My Hottie Husband who Hovers in Helicopters

Preface to my post: Since we moved to Jacksonville, the realities of military life have really been hitting home. The Jacksonville area is home to at least 4 military bases (maybe all Marine bases), so pretty much every 3 of 4 men/boys you see are in the military. It really gives you a sense of pride about their service and sacrifice for our country. In addition to that, at least weekly, we see signs along the main road in front of the huge Marine base (Camp Lejeune) welcoming dads, husbands, brothers, and sons home from war. I get teary eyed every time I see them. While I was at the post office on base this week, there was a lady picking up a few packages. The post office worker looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "Her husband was one of the guys killed by a man in the Army earlier this summer. She is picking up his things that have been shipped back from overseas." (you can read about the story here) Needless to say, I walked back out to my car, with tears streaming down my face. I just can't imagine. And then yesterday, our neighbor, who we have quickly become friends with, just left for his 7th deployment. He just returned in March from a deployment and now left again. His wife and children are now dealing with the thoughts of another Christmas with him away from home. These are the events that have somewhat led me to this post. It has just made me really think about and remember what the Lord has done to get us here. And in thinking about that, He reminds me that somehow, even if we can't see it, He "causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him (God) and are called according to His purpose for them." Romans 8:28

I am sure that all of you who are reading this are extremely proud of your husbands (if you are married- and if you are not yet, you will be this proud one day when you are). Know that I am not trying to say mine is better than any other, but I just want to brag on him a little today. Just to give you a little background, he joined the Marines as a reservist shortly after 9/11 happened. He was at a place in life in which he didn't really know what he wanted to "do", but knew that he wanted to "do" something of significance. So, while he was still in college, he decided to enlist. Only months after bootcamp, he got the call that his unit was deploying. He spent over 6 months in Iraq and in that time endured many hardships (being stung by a scorpion, getting dysentery and the obvious one... fighting in a war-just to name a few). While there, the Lord started laying on his heart the desire to fly helicopters. He said that in the midst of the scariest moments, he would hear the helicopter coming to get them, and relief would flood his soul. He wanted to be able to do that for others one day.

He felt like it was the Lord putting this on his heart, but really wasn't positive because it would be a very difficult journey to become a pilot. The first step being to take and pass a very hard test. His superiors told him not to be too upset if he didn't pass it the first time because it was very hard and once he took it the first time, he would be better able to prepare for the next attempt. Well, his assurance that this was indeed the Lord, was when he passed the test the first time (he likes to add that he is not the best test taker, so it was definitely a God thing). One obstacle down, flight school to go! I knew he would do great in flight school, but isn't it like Satan to continue to throw doubts in your (his) mind about not having the ability to get through it. And you know the cool part is that alone, no, he probably wouldn't have had the ability, knowledge, wisdom, to get through it, but because it was the Lord's plan for his life, he graduated from flight school a few months ago.

So here we are now, in Jacksonville, NC, where he is learning to fly the CH-53. This is the specific type of helicopter he will be flying for the Marines. The road is still marked with bumps (like the fact that he is gone alot and really hates being away from us), but we know it is all for the glory of God! **this is a picture of the CH-53...the largest helicopter in the Marine Corps

One day, Edmond's plan (we think God's too), is for him to use his skills as a pilot to fly supplies back and forth to missionaries. This has been in his heart since before I even met him. I just can't wait to see all that God has in store for my precious husband. I know that he will be used in big and mighty ways!