We had some pretty BIG happenings last week at our house! Friday to be exact!!!
After much anticipation and hard work (on Jordan's part), we finally reached
AIRCRAFT SELECTION DAY!
And.......
The Blackhawk is the WINNER!!!!
Well technically the boys and I are the winners!
We are so very proud of Jordan and all that he has accomplished so far! He is such an amazing Husband and Father!
For anyone who has known Jordan for a long time you might be a little surprised that he chose the Blackhawk. Ever since Jordan was probably 14 or 15 he has always wanted to fly the APACHE. It was his dream and no matter what....he was going to make it happen! He joined the Army National Guard when he was just 17 years old after he convinced his parents to sign the papers...after all, he would just join when he turned 18 anyway so why not get a move on it. With his goal in mind he became an Apache crew chief and was working his way to flight school. Just when everything was falling into place and his paperwork was all ready to send in for flight school, the call came and he found out they were deploying. They would not be sending anyone else until after the deployment. After returning home from Afghanistan in 2005, Jordan's 8 years were almost up. It was time to think about whether or not to resign. Jordan and I had just gotten married and the thought of him deploying again was a bit more scary. Jordan did not know if he could do it again this time leaving a wife and possibly kids. After much consideration, Jordan decided to get out and finish up school and pursue other dreams.
Down the road a few years...................................4 to be exact and 2 kids later, Jordan again thought about his dream of flying! Maybe now was the right time???? He would not know unless he tried. He was reaching the age limit to apply so he needed to decide... NOW! He went and talked to his old guard unit and they just could not guarantee him a spot anytime soon. So he went and spoke to any ARMY recruiter within a few days. After learning that we did not have to sign unless he got into flight school, we went ahead and Jordan applied. He very quickly was brought in for interviews and he did AMAZING!!! After only about 6 weeks or less in a very competitive process we had news!!!
He was accepted!!!!!
5 short weeks later....Jordan was on a plane to Fort Rucker Alabama!
This is actually very, very quick for someone to not only get accepted, but to be sent 5 weeks later was crazy FAST!!!!!
Fast forward 15 months and it is now time to select! After being at Fort Rucker and learning more about each aircraft and about himself, Jordan had decided months ago that the better fit for him and for our family was the Blackhawk! Sometimes I think we both wonder if it will be the right choice, after all the Apache was his dream.....but at this point I truly believe that We have been led every step of the way!!!
Our Heavenly Father has a plan for us!
Nothing has ever come together so perfectly for us until flight school! I am not saying that it has been an easy road since we have made the decision to come here, but it has been a very rewarding and peaceful one! We both truly know that this is where we are supposed to be RIGHT NOW!!!!
Now with that same thought in mind, I will now say.... with selection comes the "dream list." This is our top 3 choices of where we would like to be stationed after graduation.
Where are we supposed to be next???
This is where I panicked!!! (view last blog post)
How do you possible decide...and even after you do, there is no guarantee that you will get any of your choices. The day of selection, Jordan and I really had not made a firm decision. Even though we know all of the duty stations where each aircraft can be assigned, we do not know until that day which ones are available to choose from. Which makes things a little more complicated! After they know their aircraft, then they post where the available duty stations are and then they give the soldiers 15 minutes to make any phone calls they need to decide.
15 minutes!!!!
You would think that with the months and months we have had to look over the lists and decide that 15 minutes would be enough time, but......Not when your #1 place was no longer available along with many others. Jordan and I quickly eliminated the "NO WAYS" and we were left with about 5 or so options. Time was up and we agreed on a #1 place, after that Jordan said he would wing it!!!!
After I hung up the phone, I cried for about 30 seconds and as my cute friend Hollie always says,
"I put on my big girl pants to deal with it!!!"
An hour or so later, Jordan called again and wanted us to hurry and meet him for lunch. He only had a short break. When he jumped in the car with me and the boys, I asked him what he had put????
He told me, I nodded and said..... OK!!!! And I have been at peace ever since!
Our Heavenly Father really does have a plan for us and our little family....we just have to have the Faith that he does!
I am so very proud of my sweet husband and I am really excited about what the future holds for us! Selection is now over and I can breathe a sigh of relief.
Now we are playing the waiting game!
6-8 weeks and we should know where we are headed.
