Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Dukes...one year later!

Well, it's been an ENTIRE year since I posted last so I thought now was as good a time as any! :)

A LOT has happened since my last post so I will try to hit the high points and then talk about the most recent developments.

Summer finally did hit us northern Oklahoma last year, but we decided to head west to see the season in all it's glory in California. Dustin had a break in pilot training in June so we took advantage of the time and went hiking in Yosemite. It was an amazing trip! We flew into San Diego, rented a car, and headed north (the road trip was part of the plan)! The highlight of the trip was hiking up to Half Dome. It was an awesome, awe-inspiring, blister-inducing, trek that I will NEVER forget!

We had lots of adventures last summer and had a great time, but I must say that the highlight of the entire year happened on Saturday, August 22nd. I was in Minnesota visiting my bestie, Adrienne and her family. I started feeling a little...um, different...and she talked me into taking a pregnancy test. Dustin and I had been praying for a baby to add to our family for a couple of months, so I was excited but trying not to get my hopes up too high. Well, lo and behold, the test was positive!!! :) I certainly couldn't wait to get home to tell Dustin about it, so I'm afraid I had to tell him over the phone! It was a very exciting trip to say the least and me and Dustin's reunion was all the sweeter when I got home. <3

Another big milestone, not only of 2009, but our entire lives was Dustin graduating from Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training and receiving his assignment! After nearly a year of the rigorous program, he got his wings on December 18th, 2009 at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. What a momentous day! Not only did he get his wings, he also received several prestigious awards including Academic Excellence Award, the Flying Training Award, Distinguished Graduate and the AETC Commander's Trophy! I am so proud of my wonderful husband, he just blows me away!! As for the assignment, we found out that he will be stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to train on the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber. This is yet another extremely esteemed event as only one student per year is chosen to fly this plane directly out of pilot training...what a stud!! :)

Not long after graduation we made a temporary move to San Antonio, TX, where we have been since January. Dustin had some more training to attend to, so we have been living it up near Randolph Air Force Base and enjoying being in South Texas. The official countdown to the arrival of our first born has begun as well. My due date is April 30th, that puts us at only about 17 days away! I am planning to deliver at Wilford Hall Medical Center located across town at Lackland Air Force Base. My pregnancy has gone very well so far and Lord-willing the labor and delivery will go without a hitch as well.

Dustin is scheduled to finish his training here in Texas on May 3rd, so depending on how the weather holds up and when the baby shows up...we will be heading back to Oklahoma in early to mid-May. We will only be there for a few months before it's time to pack up and make our permanent move to Missouri in July. We look forward to this next transition and covet your prayers during this time!