Earning His Wings

Get one's wings 1. : to officially become a pilot : to receive the license that allows one to fly an airplane.  2. : to gain experience in something. - Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary

 Before we went to Europe, we set the date for a party -Nov. 11- to celebrate Jeremy's 30th birthday and getting his pilot's license. Although his checkride, scheduled for October, got cancelled we still went ahead with the party because we had family coming from out of state for the occasion. 

This license has been a long time in coming. It's been his dream for years to fly. With a couple false starts and some delays along the way (looking at you, COVID!), it's taken several years to actually get to this point. 

As soon as we got home from Switzerland, it was time to get down to business on planning the party. Buying decorations, planning the menu, putting together a slide show... Originally we were planning to host it at our house, but we got a whopping 98% response from invited guests and had to move it to the church fellowship hall to accommodate everyone who wanted to help celebrate his success. 

While we ladies were busy setting up that Saturday morning, Jeremy flew over the church. I was distracted with decorating and almost forgot he was coming -till I got a text "we're over you now". We all rushed outside to wave while they circled overhead.

My youngest brother & his daughter were Jeremy's 1st passengers. 

The cake wasn't exactly the way I ordered it... what part of "prominent plane, small golf course" did the decorator not understand? Somehow "small plane, not a jet" got lost in translation as well. Oh well, it tasted good so that's what counts. 

In-flight food. We served burgers because that is what he likes. Richard was scrambling at the grill to keep up. Next time we know to start earlier.  

Complimentary beverages

Baggage Drop Off

We had right around 150 RSVPs and they all showed up. 

He didn't care about gifts, but people were generous anyway.  

I haven't spent much time thinking about the fact that I have a 30 yr old. Say what?! Wasn't it me that was 30 about 5 years ago? Let's just ignore the 30 part and focus on the pilot part. I always believed he could do it. This is the life I was begging God for in the dark days of his disability. If you are going through your own dark season, hang tightly to that tiny glimmer of hope for the future. Jeremiah 29:11 might be overused, but that doesn't make it less true- "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

 

The sky, quite literally, is the limit now. Congratulations, Jeremy!