Updates

Kirsten e-mailed this to us on 1.11.11

So, I finished my MQT (Mission Qualification Training) today and I fly my first student ride tomorrow. Kind of exciting, but at the same time I'm super apprehensive since I'm now instructing a foreign student, in a foreign country, in an aircraft that I have maybe a total of 15 hours in and a total of 5 hours flying in the local area. So yea, that's "exciting." I'll let you know how it went tomorrow night. Love and miss you all,
Kirsten

Tessa can't wait for you to get your computer fixed so that we can iChat/Skype. Here are some fun pics we took tonight.

Snow Play 2011

Hi Kirsten,

Thanks for sharing the pictures of your fish fry! Looked like fun. The fish looked real meaty. How were they? I wanted to share a couple of pictures from our fun in the snow yesterday. Couldn't get to work with all the snow and now ice today. Miss you and pray for your success and safe return. I'll be walking to Stammtisch tonight - guess where????

Songs that Inspire

I told Kirsten to remember the words of Rodney Atkins (it's a country song)

If you're going through hell
Keep on going, don't slow down
If you're scared, don't show it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you're there.

This was her response:

Personally Im partial to the White Snake "Here I go again on my own" song. (this was our theme song in High School - we had to listen to it before every softball game)

Here's what she said when I asked if it was difficult as she had imagined:

It's actually not hard at all. I like feeling operational. Like I'm making a difference. And I think for the first time I'm making a difference as a pilot in the Air Force AND as a woman. Even if don't fly with a single Iraqi woman, just having the men see a female pilot, maybe I'll change the mind or convince ONE male that women can be considered equal in many ways, and that he'll grow up and teach his children that. He can say "I learned how to fly from a female instructor pilot" and maybe his little girls will be able to dream about flying one day as well. And maybe that same Iraqi student turns out to be one of the leaders in the Iraqi Air Force and because of what we've done here, building a realtionship with the Iraqi's he'll teach his young soldiers that the American's are a friendly force, that he had a great experience flying with them in pilot training. And who knows, maybe he will be that Iraqi general who takes the big step and allows women in the Air force. Maybe it wont' happen in our generation, maybe it won't in the next, but I think because of what we're doing here, that it will have a profound effect in the long run. So to answer your question, no it's not hard at all. (give me 4 months of flying 2 times a day every day for 6 days a week and maybe I'll be singing a different tune.)

Love you!
Kirsten

Happy Birthday....two days late!

Kiri, Fred and I want to send you belated birthday hugs and kisses and wish you as good a tour as possible. I still find it so unbelievable that you're there, but I know you will be the shining example to all with your grace, good humor, and smarts. You'll have those pilots so smitten they won't know what to do!
I'm not sure still what I'm giving up for your 179 days. I loved Andrea's decision. It will benefit not only her, but her whole family. I wish I could say I'll give up carbs, but that just ain't happenin' nor wine for that matter. I wish I could say I'll lose 179 pounds, but then I wouldn't be here anymore. I would love to say I'll be sweet and non-bitchy for 179 days, but that is just not human....
So I decided, since our love of dog rescue is one of our tightest connections, I will give $179 to a dog rescue group. Maybe it will help save another Atticus, Finch, Simon, Trixie, Cosi, Cleo, Sassafras or Dixie. I will sign off with a great big slobbery lick, SLURP!
Mom #2

It's all about me -- well, not really...

First and foremost, I want to thank Kirsten and her fellow soldiers for the sacrifices they make for our country each and every day. In our hearts, we are all very appreciative. And if we make light of the situation, know that making jokes is only to help us cope with how much we worry about you.

When I heard about the mini-sacrifices that family and friends were going to make each day in honor of Kirsten's deployment, I was immediately hooked and wanted to participate. My biggest struggle was deciding what to do. Marion gave up margaritas, Randy is doing an increasing number of push-ups each day.... What will it be for me?

I toyed with the idea of not saying bad words, but then I realized that would be too damn easy. I mean, I'm a mom, I'm pretty good at that anyway, just need to be better around adults.

Next I thought about giving up my wine, but then after a few particular moments over the winter holidays, I realized that might turn into child abuse charges, so I passed that over.

I finally realized that a major gift that our freedoms award us, is to have such a grand lifestyle, that we clutter it up running a thousand different directions trying to do too many things, many of which aren't that important anyway.

So, I have decided to "honor" Kirsten (and her fellow soldiers) by taking 30 minutes each day to slow down and really appreciate the day that has been given to me. So far, I have appreciated quiet time to:

1) play games with my children - uninterrupted and relaxed, not rushing to finish to get back to what I was doing

2) sit and read a book for pleasure during the middle of the day - instead of 3 pages as I collapse in bed at the end of the day

3) I've (re)started doing Pilates

4) reconnected with an out-of-town friend that I don't talk to often enough

5) spend time writing on my book

Thanks Kirsten - and Happy Belated Birthday!

Computer

Kirsten is doing well. We got to talk to her today and wish her Happy Birthday. She is able to receive e-mails to her hotmail account (kirsten_ellis@hotmail.com) on her work computers, but she is currently experiencing computer difficulties. She will have limited access to facebook, blogs, etc. for a couple of weeks. She will probably be able to borrow some elses personal computer to check a couple of things out.

We miss you, Happy Birthday!

Safe Arrival

12.31.10

Hey..
I'm currently in Baghdad, spent the night here and leaving this morning for Kirkuk on another C-130. The flight here was uneventful and I haven't really slept well since leaving Atlanta, but mostky because when you sleep in tents you hear everything. That and rude tent mates turn on lights at all hours of the night for no reason at all. It rained hard all night last night which also isn't easy to sleep through in a tent. I'm looking forward to getting up to Kirkuk and getting settled in. I'll let you know more when I get there. Gotta roll, love you all.
Kirsten


Kirsten was able to call us yesterday and inform us that she has safely arrived in Kirkuk. She said that her entire Unit was there to greet her off the plane and were very welcoming (probably because she is one of the few/only female instructors). They helped her carry her stuff to her "pod". She said the pods are really small trailers that are divided in the middle with a shared bathroom. She said it was rainy and she had already celebrated New Years playing Halo. They are eight hours ahead of us (Eastern time zone). They are giving her a few days to settle in, and then the real work begins. She met the Iraqi commander and spoke a little Arabic to him.

Anyway, she is doing well and eager to start her mission. Will update as soon as I hear more.

Sarah