A Pilots Life For Me: November 2005

Once In Every Life

This title really doesn't mirror what I feel inside or what I am actually planning on writing about. You know it might be a fitting title I guess we wont know until I am done.

I went home for Thanksgiving that's Salisbury, Maryland to you. The flight was out of Minneapolis the only major hub we have up here. I had a nice five hour drive to MSP, the great thing is that I have friend down there. The two of us went out to Perkins because ironically enough they are one of the only dining establishment open after 12am. I didn't get much sleep that night because I was talking to Ryan. We don't talk on the phone at all so whenever I see him we catch up. I had to wake up pretty early to make my flight and I still only made it there 45 minutes before it departed. The consequence of my actions came back to haunt me.

As I stood before one of the new super cool high tech self check in counters my mistake became apparent. The new system lets you choose your seat, well it didn't give me a choice and my seat number was in the 30's. It turns out that the back of my seat was in direct contact with the..yep you guessed it, the bathroom. The one upside to having to endure those rather noxious fumes was that I met a fan of Jane Austin, Charles Dickens and even my friend Alexandre Dumas. It's rare to meet someone out of the blue who even knows who the heck these people are. Anyways it passed the time until I got home. Home.....is there anything as sweet.

After five hours and a smoothie in the Chicago airport I had made it home. They say home is where the heart is and my heart is certainly in Maryland. It was the best homecoming I have ever had. I surprised two women I care for very much and one I care for most of all; she knows who she is (Yes its you). The weird thing was that we were both wearing brown sweaters completely unplanned; I mean they looked a lot alike. The ride home was great and I got to spend my first few hours home with the person I most wanted to see. It was really wonderful. We went to lunch at RED, HOT AND BLUE a little barbecue place, enough said.

The weekend is to long to relate at least right now maybe tomorrow I will feel up to it. To say the least I made it back on icy and snow swept roads to sleepy little Super Forks. I didn't get in until 7pm, I was then called to work and after that I had a hockey game. So I was pretty beat Tuesday night and this morning. Traveling is really great with other people, well I guess it was great to have some time to think. I always do my thinking while I drive, just letting the music flow through me and letting my mind find a place of peace.

My heart is still turned homeward, always homeward and as the song "Homeward Bound" says "Home where my thoughts keep going, home where my love lies waiting silently for me". I will be traveling home soon to see if my heart will keep staying behind, left in a place that I love.

Snowy Road with Snow Diamonds

Winter Blues and Diamond Drops

The season is upon us here in North Dakota. We have been waiting, knowing that it would inevitably come. Winter is finally upon us after a month and a half of Fall; a record from our normal week of Fall. Every year at the end of summer when the temperatures begin to wane and the first frost settles on the trees, our Fall has come. At the end of the week all the leaves have turned there various colored shades and they have begun to shed there summer plumage, for cold naked forms standing bear in the cold North Dakota wind. Like old men weathered by years at sea these familiar forms stand stoically out my window, the old fir tree alone still bears it's evergreen cloak.

I have been very thankful for the warm weather that has stayed above thirty two degrees and I know many others are to. It is a rare occasion when one is able to walk outside in a light jacket or sweater and still be warm in mid November. We have been fortunate to be blessed with such fine weather, but now our winter has returned like a faithful friend from a short journey. We have seen her to often to not be fond of her. As I watch new students trek to school, buried deep beneath there coats, gloves and thick hats, I can't help but remember my first winter here. It's funny how they complain and bundle up so on a mild winter night. When I come in from the cold, stomping my feet outside the door before I enter my house, I can't help but smile, letting the warmth of the house steal over me; but more is effected, I feel it spread over my heart and soul making them glow with inner happiness.

A tear comes to my eye even as I write. There is so much joy to be found in God's creation, in the natural beauty of nature and in the beauty of our friendships and the people we love. When the two come together how can we, simple people of North Dakota complain when we have been blessed with hearth, home and family. Little snow drops have been falling all day, each one looking like a little shiny diamond. How highly do we value diamonds, but how much more precious are the loved ones that God puts in our lives. How much more should we value them and prize them above anything else and treasure them as gifts from God. When I see a snow diamond I don't see a bit of frozen water I see someone that I love. All day little bits of heaven have been falling, reminding me of all those I care about wherever they might be. So please remember those you love this holiday season and don't forget to tell them how much they mean to you. Have a wonderful holiday season and I hope with all my heart that God will bless you, as you share with all the people you love this winter season.

November a Happy month!

It is very interesting to observe how Christmas music makes you feel. I was looking forward to Christmas but I had not given it to much thought. And then just the other day I was at work and I caught myself singing "Silent Night" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem". And now I can't stop talking about Christmas everywhere I go. Just the other day I went to an Intervarsity leadership meeting and I was wearing a red sweater. Doesn't sound to unusual does it, well the whole evening I was ripped on about Christmas. Well I might have mentioned that I started my Christmas shopping but hey that's no reason to get down on a guy.

Today since I am still in the mood I went online and found the lyrics to some of my most favorite Christmas songs. I hit the jackpot and found some of the greatest songs ever written! Here are a few of my favorites: "Away in the Manger", "O Come, O Come Emanuel", "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "While Shepherds Watched there Flocks by Night". Don't you just love the classics hymns; they remind me of my childhood Christmas's. There are some really great new ones that I love but that is for another time. The season is still upon us and I have few weeks until come home for Christmas.