BAMA HERE I COME!

Well another block of time here Del Rio is almost come and gone. On Friday I head out to Alabama for six weeks of training (ASBC). It is so hard to believe it is almost April already. Time here has been just flying by. When I arrived here in December, Bama felt a lifetime away. Now, it's less than a week. If I am honest with myself, I realize that I have begun counting time in little blocks to try and make it go faster (everything is a countdown to the wedding these days). Lets see. Five days until I leave for Bama. Then six weeks there, two weeks back in Del Rio, four weeks in Colorado, and then four and a half weeks until the wedding. When you look at it like that, wow, time will fly (God willing). As I push to finish up my classes in the next couple of days, I look forward to being free as a bird (at least in some ways) in just a couple of days. Finishing up these classes will be a huge load off. I feel as though I have missed out on quite a bit of fun and relationship building over the past two months because of these classes, and am looking forward to being able to spend time at ASBC, and then back here in TX with the friends that I've made before UPT starts. Alright, well I'm out of here to church. More later.

Update from the middle of nowhere

It is hard to believe that I have been here more than three months. I don't exactly know what I expected of my time out here, but I can say most assuredly, I didn't expect what I got. I didn't expect to spend months sitting on my butt, or to continue to be unsure of when I will actually start flight school. I didn't expect to get two really good friends right out the door, or to be able to go back to CA every few weeks to see my lovely fiancee and my friends and family who are still out there. For that matter, I didn't expect to have a fiancee at all by this time. It was only three months ago that I left CA under the impression that it would be more than a year and a half until I was able to marry the girl who far surpasses anything I could have ever hoped for. Obviously God had other plans. He usually does. I have tried to avoid asking the "why" questions as much as I have been able to. They have been there of course, but God has given me an overabundance of peace regarding them. God's faithfulness has been, well, unbelievable. For a long time I asked why God would hand me a job where I have nothing to do. A job that I feel utterly unsatisfying and a job that I just really do not enjoy. Well, having been in the 84th for nearly three months, I can see, at least in part, why God would provide me this. During my time in that windowless copier room, I have been able to spend hours doing prep for Ashley and my wedding. I have been able to plan our honeymoon, research rings, photographers and DJs. I have been able to do HW, and to take off early on Fridays to catch flights back to CA rather than having to wait until Saturday. How cool is that? I'm sure there have been other "why" questions as well. But these questions need not overwhelm me like they used to. Because God is faithful. Everyday. Always.

Speaking of wedding planning, this past weekend was a whirlwind of exactly this. Cake tasting, food tasting, winery viewing, ring shopping, engaged couple class at church, tux renting, attempted marriage counseling (the guy canceled on us), song lists, and vow writing. Wow. I loved it. During this planning process, I have realized that despite the fact that normally I really hate planning events, I have found some real fun and enjoyment in doing this with my soon to be wife. I admit that I cannot wait for this part to be done and for July to be here. But I am also trying to enjoy this process as much as I can. I only get to go find a wedding location once!

For anyone who has not had the incredible privilege of meeting my fiancee yet, I want you all to know that she is the most amazing woman ever created (no offense to the other women out there :). She is absolutely perfect for me, and brings me such incredible joy. I am sooo grateful to God for his abundant blessing and this life changing gift. As I head to Alabama for the next six weeks, your continued prayer for Ashley and my time apart would be greatly appreciated. Talk to you all soon.