Where we've been...

I’m straying from the typical update and photos I usually do. Today’s post is a bit random, just something I was recently thinking about. For most of our family and friends this post will not come to you as a surprise. To anyone who’s ever tried to send us a Christmas card more than one year in a row, it won’t either. And it will sound pretty routine to anyone in the Air Force community. In 2 years of marriage, Trenton and I will have shared 5 different addresses in 4 different states. As we move around, I thought I could create a little deally about each place. But first, I might as well quickly re-cap where we’ve been before I cover where we’re going…

Summer 2007- Chandler, Arizona
Chandler Population: 252,056

After we were married we spent about 2 months living in Chandler, Arizona. I was off from school and Trent was enjoying his 60 days off. This was just after he had just graduated from the Academy and prior to him transferring to his casual assignment.

August 2007 to May 2008- Tucson, Arizona
Tucson Population: 543,959

We lucked out on Trent’s 1st AF assignment- it was perfect. Prior to pilot training, every officer is assigned to a base for a “casual” assignment until his/her slot opens up at a designated pilot training base. Trent was stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB working with 48th Rescue Squadron. This was extremely convenient since I was completing nursing school at the University of Arizona and we both had family in Tucson & Chandler. We had a great time while it lasted, then we were on the move again.

May 2008 to May 2009- Del Rio, Texas
Del Rio Population: 36, 582

Pilot training! Trent was assigned Laughlin AFB for 1 year of pilot training. This is also where I took my boards and started my 1st nursing job in labor & Delivery. Laughlin AFB was located near the city of Del Rio. Del Rio was a very small town. I thought I came from a small town, now I know that I don’t. It’s on the southern border of Texas, 4 miles from Mexico. Acuna, Mexico was the next closest town. Del Rio did have an awesome lake called Amistad which is well known for great bass fishing. So that gave us something to do on the weekends. We also had a wonderful base community and made some wonderful friends with the folks in his flight. After graduating May 26th, we were packing up the house less than a week later and heading north.

May 2009 to August 2009- Altus, Oklahoma
Altus Population: 19,329

We are now located on the southern side of Oklahoma in a little town called Altus. Trent is currently TDY completing training at Altus AFB to learn how to fly the C-17! We packed up our home in Texas and we are staying in a furnished apartment until it’s time to head out to our next assignment. Altus is a small town, but I think we both like it better than Del Rio. It has a few more amenities and the weather has been great. So far, I’ve learned that this town likes their pharmacies and Dr. Pepper. The pharmacies here are so nice that they actually have bridal registries. As for the Dr. Pepper, it is served as every restaurant. And not just regular Dr. Pepper, but diet and cherry-flavored Dr. Peppers. We are about 40 minutes from Lawton which is the next big town. Fortunately some of our friends from Laughlin are training here too, so we get to visit with friends a little longer before we go our separate ways. Trent even ran into a family whose daughter I assisted delivering in Texas. We met another couple who will also be headed to Hickam AFB and a Captain who has offered to be our sponsor family- which will be great! (And his wife is a nurse too!) Trent will finish up here at Altus AFB at the end of August and then we will be in Arizona for one month before the next move...on the road again...

My little sister is getting married!!!

Our family just got a little bigger! Around 1:30 Saturday afternoon my little sister called me up. Trent and I were in the car on the way to the theater to see the movie The Proposal (ironic right?). She asked to be out on speaker phone and shouted, "I'm engaged!" We are so excited!!! Melissa-Rose McLean and Cameron Nelson will soon be Mr. and Mrs. Nelson!

Trent and I are tickled with their engagement! Cameron is a wonderful guy who will make Melissa very happy. They met several years ago when Melissa and Cameron played percussion together at Chandler High School. They will make a wonderful pair!

I can't wait to help Melissa in her planning. I've already put together a notebook for her and I am so glad I saved my wedding stuff for her!!! When we were packing up the house in Texas before we moved I was clearing out the closets and trashing/donating things we weren't using. I almost thought I was silly for holding on to a bunch of wedding books and magazines that I was prepared to put through a 4th move. But I've been holding onto them for my sisters. Unfortunately, it's packed on an international shipping crate waiting for release to Hawaii. So I won't be able to send it back to Melissa until we find a home in Oahu and start unpacking. Oh well!

Congratulations Melissa & Cameron!!!

P.S. If you decide to honeymoon in Hawaii, I know a place you can stay! ;)

An American

I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July weekend! Here's something I received from Trenton's aunt and thought it was worth posting this weekend... God bless America!


To Kill an American, written by an Australian Dentist

You probably missed this in the rush of news, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper, an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.

