Change of Plans

Jesse and I have recently made a life-changing decision. We're going to cut to the chase and then give the story behind it, okay?  


Jesse has decided to join the Airforce in hopes of becoming a fighter pilot. This is a life long dream of his and I am more than happy to support him along the way. 


Jesse was apart of ROTC at BYU before he went on his mission but came home and didn't think that a pilot was a realistic goal, so he gave it up. He changed his major multiple times; from english, to exercise science to economics but nothing ever felt right. 


About a month ago he started re-thinking the pilot dream, but didn't tell me. Then, when I went to the Airforce air show in Las Vegas, and getting all the pictures I sent him, he couldn't stop thinking about it. I got home and knew he had been thinking about it and half-jokingly said, "Just go for it!" The next day Jesse texted me "Lysh, I can't stop thinking about this. I really want to do it." So, going off that we decided to start praying about it and doing some research. Day after day Jesse and I found out more information about the Airforce and kept having those good "this is right" feelings. Jesse read books, talked to his friend who is a pilot, and signed up at ROTC again. I searched for airforce wives on google (creepy, I know) and found a blog about this lady, her two kids, and her husband who is a fighter pilot. I read up on their lives and emailed her with lots of questions about the airforce life. She quickly responded and was super sweet about answering an annoying 19 year old questions. One thing that stuck out to me from her emails was this:


"We give all the credit for that to having a marriage built on a mutual faith in Jesus Christ and putting God first in our relationship. With a strong foundation, a marriage can thrive even during the tougher times."


She isn't a Latter-Day Saint but apparently a Christian of some sort. It was so good to hear that, though! She told me about how hard it is to have her husband gone and raise the kids on her own. (They usually get deployed for 3 months every year or so) But, she said how much she loves moving around and the fact that her husband has the coolest job and loves it so much makes it all worth it.


Jesse and I decided to keep this a secret from our family and friends for almost three weeks because we wanted to make the decision on our own with no one else's opinions. Jesse always tells me that when you are making a hard decision and want God to help, you have to make the decision on your own, go forward in faith, and if it's wrong, He will let you know. I have found this to be true multiple times. So, we thought the best way to go about this was making our decision, praying and telling Heavenly Father what our decision was, go to the temple and see what we felt. Guess what? We felt absolutely perfect. We were both overcome with joy and happiness. We sat and cried holding each other's hands in the celestial room. 


This IS the path we are supposed to take. And, although I am more than nervous, I am super excited. my sweet husband is so happy! What more could I want? He will get to do something he has dreamed about doing for his entire life, so why would I not support him in that? 


A little more info and details about the "as of now/ideal" plan:


Jesse will continue to study economics while doing ROTC at BYU. This summer he will take the AFOQT test required for admission and go to training camp next summer. Then, in two in a half years he will graduate and be commissioned in the Airforce. We will move where ever they want us to for him to go to flight school for a year. Then....DREAM JOB ACCOMPLISHED! (plus.. I woulnd't mind a baby right about here...)


This is going to be A LOT of hard work for Jesse. But he has told me over and over that this is what he is supposed to do and it's something he wants more than anything, so he will work for it. He believe this path will make him the best he can be: the best student, husband, and father. His mission president is his hero and rollmodel and guess what? He was a fighter pilot. There are so many things that prepared J for this and he is now ready. 


As for me... we aren't sure exactly which nursing school I will be attending yet, but I will still get my degree and then follow my husband where ever his job takes him. Which, like I said, is a different place every three years. I am excited to be a stay-at-home mom most of the time. Jesse and I think that this life style will teach our children a lot of life lessons that they other wise would not get to experience. I am excited for them to be so proud of their dad.  


We also realize that it's possible Jesse could not get a pilot slot and have to do something else for the four years of residency, but we accept that. Jesse still thinks it will be worth it because he will be a better person at the end of everything. But... that's not the goal! The goal is to work extremely hard for a pilot slot. 


I know it's far away... but I will one day (soon) be the wife of an Airforce Pilot. I cannot wait! Plus... he will look so good in a uniform :)