Thank You

For as long as I can remember I’ve best processed life’s events through writing. Taking pen to paper, and more recently fingers to keyboard, is the only way I can really make sense of things. It is a strange process. Most of the time I don’t even know what will come out. It’s as if my fingers do the talking and I just sit back and listen. 

Today is no different. Thoughts swirl thickly in my head and a flood of emotions overwhelm my heart. I’m trusting the blank page before me to sort out the mental chaos and slow the hurried sensations pounding in my chest.

  

If you read my post on Friday you’ll know Ben’s license skills test was halted after it came to light that he doesn’t have the flight instruction hours required for the course. This delay brings a multitude of complications and although frustrating and discouraging is thankfully not insurmountable.

The flight department swung into action and quickly formed a plan to get Ben back on track. Ben now has two students and will start flying with them asap to build up instructional hours. We still don’t know what will happen if he can’t log enough hours before April 8 when the European regulations change. We’ll just wait and see.

Today, well, today is a completely different story. Walking into the office this morning I noticed I was holding my breath. I let out a long sigh and tried to push any uneasy thoughts aside. Ben also said he arrived at work feeling unsure of himself.  Despite our own emotions, the day started much the same as every Monday.

As usual, my boss stopped in after the safety meeting for a chat about the week ahead. He said he would be heading down south to pickup a newly leased B206. Turns out the Academy is leasing the B206 from friends of ours. Amused once again by just how small the helicopter industry is I asked my boss to send our greetings when he picked up the aircraft and texted Ben the news.

Mid-afternoon I opened my e-mail and gasped. I immediately called Ben and said, “Read your e-mail now and call me right back.” When he called back I could hear the smile over the phone line. Ben already knew about the e-mail and was amused by how “giddy” (his word!) I was. Truthfully I was caught somewhere between laughing and crying.

Our friend who owns the B206 had e-mailed my boss and offered to donate the flight time for Ben to get a transition on that aircraft. My boss agreed that with the donated flight hours the school could provide the instruction plus a 10hr ground school course. Holy moly! A turbine transition course for free!  

Several times throughout the rest of the day I caught myself smiling and shaking my head in disbelief. In an instant I’d shot from one end of the emotional spectrum clear over to the other. Ben and I both have a profound sense of gratitude. Writing the day’s events here has me shaking my head and smiling all over again. I don’t know what else to say except – Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Full Steam Ahead

Our train barrels down the tracks a million miles per hour.  No time to stop or rest until we reach the station. Sweaty and exhausted we push shovels into the coal and with shaking arms and burning muscles heap load after load into the engine’s furnace.  We round the bend and the station appears in the distance. Faster! Faster! Not long now!

A sudden violent shudder runs through the wagon as the train jolts off the track and is lifted into the air. We’re thrown off balance but manage to land in a safe place. The train careens off the tracks and in an instant it’s over. Stunned, but thankfully unhurt, we climb out of the train. The station is only a little way ahead.  We stare in disbelief at the train disengaged from the tracks and resting on its side in front of us. We hold each other and wonder, What on earth just happened?

 

Today Ben was scheduled for his License Skills Test with the Head of Training for the European flight program. The preceding four weeks were filled with day and night stress and preparation for the today’s test. It was particularly important that today went well as he’s already been assigned students on the European program who are eager to start flying with him on Monday. Also the instructors on the European team are overloaded and need to pass on some of their students. To add further complications changes to European aviation regulations are coming at the start of April and the credit Ben received towards his European flight instructor rating will no longer be applicable. We both looked forward to the steady pay check Ben would earn but even more so to him completing this final test and not having to think about studying or exams for many years to come. In an instant the unthinkable happened. The train left the tracks.

Ben completed the first two hours of the license skills test and was about to head out for the flight portion when it came to light that he doesn’t actually meet the flight hour requirements. Everyone had assumed that because he met the Pilot in Command requirements he must also have met the Flight Instruction requirements. This would be the case for most instructors, but Ben logged many of his hours flying for maintenance not as an instructor. In total he is 84hrs short. 

We sit on the grass and stare at the train lying on its side with the platform so close, but now totally out of reach. We feel strange and numb. Ben said, “I feel like I’m unemployed again.” This isn’t the case as he’ll be transferred back to the FAA team for the time being, but with such an abrupt change the feelings are strangely similar. We hope the train can be lifted back onto the tracks and all the effort Ben put into unlearning and relearning teaching methods be rewarded with the opportunity to instruct on the European program. 

I don’t know how it will be possible to build 84hrs in a month. Ben is a hard worker and no doubt will put all his effort into attaining the required hours. I just hope the goal is attainable. If he doesn’t log the hours, he’ll have to complete a lot of additional training to suffice the new regulations.  

Aside from this set back, I have a lot more to tell you about. Over the last two months Ben’s mom and dad visited, we attended Heli Expo, we were assigned a new adoption case worker, and attended the Empowered to Connect Conference with my parents. We’ve formed great memories amid a lot of chaos and excitement.  Here are some pictures to sum everything up.  

