Prayers and Blessings

We've had a rough couple weeks. Ben is doing a Commander's Review, because he was not ready to solo in the required time frame. He has had to spend the past week writing a Show Cause statement, collecting Character References from anyone he has every worked with in the Air Force, and come up with a plan to prove to the Colonels why he should stay in the pilot training program. He has to show them that if they grant him two extra flights (about $5,500 worth of fuel, etc.) that he will be ready to solo fly and continue with his classmates or finish off the year in the class behind us.

He met with Col. Cinnamon on Monday, and was told that he would not be recommended to Col. Quin for reinstatement. He will still meet with Col. Quin on Monday for a final decision. So there is still hope that we will be doing pilot training. 

When this whole thing first started, I was very upset. I sat and said a prayer, telling Heavenly Father that I DID want Ben to become a pilot, and if it is not what he wants for our family, to help us understand why he brought us to Enid. Since then, we've had a wonderful sense of calm. We know that we will still have along career in the Air Force, and that Ben has many doors open to him because of his degree. Ben was reading some astronaut biographies the other day, and found several who failed pilot training, and still became an astronaut by another career route. So hope is not lost! 

With whatever happens on Monday, we know that we will still be in Enid for an extended amount of time. We know several people, either by choice or washing out, that are picking their new career field and waiting for their next assignment. Most of them have been here for about a year, doing jobs in the many offices on base. I was just chatting with another spouse last night who said, "I almost hate to admit this, but I love that pilot training has stopped. He can pick the kids up from school now!" 

So I'm asking for some prayers from you. Not to ask that Col. Quin let's Ben continue, but that Ben will have comfort with whatever Heavenly Father has planned for us.