - I feel like a princess every day I am with David. And look as him, all handsome and regal in his Army Dress Blues! <3 I felt so giddy and happy doing this photo shoot - and I think it shows!

(http://shereijacksonphotography.wordpress.com/)

First Married Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!! 

I've had such a wonderful day! Here are the highlights of my first married Valentine's Day:

<3  The Valentine's Day party at the senior center was a blast!!

<3 It was my first time singing Karaoke - I serenaded everyone with "I'm gonna love you forever and ever, forever and ever, Amen." Thankfully my crowd was very easy to please!

<3 Watching a 98 year old lady get up and disco with the DJ...three times! She had the biggest smile on her face!

<3 Not exactly a highlight - but all the innuendos sparked by the holiday. The kitchen at the senior center reminded me of a ninth grade health class with all the inappropriate comments going around! Get a room please!!

<3 One of the seniors wore fishnet pants and died her hair pink for the occasion. While she was dancing some of the other seniors put dollar bills in the netting of her pants... something you don't see every day...hahahaha! Oh my...

<3 Getting a Finding Nemo Valentine from one of the seniors :)

<3 The SUN coming OUT and SHINING for the first time in WEEKS! Hallelujah!

<3 Coming home to a dozen roses, chocolates and candy

<3 Eating a delicious teriyaki steak and mashed potatoes dinner with Dave in his brief break between class and flying - and having plenty of leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

<3 Dave giving me Love Spell body lotion - he said it was the best smelling one in the store. I found this incredibly funny because back in high school, Love Spell was the scent of choice for perfume. Every popular girl wore it, and it drove the boys crazy! I never wore it, but always kind of wanted to :) Thanks Baby!

<3 Giving Dave the craft I made him :

<3 Can't wait till later when we can share the Valentine's day cake I made :) Along with baked Brie and strawberries... mmmmmmm.....come home soon Dave!!

I can't believe how blessed I am. Every day with Dave in my life is better than the day before. I feel like I am bursting with love!!

Lent

Happy Lent!

If you don't know, Lent is the forty days before Easter in which many Christian denominations practice fasting in preparation for our observance of Christ's death and resurrection. Growing up, we would identify something that had become almost an "idol" for us, something that would be difficult for us to go without, and then we would fast from it for the 40 days. The point was to lean on God for our strength when we were tempted to give in, and use it to help us get closer to God. Sometimes instead of fasting we would "add something" beneficial, like 20 minutes of prayer time every morning for 40 days, or reading a chapter of the Bible each day.

This year I am doing a little of both. Since I am not working, I have a considerable amount of free time. I find myself checking Facebook on my phone at least once an hour. It's fun to be up to date on what's going on with all my friends, but at the same time, it irritates me how much of a reflex it is to check Facebook and then get sucked into it. I know that I waste a lot of time on the site without meaning to. I am not going to completely fast from Facebook, (so don't be surprised if you see me post something) since I live so far away from friends and family and would like so still see what's going on, but I am going to significantly cut down how long I go on. Right now, I am setting the time for 15 min. each evening - enough time for a quick glance, and to answer any notifications or messages I may have. In a few weeks I will probably go down to every other day. This may sounds like cheating, and you may wonder why I don't just cold turkey turn it off for 40 days, but I am using this as an excuse to practice better self control - something I will carry on after the 40 days are over.

More importantly, Dave and I are ADDING daily devotion/ Bible studies. We have gotten so busy, and mixed up with his ever changing work hours we had fallen behind, so now we are going to get back to where we need to be.

Last night I came across a verse that hit home to me why we do lent. The context of the verse is that Israel was continuing to do evil in the sight of the Lord, even after He had saved them from slavery in Egypt. They had stopped putting their trust in the Lord, and were worshiping false idols.

"They followed worthless idols, and themselves became worthless" 2 Kings 17:15

This made me think about the worthless things that we spend our time chasing and worshiping - money, fame, status, popularity etc... Let's not worship worthless idols, and ourselves become worthless.