 Fun at Epcot! It was our first time there and now officially my favorite Disney park.

 Being goofy and making John smile.

 Picnic lunch following a morning of bird watching.

 Kayaking! (Yes we had more than one boat)

 Crazy big Russian helicopter called the Hind at Heli Expo

 Helimission friends at Heli Expo!

 Awe, don't we look nice :)

 Empowered to Connect Conference. Learning how to parent

and love children from hard places. My mom wrote an awesome blog 

called "The Suffering Child"about the conference. 

Read it here: http://www.drawacircle.net/

500 Hours!

Yahoo! Yippee! Ben has 500 hours of helicopter flight time! Come on people, celebrate with me!! Yet another tick in the box of Helimission requirements putting us one step closer to the field.

When I’ve told people about Ben logging his 500^th hour the most common response is, “So what else do you have to do?” The next qualification on the agenda is 100hrs of turbine time, which basically means 100hrs in a larger helicopter (think hospital or news helicopter). So how do we get there? Well, in the US companies that fly turbine aircraft don’t hire pilots and transition them into a turbine helicopter unless the pilot has about 1,500 – 2,000hrs. 

Here’s our plan – Ben recently said yes to an offer from the EASA Flight Department (European flight training team) to become one of their instructors. This is a wonderful opportunity because the EASA team, unlike the team he now works for, pre-schedule their flights. With a full student load Ben would be flying four 2 hour slots per day with each slot giving him approximately 1.2hours of actual flight time. Do the math and you’ll see that he’ll be logging more than 20 hours per week of flight time. That adds up pretty quickly! 

Before starting work as an EASA instructor Ben needs to complete the EASA FI (Flight Instructor) Course. I know what you’re thinking – Not another course! We thought he was finished training! The good thing about this course is that now that Ben works for the Academy as an instructor the training is paid for. That’s right, an $8,000+ course all paid for by the school! In exchange Ben will be bonded to the Academy for nine months. Since we are planning to be here at least that long anyway this is a deal we’re quite happy about. Not to mention the opportunity to for Ben to train one-on-one with the school’s EASA Chief Pilot who before coming to the school was the head of the Royal Navy helicopter SAR (Search and Rescue) operations in the UK! It’s quite a privilege to be able to fly and learn from such an experienced pilot. 

What I haven’t told you is that I flew Ben’s 500^th hour with him. Earlier in the week Ben’s parents each had a flight with him and due to work commitments it didn’t look like I’d have the opportunity to fly as well. In the end it worked out that I was able to. How special to cross this goal line together.  One flight at a time we move ever closer to one day serving in the mission field. Yes, this has been quite a long road, but it is also one we feel privileged to travel.

Growing Hope

As I think back over the last year and consider what I need for the twelve months to come one deep desire rises in my mind and heart - Hope. 

In 2012 I need hope to spring forth even when all seems dead and lost. I need hope that cares not for the surface level but holds on for what is underneath. I need the kind of hope that grows in our garden.

There were three particularly noteworthy occurrences in our balcony garden over the last few months. All shouting out messages of hope.

A new orchid sprouted from one of the branches of a dead orchid. New roots and green leaves grew in mid-air. Hope precariously attached to a lifeless plant.   

An all but dead mini rose plant produced one tiny perfect flower.  Bright pink hope blooming among brown decaying branches. 

Nine new plants sprang up in a pot we did not seed. Hope thriving even when we did nothing to nurture it’s growth.

It is so easy to become discouraged. An impoverished world perishes while we sit in comfort unable to move to the mission field for lack of flight experience. Millions of precious children go to sleep again tonight without parents while we and others are stuck in a sluggish system with overly burdened social workers or are prevented from moving forward for lack of funds.  Heaviness weighs in, but hope does not abandon.

The needs of the world are great, but I know the One who is greater. It is only a matter of time until our hopes are realized. As evidenced in my garden I may see little or no growth at the moment, but roots and hope strengthen beneath the surface.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

A Year Remembered

January started with hopes and dreams, 

Where would He take us? Where would He lead?

A happy announcement February brought

We’re so excited, we plan to adopt!

March continued the adoption path 

We learned so much in parenting class.

Beginning of April Ben finished, he’s done! 

An instructor pilot the job search begun.

End of May and discouragement lands. 

Where are you Lord? What is your plan?     

To California in June for factory training

Bristow Academy calls, “There’s a job here waiting.”   

Ben began work in July with orientation

Then a camp week with children from so many nations.  

In August two boys from China to stay 

We had Eric and Jeffrey for 10 fun filled days!

Three guests in September of a different kind

Adam brought two kitties, but we didn’t mind!     

Nine years of marriage on the 5^th of October 

Only two more months and my poem is over…

Grandma Becky went to heaven the middle of November 

A special lady so fondly remembered. 

December is here, my rhyme’s come to an end

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends!

