A week at a smallboat station

Watch out...we're armed and dangerous!!
Here for your protection!!

So, last I updated this I was returning from an amazing time in Washington DC... This past week I spent my days at a Coast Guard smallboat station riding along with the crew on their daily patrols and various other jobs upon the sea. It was quite a week. I enjoyed riding along in a fast, zippy little 25 foot boat while the crew re-vamped their patrol routes and such in the navigator equipment on board. I also was given the opportunity to ride along in a 41foot boat on another crew's daily patrol. During this patrol the crew showed me how to pivot the boat off the dock and let me take her out and follow the track. Ever had lightly battered, fried pickle slices?? Yummy!!
Finally on Friday I was unable to carry on and requested to leave work early to go home and sleep the rest of the day. Arriving home around 8:30am, I was in bed by 9 and slept till noon, then another three hours in the afternoon.. Guess I picked something up while I was in D.C. and had never quite gotten my feet back under me to fight it off. Feeling much better after a lot of good sleep.

Looking forward to finding yet another church to visit tomorrow and worshipping with a body of believers. It has been a challenge not having a regular body of believers to fellowship with whether in a church or outside of the church. I believe the Lord has answered our prayers though. Recently a friend called and told me about an Officers Christian Fellowship that meets on Tuesday nights. I've been excited about it ever since I found out about it. Anyway, I am planning to go this next Tuesday night. Please keep me in your prayers as I could really use some good Christian fellowship. Thanks..

Hard @ work!! This is the view from where I was working...

Well, this should get you up to date for now. God bless you all.. Keep in touch!!

Presidential Inauguration Adventure...

My house from the outside at night

Hello Friends and Family,

I have been busy and enjoying quite an adventure of late. I reported into my duty station in Pensacola, FL and moved into a nice home with my roommate. Not two weeks after I moved in and began to get settled was I on an airplane headed for Washington D.C. Let me tell you a bit more of the story.

I actually volunteered for this adventure and have not regretted it. Upon learning of the possibility of going DC I quickly informed the appropriate individuals of my interest. I figured that it wouldn't work out because of the lateness of my station recieving the notice needing volunteers. But within days I learned that I was part of a 6 person party that was being sent to D.C. and that's how the whole ordeal began. We flew to DC on the 13th and checked into our hotel there, then reported to the work sight the next morning. I soon found myself gainfully employed as an assistant to the liaison of the whole operation. The liaison is responsible for maintaining contact with our CG liaisons working with the other military and government services that were involved in the operation. It was fun. I went to some interesting places around town to make sure everything was ready for our liaisons to arrive and begin working. I was also part of an escorting/hosting party for VIPs and dignitaries who visited our camp site. I met an Admiral, a General, and a Major General throughout the course of my trip.

My friend Keidi and I
Unlike some crazy pictures that I put on facebook as a bit of a joke, I was not present at the inauguration. I watched it on TV like the rest of you all. Unlike you all, we were standing around waiting and watching to see if something would go wrong, because that would be when we would have gone into action. The whole operation was set up in the event of a breech in security. With groups out patrolling the waters both on and off shore, we were prepared. It was cool being a part of an operation that was working with many other security services. WoW!!! I learned a lot about how the CG works in this capacity. I had studied it some in OCS, but now was able to see what I'd previously only read about in action. I loved being a part of it. In addition to learning a lot about this particular operation, I was also able to make lots of good connections and friends. I visited with many over the course of the two works who gave me many different ideas of what I can do with my CG career..where I can take it..what I can learn..and how and who to talk to. I'm rather excited about these many possibilities. I also met some cool aviators and enjoyed hanging out with them a bit.
Evenings were pretty busy, even after a 10-12 hour work day. I often returned from work to our nice hotel to use the gym facilities that were available to guests. Then head out to dinner with various people that I was working with. This was always a fun time trying new restaurants in the area and getting to know people outside of a work environment. The CG society is quite an interesting one.
After the inauguration we spent a few days cleaning things up and then had a couple free days while waiting for our flight home. This was a nice time that we were able to head into downtown Washington D.C. and see the sights. We walked through various Smithsonian museums, the botanical gardens beside the Capitol building, around the Mall area, as well as downtown. I enjoyed the Air and Space Museum the most I guess.
Finally, time to return back to P'cola and rest up. I was very ready to return home and get some rest. I will start working at a small boat station in Pensacola for this next week while I am still waiting for my training to begin. I won't actually begin classes until the end of April due to a long waiting list. I'm on the list though and my wait isn't as long as others' have been. PTL!!!

