Update

We are doing great here in Texas. We found a great house to rent in Universal City, which is on the north east side of San Antonio. It is a great location. We are just down the street from the base, our church is just over our back fence (so we walk to church), and we are really close to grocery stores and the biggest shopping center in the area.

Jon is loving being in the Air Force. We feel very blessed. There are so many benefits and they have been really good to us. For a lot of the time we have been here, Jon has been on "casual status", which basically means that he is just hanging out until his training starts. He checks in with his group every morning and they tell them if they can go home or if they have stuff for them to do that day. He has done everything from help at a conference to move office furniture. I think it was nice for him to have a break for a little while, but he is getting restless and is anxious to get started on his training again. He starts his Navigator training this Friday. It will last about 10 months.

About a week after we moved into our house, Jon went to Pueblo, Colorado for his Initial Flight Screening (IFS). He was there a month. They taught him how to fly a tiny two person airplane and basic navigation skills. They send all pilots and navigators through this to see their general aptitude before they spend a ton of money training them. For example, if he gets air sick, he probably won't make a very good navigator. It was an intense environment, but Jon really enjoyed it. His favorite part was the navigation training, which is good since that is what he is going to be doing for the next several years at least.

I stayed here for the first two weeks Jon was gone and finished unpacking and getting the house settled. Charly, our dog, also had to have surgery on her foot to remove a cyst. Once everything here was settled enough, I went back to Utah to visit family for a week. Then I flew to Colorado to spend a week with my Great Aunt Jan who lives in Denver (she is one of my favorite people in the whole world.) While I was there, Jon was able to come up for the weekend to spend time with us. It was really great to see him again. When we are apart, I learn to appreciate the "just hanging out" even more. Jon got home about a few days after I did. (I think Jon looks pretty great in his flight suit and you KNOW he loves it!)


This one is of Aunt Jan in her car. She even let me drive it, which was pretty amazing. The pictures are pretty bad because I forgot my camera and had to buy a disposable one.

It is great to be back home together again. I will post some other updates soon.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2008 has been a random transition year for us while we waited for Jon's Air Force training to start. We have enjoyed being closer to some family and friends and have tried to make the most of this "in between time."

Jon spent the last three months at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama for Officer Training School. I don't think he would ever want to repeat it, but he learned a lot and was grateful for the opportunity. He is now a 2nd Lieutenant and is really excited to be in the Air Force. We will start 2009 in San Antonio, TX for Navigator School. We should be there about 1 - 1 1/2 years. The time there will determine what type of aircraft Jon will be on and where we move next. We are really excited for this new adventure!

We are especially grateful this year for our family and friends. We hope this season finds you happy and well. We wish you all the best in the coming year.

With love,

Jon and Emily

Who Doesn't Love a Man in Uniform?

Jon is at Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. He has been there for two months....only one more to go!! It has been hard, but we are doing well. We get to talk every night (even if it is for just 5 minutes.) That makes a HUGE difference. I don't know what I would do if we had to go 12 weeks without talking.

Jon is doing really well. They keep him pretty busy. He is an upper classman now, which means he has more freedom and can leave the base on weekends. Most weeks he gets to go to church, so that helps too. I think he is enjoying it and is glad he is there....but he is also excited to be done and home again.

I am doing good too. I am keeping really busy with work, family, friends, and a couple of secret projects (to surprise Jon.) Then, of course, there is getting ready to move. The Air Force will provide for the bulk of the packing and moving, but there is still a lot of sorting and prepping to do. I am a little stressed about how fast time is passing, but I am sure it will all get done.

Our Future Plans: I am not sure about the details yet, but here is what I do know:

We are going to try to go to CA for Christmas
We have to be out of our house in SLC by December 31
We will be moving to San Antonio, TX for more training and Navigator School
Jon has to report no later than January 5 at Randolph AFB

That is about all I know for sure, but if you have other questions, let me know! I will update as we get more information.

They have a contest going right now to see who can get a picture taken with the most important person and their flight coin. Jon paid $10 bucks and stood in line to sit on the lap of his entry

The Blog Formerly Known As...

I am moving our blog here so that we have a more versatile name. I will keep the old blog up though, so if you want, you can go back and view the old:

Doha Digest
dohadigest.blogspot.com