A Better Way to Love

I would like to introduce you to a 10 year old girl in my Sunday class. For the purpose of this blog, let’s say her name is Jane. I’ve known Jane for years, but she doesn’t come every Sunday. Sometimes she’ll be there several weeks in a row, and then she’ll disappear for weeks or even months.  

 Jane is obstinate and difficult to deal with. If I say left she insists on going right. She doesn’t want to play games or participate in any activities. She doesn’t just sit quietly on the side lines either. Jane is loud and distracting to the other children. Jane tests my patience.   

This last Sunday Jane asked me to sit by her. Since I wasn’t teaching I joined her at the girls table. Jane proceeded to pretend to punch me, stopping her fist just short of my face, and to poke me in the arm repeatedly. “Jane, keep your hands to yourself. ” I’d say, motioning for her to listen to the teacher.  After all, this is important stuff. She needs to know God loves her – her eternity is at stake for crying out loud. Listen to the teacher little girl! Of course she didn’t listen at all and continued to poke and pretend to punch me (at least she didn’t actually hit me). 

Seeing I was getting nowhere I turned and giving it a last shot said, “Let’s have a lesson about body space. This is my body space.” I made a narrow circle around my chair. “Do you mean like a personal bubble?” Jane asked excitedly. “Yes, like a personal bubble. I can’t enter your space and you can’t enter my space unless for appropriate reasons and we give each other permission to do so.” She nodded her head trying to think this thing through. I continued, “An appropriate reason to enter my body space would be, umm, say to ask for a hug or…” Jane interrupted “Can I have a hug?!” she asked excitedly and practically jumping out of her seat. “Of course you can!” I said and reached over to hug her. She asked me for several more hugs and didn’t poke or pretend to punch me for the rest of the morning.

Now, all that may not seem like a big deal to you, but let me say it is HUGE to me. Jane has never let me hug her before and the only touch she’s willing to give is poking and for the purpose of annoying the other person.  Jane’s greatest need wasn’t to listen to the teacher at that moment, this little girl needed love. She needed me to stop nagging her to be good and start seeing her for the precious child she is. 

I so desperately want to see – to truly see. I am thankful that despite my rough edges God takes me as I am and loves me anyway. In His eyes my actions don't define my worth. I want to love like that.

God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outside appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7

Orphan Care Sunday

Thank you for praying with us and supporting the planning for Orphan Care Sunday at Crosswalk Community Church. Thank you also to those who attended! It was a great day and I am so excited to see how God is drawing others into this journey. Not necessarily to foster or adopt, but to pray and support in tangible ways. 

Before the service started each family was handed a profile card with a picture and brief bio of a local Brevard County child or teen in need of an adoptive family. The families were asked to keep and pray for the child or teen on their card. Having experienced the power of prayer in my own life I was particularly excited to see these cards in the hands of our congregation.   

The service started with local adoptive momma Meredith Cornish sharing their family’s story. The Cornish family has opened their home to adopt children with disabilities from both abroad as well as the US.  They are truly an amazing example of God’s heart and love. I taught Sunday School that morning and so didn’t hear the sermon. Although Ben did tell me the pastor preaching that morning asked the congregation how many children they thought were available for adoption in our county. The guesses ranged from a hundred to two thousand children. All were surprised to hear that at this present moment there are twelve. Twelve children who need families, that’s all. Our small church on our own could knock that number out and we wouldn’t have any children waiting for families in Brevard. I heard from several people afterwards that this really hit home for them.    

Following the service there was a panel and Q&A session. Ben and I were on the panel along with our case worker Dawn, a foster care alumni, and several adoptive families.  I was both encouraged and humbled to hear from other families who had brought home children. The overall message from these families was that none of this is easy and it is fraught with heartache, but being family to these children is right and good and they wouldn’t go back on the decision even if they could. 

Most encouraging are the words I’ve heard from those who attended. Not much was said on the day other than, “Thank you” and “We enjoyed being here” but seeds were planted and for some we saw them spring to life. Praise God for…

The family who were so compelled by the picture and brief bio of a local teenage girl in need of a family they decided to start the adoption process. God had already been speaking to their hearts and this picture was the confirmation they needed to move forward.

The teenage girl and her family who are looking for ways to volunteer at a children’s home or another shelter environment on Christmas.

The couple who were thankful to gain a glimpse into a world they didn’t know much about and committed to walk along side and love us as we bring children home.

Parents who soaked up all that was said and are eager to know what their part in all of this is. And their little girl who walks the family to the kitchen to pray for the profile cards of local children they have hanging on their refrigerator.

The prayer group who prayed over the profile cards during their meeting. 

The middle school girl who is talking to her parents about opening their home to people in need. 

There are many more stories both beginning and unfolding. Thank you to all who contributed advice, prayer, food, and service to bring the day together. My friend Katie, our fearless leader in the orphan care charge (although she would never admit it), I am especially thankful for. It was her family’s journey to bring their son home a year ago that ignited the flame within many hearts. It is amazing what God can do with one family’s story.