These past two weeks I had a TDY (temporary duty) to Aviano Air Base, Italy for some flying there. Aviano was my first operational assignment in the Air Force, is where Lana and I met, and where we were married. Needless to say we have great memories of Italy. We drove to Italy so I could take the family along and enjoy some of the scenery along the way. On the way down we stopped half way in Lucern, Switzerland and on the way back in the German town of Lindau on Lake Bodensee.
It was good to fly at Aviano again and it felt just like yesterday I was a Lieutenant again flying around as a young wingman...it was almost seven years ago that I flew to Italy for my first assignment! We visited many of our favorite restaurants and sites, especially those that had to do with our wedding and reception. We were married in Sacile and had our reception at a small cafe in Gorgazzo. Here's to five years of marriage and two great kids...God is good!
We had a few great days of weather and took advantage of it by taking a trip up the mountain to Picancavallo and to Lake Barcis. Praise God for His amazing creation!
We're now back in cold Germany, which is having record low temps for the month of March. Lilli is getting huge and will start walking any day now, and Liam is eager to get back to Kindergarten (German preschool). Lana and I are thankful for our kids and for this Easter time to celebrate Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, and ultimate victory over death for those who believe in Him!
Isaiah 53:5 - "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."
In late February / early March, the family and I were able to take a trip back to the USA to see my family and catch up with friends...flying Lufthansa business class is such a huge blessing! It had been a long time since we were all together and will be the last for awhile. Lana and I are in Germany, my sister and brother-in-law are going to the mission field in Africa, and my youngest brother will be off to Air Force pilot training sometime in 2014. We were able to take a nice family picture all together for the first time in a couple years...good memories.
We split our time between Michigan and Ohio where my side of the family now lives. Ideally, Spring Break took place so most had more time off. Also, Lilli and her cousin Rayna's birthdays are only a few day apart which worked out well for a combined 1st birthday party...wow, time flies! I'm thankful God gave me the family I have and for the time together. We're going to see some of them again later this fall here in Europe, and hopefully more next spring / summer.
In Ohio, Liam and I along with some of my other family (mostly the guys) spent a morning at the Air Force Museum. Liam loved it and was super excited about all the "jets" he was seeing. All the jets seemed to be "Papa's jet". It's so cool to see Liam grow into a young little man and enjoy time with his cousin Seth. The last two pictures below are from the Vietnam era, but we still wear the same patch (4th picture down) and have the same saying of "First In, Last Out" (5th picture) in my current squadron. We fly the same Wild Weasel mission they did of "hunting" surface-to-air missile sites (SAMs).
