9/11

9/11 is a very important day in my life. It led me on an unanticipated vector that was dramatically different than what I had originally anticipated. Like many students who go through the military's Health Professions Scholarship Program, I thought I would serve my obligation and move on to the next step as a civilian practitioner. Little did I know that my career would be so influenced by events that happened seven years after my original commission.

We talked about the "Great Commission" in Bible study last night at the University United Methodist Church. I have been attending that church regularly now. Matthew talks about how Jesus commissioned his disciples to go out into the world. I was struck by the parallel in the way that we, as military officers, are also commissioned in the U.S. to defend the Constitution. By no means do I want to imply that the U.S. has a religious mandate in its current course; if anything, I am simply pointing out the very powerful conviction and commitment that we must feel when we become officers - whether it is as a disciple, a chief executive, a policeman, or a military officer - and the strong sense of responsibility we must feel to carry out our respective charges.

My Air Force commission means much more now than it has ever meant before. I have been blessed with relative safety and supportive family and friends during my different deployments, particularly Tabitha who has been there from the beginning of my active duty career. These operational tours have expanded my understanding of the way in which we can project our awesome power into the world and given me an additional appreaciation for what we can achieve as a country. I have tried to live out my faith and stay true to my self in this context. The core values of the Air Force have been particularly important to me: Integrity, Excellence, and Service before Self. Each of them are guides in how I strive to be a good officer, husband, and father.

I can only hope and pray that our nation will find ways that we can achieve peace and prosperity in this current global conflict. My own assessment is that we are not using all of the instruments of power that are available to us. The military is an important component of our nation's arsenal but it certainly is not, by any means, our only one. A good mentor of mine expressed his hope that we, as a nation, might, at some point, again achieve greatness in the eyes of the rest of the world - a state where others look at us and express their heartfelt awe that the U.S. is a great country and a nation they would like to visit and emulate. This position should not be a goal, in and of itself, but it should be a product of our own ability to once again assert ourselves both domestically and overseas as an arbiter of freedom, hope, and prosperity.

I have been fortunate enough to witness that vision during many of my trips overseas before and since 9/11. The U.S. was highly respected in Germany when I was there back in 1988. Bush took over from Reagan and continued the active engagement in Europe with the Soviet Union. Nobody would deny that American tenacity across multiple administrations during the Cold War ultimately led to the downfall of that political entity. The outcome was truly great with independent political constructs that were now free to pursue their own destinies. When we visited Kophi Sophi, a small town outside of Bagram Air Base, in 2002 on a humanitarian mission or did other medical trips in Ghana in 2006, I have seen firsthand what is naturally desired of most any person, regardless of their national affiliation or religious background; they want their children to grow up in a safe, healthy environment so they can pursue opportunities to lead productive lives. A parent or older sibling who brings a baby into these clinics is searching for these things and believes that we, as representatives of the U.S., can help them achieve these great goals. The perpetrators of 9/11 had other vicious reasons to prosecute their terrorist actions which continue to vex me, chiefly because their actions essentially brought additional hardship onto themselves and their own loved ones that are counter to these ideals of hope and love. Their cause is one of persecution, hate, and self-loathing and I can only conclude that our own cause is ultimately great and just and that we will prevail with discipline, perseverance, and a desire to choose the higher path to higher ground.

Moon Up Sky

On their way to daycare today, Natalie said her first sentence: "Moon Up Sky." The moon was apparently still fairly prominent in the morning sky and she connected those words to make her observation. When Tabitha and I first met in San Antonio, one of our first dates was on a Blue Moon so we have always held a special place for the moon in our correspondences.

Backyard Days on a Patchwork Quilt

This picture is from last summer after we had first arrived in Ann Arbor. I'm now in Texas, away from the family, and really miss them. It's days like this when you can hang out in the back yard and just be that are probably some of the most rewarding. I wish I could be there right now.

Tabitha and Natalie are coming to visit next week so it'll be nice for us to be together for even a little while.

The multi-colored patchwork quilt is from Grandma Garber, Tabitha's maternal grandmother. I guess there are other quilts that Tabitha had wished that we could have received for our engagement/wedding but we got this one instead. Over the years, the quilt has grown on me and, in a way, best represents what a quilt is supposed to be. Fancy quilts are oftentimes the result of people going out and buying specific cloth and patterns. "Old school" patchwork quilts like this one are what they are; a patch of different colors, patterns, and material that somehow come together to make a whole. I've heard some people describe the U.S. as more of a patchwork than a melting pot. This statement may be true but each of the patches still needs the others to make a quilt together. A patch alone is not a quilt and if even one patch is missing, the quilt is not whole either.