So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is . So they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)

'An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish , Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.

An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.

An American is Christian , or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan . The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.

An American is also free to believe in no religion...... For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world.
The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence , which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return..........


When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!


As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan ...
The national symbol of America , The Statue of Liberty , welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America


Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11 , 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo , and Stalin , and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself . Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

Colorado! (Segundo vez!)

Last weekend Trent had a 4-day weekend so we took advantage of it and drove up to Aurora, Colorado to spend time with the McLean family! We finally got to meet the newest addition to the family, our beautiful niece and god-daughter Evelyn Clare McLean! We had an awesome time with Alex, Eva, Mike, and Genevieve. I wish we lived closer so we could see each other more often. It will be a real bummer when we move in October :( But I'm excited we have one more trip planner before then. Alex is adorable as ever! Such a sweetheart! Thank you for your hospitality guys! We miss you!!!

2nd Anniversary!

Today Trenton and I are celebrating our 2nd Anniversary! I feel so blessed to have such a loving and supportive husband to share life's journeys with. He always knows how to make me laugh, lift me up, and challenge me to my fullest potential. The two of us met in freshman biology 10 years ago! I sat right behind him in class and I can remember staring at the back of his football jersey reading the name "UPDIKE" without a clue that someday that name would be mine. It's amazing to look back on how our friendship has grown and how much we have accomplished together. I thank God for blessing me so early with a love of a lifetime.

June 9th, 2007

UPT Graduation- April 24th, 2009

It's official, Trent has wings! Trent has graduated from the Undergraduate Pilot Training Program and is officially a pilot in the United States Air Force! We had a great weekend with our family as we celebrated this milestone. This is something Trent has wanted his entire life. Since he was a little boy he dreamed of flying. We built model airplanes, joined aviation clubs in highschool, and worked hard to earn an appointment to the Air Force Academy. Once at the Academy he studied Systems Engineering with an emphasis on Aerospace and continued his passion for flight through participation in model engineering clubs and flying the Cessna 172. He passed rigorous (and ridiculous!) medical clearance requirements and finally earned his pilot slot prior to graduation in 2007. During his time here at Laughlin AFB, Trent has flown two aircrafts and completed the following performance and education requirements:

• 200 hours flying (T-1 and T-6)


• 60 hours simulator instruction


• 500 classroom hours studying subjects like instrument flight procedures, aerodynamics, aircraft systems, and weather.


• All within 52 weeks!
  
  Trent receiving his wings from Colonel Doucette: On the screen behind him is a picture of the plane Trent will be flying. The C-17!

Trent receiving an award for Academic Excellence from Colonel Beineke: Out of 690 examination questions for this program Trent missed a total of 11! All 11 questions were missed during the 1st phase of training. During the second phase of training Trent did not miss a single examination question. Way to go!
Pinning his wings on the flightline:

The married couples from his flight:

A few Family Photos:


The guys checking out the cockpit og the T-6: At the graduation banquet:

I'm so proud of you Honey!

D-day and Drop Night!

Friday April 10th was Drop Night for Trent's flight. Drop Night is when everyone gathers at the officers' club to see what the graduates 1st pilot assignments will be. Here's how it works: There's a slideshow. Each guy stands in front of the room one at a time and is pretty much roasted. They make fun of the stupid things you said, the stupid things you've done, or the reputation you've developed while at pilot training. Then the next slide that pops up is the aircraft you will be flying. The slide after that is the location you will be flying that aircraft.


Trent and I were really nervous going into this night. Then came Trent's turn. They made some jokes, we laughed then the announcer said. "Let's see where your superior skills and knowledge will take you next...

C-17s to Hickam AFB, Hawaii!"

I was very fortunate to have our friends Jon and Alicia with me to help take pictures because I froze with shock! This is an extremely rare drop. Very occassionally someone will receive this assignment. This month, from all the pilot training bases, there are only two guys in the air force graduating who have received this assignment. Trent is one of them. Students graduate from pilot training every 3 weeks here and in the whole year Trent and I have seen this assigment made only two times! So now, maybe you understand our surprise!

We feel extremely fortunate and this would not be possible without Trent's hardwork and God's guidance. This was his 1st choice of aircraft and his 1st choice of location. We could not ask for more. Thank you for all your prayers and support this year. I can't wait to see Trent get his wings pinned on next week.

Here are some pictures from the day. The wives went out for a spa day before the big night to help ease the stress ! I will have to get more pictures of Trent's actual drop since I froze up. Sorry Honey.... :)














Getting the spa treatment with the wives...

Getting a little nervous...




















Jon & Alicia

The guys... The drop...














So happy