I would greatly appreciate your prayers as I continue to look for a local church to attend regularly and for Christian community here. It has been very much a challenge living, working, and hanging with non-believers constantly. I love them, but need spiritual fellowship as well. Thank you all for your prayer support and interest in what the Lord is doing in my life. This time is challenging, but the Lord is good to see me through. I'm thankful for His strength through each new challenge. Love to hear from you all.. Keep in touch.

Pensacola, FL

My house at night!

Finally in Pensacola, FL, moved into a 3-bedroom house with a roommate, and now waiting to start flight training. I don't officially begin the second phase of flight training until the end of April. Yeah seems like a long time, but it's a waiting list and that's just how things go. I was bumped past the first phase of the flight training because I already have flight time & pilot's certifications. Anyway... So in the meantime, I'll be doing various things to keep me occupied. Right now, I am sitting in an airport on my way to Washington D.C. to stand duty at the Presidential Inauguration. I'm not sure what all that will entail at this moment, only that I'll be working for the next 11 days in D.C. Looking forward to this experience and having an opportunity to see a new place, get some work experience and exposure, and travel. Smile.. Kind of exciting!!

My Front Room minus the pics we have put up since this pic!

So, getting to P'cola was a nice drive. I made it as far as Memphis and stayed with some friends of friends who opened their home to me to break up the trip. It wasn't a long trip, but 14 hours in a truck would have been a long day...especially right after New Years Eve the night before. Arrived in Pensacola to find the living arrangements that I had made not to be what I had expected. Surprise surprise.. I shouldn't have been surprised since this is not unusual. I ended up staying in a hotel for the first night and then made arrangements to stay with some friends who already had a house here until I could make other living arrangements. Within a few days I was moving into my own home with a girl I graduated OCS with in December. The Lord provided once again and it's better than I even expected. Smile... PTL!!!
Furniture hunting with friends!

My first day checking into the flight school was good. I have been meeting other Coasties (as we call ourselves) and settling into the area. Familiarizing myself with Pensacola and the surrounding areas. Craigslist has become my good friend as I've found many things through that which are quite useful in the house. PTL!!!

I guess that catches you all up a bit. Keep in touch

Pensacola, FL

Just a quick update.. I arrived safely in Pensacola, FL yesterday January 2nd. My truck was fabulous, carrying all of my personal belongings. Smile... Yes, my parents are excellent packers and with them I was able to fit everything into my truck and not rent a u-haul. PTL!!!

So, now I'm in Florida without a place to live yet, but praying and trusting the Lord to provide even that. I had made arrangements to stay on base, but arrived to find the situation other than what I was led to understand. Either poor communication or simply I didn't understand. Oh well.. that's life I suppose. It has been very unsettling because I'm an organized, planned individual, but the Lord is encouraging and strengthening me even as I sit and update you all.

The drive to Pen. was nice. No problems along the way thankfully. I stayed with a family, some friends of friends, just outside of Memphis, TN. to get me part way the first day. They were a lovely family and we had a great time visiting for the evening before I got up the next day bright and early to be on my way down the road... Smile.. Somehow I managed to sleep through my alarm set for 5:30am, so though not quite as early as planned, at least my body woke me up automatically a lil later.. PTL!!! Drove through some beautiful countryside, cotton fields, woods, the "sticks" really.. It was quite lovely, expect for when I wasn't sure where the next gas station would be and I was beginning to get low.. Smile.. but even that worked out and I found a little expensive gas station. Grin.. The weather here is nice, though a little muggy actually. Not sure what it will be like today since I had heard it was supposed to rain. We'll see.

Well, I had a wonderful Christmas and New Years at home. It was great to get to spend time with friends and family. My family was awesome in helping me get ready to go again and figure out what I might need for my future on my own. Hope that you all had equally lovely holidays this year. Happy New Year!!..

Thanks for staying in touch.. Greatly appreciate all the prayers and friendship. Praying I'll find a place to live soon and that things will smooth out here a bit and I can settle in for a while. Keep me in your prayers continually please.. God bless you all..