Phase 2 & Year 2

Phase 2

As of June 9, Joel is in phase two of pilot training! That means that he has moved out of academics and on to flying T-6's. It also means that he works 12 hours every day... last week he worked from 9 til 9, and this week he is working 5 to 5 - plus at least an hour of studying every night when he gets home. It's really tough on him, so please keep him in your prayers. He got airsick on his first flight and got passive airsickness on his second flight. This morning the flight doctor diagnosed him with "stress and fatigue" (shocking, I know, that someone might be stressed and fatigued by having to get up at 4 AM, work 12 hours, study, and never see his wife... all while remembering that everything he does has a lasting impact on his career). So, Joel is "DNIF" for a little while (that's Air Force lingo for not being allowed to fly) until he is feeling better.

Year 2

Sunday, June 12, was our one year anniversary. That means we have moved out of the honeymoon stage and on to... wait a minute! Hold the presses! We missed the honeymoon stage! Excuse me while I mentally review the past year...... nope, no honeymoon stage.

I'll never forget a conversation we had with one of the parents from New Covenant last summer. It was at the Cherokee mission trip car wash fundraiser (AKA the hottest day of the summer), and we'd been married about a month and a half. This well-meaning parent came up to us smiling and said, "It's the newlyweds! So, tell me, is married life everything you thought it would be?!" Joel and I (reflecting upon the E. Coli, UTI, and kidney infection that had already plagued me, the long hours we were both working, and the constant bickering over the "right" way to do the dishes, make the bed, etc.) both instantly responded, "No." This poor woman was only taken aback for half a second before she replied, "Oh, that's so sweet! It's not everything you expected - it's more! How wonderful!" We didn't have the heart to tell her she was crazy to think any newlyweds were happy, so we just walked away.

So, no, we did not get to experience a honeymoon stage of marriage. Instead we had a challenging first year of marriage marked by a 1,000 mile move, several illnesses, and lots of fighting. I would not relive this year for anything in the world. However, this has also been one of the most sanctifying years of my life, filled with dying to self and learning to trust in God's faithfulness. I truly love Joel now more than I did on our wedding day, because I understand a little bit better what love really is and what it looks like to selflessly love a sinner. Now we are facing year two together with joy and peace, knowing that God will always be faithful to us.

In honor of our one year anniversary, we had a romantic candlelight dinner.

I made all of our favorite foods, plus a delicious turtle cheesecake for dessert.

We had a lovely evening at home together!

Oh wait, did I forget to mention why we had dinner at home? Well, it was to save money, because of this:

That would be the 2008 Ford Escape that Joel bought for me as an early anniversary present! I am so thankful to have a reliable car to take on all my trips this summer!