That's Rehtse and Winslow in the background. They are obviously enjoying the backyard too. I'm not sure they appreciate the quilt as much as finding something that is nasty and smelly that they can roll in.

Clapping Hands

I have typically gravitated towards the more traditional worship services on Sunday because that's generally how I grew up but I have occasionally gone to the more lively "hand clapping" services. This morning I went to Alamo Heights United Methodist Church for their more upbeat service and really enjoyed it. They had a visiting band from San Antonio called Abandon. They were very talented and really inspired the congregation. The sermon was about Ruth under the series of "Girl Power - Women of the Old Testament." I was kind of hoping that it would be about Tabitha but it wasn't. Ruth followed Naomi, her mother-in-law, wherever she went to demonstrate her love and commitment. The main points made by the preacher were that Ruth and God's love is undeserved, steadfast, and complete. It was a great service overall. I then went to a couple cafes at the Quarry and ate my packed lunch while I studied for FP boards.

Tabitha and Natalie spent the day with Mom. Apparently Natalie did very well at church and otherwise had a good day. I got a call from Dad today as well. He just completed his flyfishing class so he's going to be hanging out up in Traverse City until Mom finds him up there in a couple days after she has completed dogsitting duties.

Edison's Laboratory

This picture is from a few Saturdays ago when Todd and Alicia came to visit in Ann Arbor. Todd and I took Evan and Natalie to Greenfield Village. Evan got to see Thomas the Train but we also toured around the rest of this incredible open air museum. Henry Ford had incredible vision so many years ago to start collecting these important artifacts from American history. One of the particularly impressive buildings is the Edison laboratory and workshop. This picture is from that visit.

I really miss my family right now. I talked to Tabitha a couple times today. I particularly thought of her today when I was inprocessing and was told by the second-year RAM's that we would have some roll calls and other get-togethers like the fighter pilot community. I remembered how she had played crud with the other Hawkettes at Spangdahlem. I am so proud of the way she had integrated into the squadron and represented their team. The first time the wives figured out that she was pregnant was when she didn't play crud for the spring wives' Crud Tournament. Basically when they figured that out, we had been outed to the entire base community that Natalie was on her way!

City of Love

Natalie had trouble going to sleep tonight. Tabitha called me on my cell phone so that I could say goodnight to her. Tabitha put her back down and then heard her crying again. She had climbed out of her crib. Sooo... tomorrow she will have to look for a gate to convert the crib to a big girl bed.

I arrived in San Antonio this evening and configured my room and new accomodations. I also met Matt and Chris, the new roommates. They were very welcoming and kind. We had a nice dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant.

This year will be very difficult and I am not looking forward to living apart from the family. We will hopefully receive our schedule soon so that we can start planning on when I can come back to Michigan for a visit or when Tabitha and Natalie can come down to visit me.

Digging up earth

We dug up some soil today from the old flower bed and placed it into the new flower bed that is next to the deck. It looks great. I had worked earlier today on the border by putting 12 inch spkes in the lumber to hold them in place.

I always enjoy working outside with my wife. I think she feels like she is getting back to her roots when she does yardwork. Hopefully, if all goes well tomorow, we'll be laying down some sod to cover up the exposed areas. We also bid on a Little Tikes outdoor playset on Craigslist so maybe we'll have two big events for the backyard tomorrow!

Fine Glasses

My birthday celebration was great. Tabitha cooked up a great meal of fajitas. Her parents and Brenda joined us as well. Before the meal, she had asked that I go downstairs into the basement and find the glasses that I had received from my mom. My great-grandmother had some old antique glasses that were passed on to my mother for distribution. We had received an e-mail a few months ago that anyone could have them. We volunteered. So Tabitha fixed individualized fruit parfait for birthday dessert for each person to enjoy. There is something special about eating out of old antique-ware.

First Post

I have wanted to blog ever since I first heard about blogging and thought that my birthday would be an appropriate starting point. The title of this blog is based on Earth Day and the fact that I was born on the third anniversary of this event. I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts so that others who I know and love will be able to share their thoughts with me as well.