March 24th, 2019​-  My partner Brian sent me this pic of a training session when I was in Phoenix.  This is the cockpit I need to conquer to earn my signoff to take AND pass this checkride!  

Bridgewater College wanted to have a speaker come during the month to share about women in aviation.  I was excited to take part especially since I was a BC alumni.  After living in a hotel for the last few months, I walked into the room for dinner and enjoyed a fancy meal.  It was delicious!  My mom came and helped me to set up for the presentation and she got to enjoy the meal with us.  

I was so excited to see Mr. Botkin, Coach Jean Willi, Coach Heishman, Dottie Cook and the Jacobs family.  Thanks to all of you for taking the time to come and see me.  Made me smile from ear to ear.  All of you have invested so much in me and I am grateful.  You have each helped to shape me into the person I am today.  

For those who could not attend, I posted the presentation and powerpoint on my webpage.  It is under Professional Handouts (link across the top or under the more tab) and then scroll down to see the 1st set of handouts highlighted in green.  Here is the link.  cindyferek.weebly.com/professional-info--handouts.html  It is not the same as being there, but will give the info to those who are out of town.  

Tony and I enjoyed the day together and cut firewood with his friend Steve.  We started to tackle that enormous tree that came down last month.  It is challenging and laying on the side of a rather steep hill. 

I woke up to a text coming thru my phone at 6:20 am yesterday and it was from Joel, one of my flying students who passed his instrument checkride in the fall.  His text said, " You're the craziest one woman show on the face of the planet".  Joel said a fella came into his office (which happens to be a truck dealership located in my parents old 7-11 store which I think is a neat connection) and he said to pass that on to Cindy.  
I sent a text back to Joel and said "You must have met Ray Heatwole!"   Joel said he was singing my praises.   I told Joel how much I love Ray, how much respect I have for the man who was my department chair at Turner Ashby and taught me so much through the years.  Ray always said that phrase to me whenever I would see him each day at school and I would always give him a HUGE hug!  I sent Ray a text yesterday and we chatted for a bit and enjoyed the connection we made through Joel.  I asked Joel how they got to talking about me and he said he heard Ray talking with one of his salesmen and he was a baseball coach at TA and put 2 and 2 together.  Thank you Lord for those sweet surprises that you mix into our lives if we are willing to see them.  

My devotion today is Philippians 4:6-8 and I think it is applicable as I try to keep my mind and body focused on the goal while I am at home.  

Verses 4:6-8 Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything.   Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.    And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 

Pray that I can continue to be disciplined with my time.  I get up and read my Bible, study, workout and spend time with Tony when he is home.  It would be very easy to squander my time, but I am thankful for the mental focus I have been able to sustain.  I spend less time pouring over the material to learn it in depth and now I can just refresh the material that I have learned.  I am currently working through a 60 page systems study guide that Bruce gave me several months ago.  I am now ready to go through it and have been doing surprisingly well.  Reminds me of how far I have come and how hard I have worked!  

Thanks for your prayers and support as I await the call to return to training.  I don't know how long I will be home, but I started waking up at 2 am again and flying approaches in my head so it will probably be soon.  That has happened each time before I head back.  I get about a week off and then my brain kicks back into gear in the middle of the night.  Thankfully I usually fall asleep again around 4 am.  

Joey and his family came over last night and I filled out his IACRA (a government form that is not user friendly at all) for his drone pilot certificate.  Told him to complete the online course and I would endorse him while I was home.   Tony and I also met some friends for dinner in Bridgewater so it was a busy day.  

Time to get study and then get ready for church.  We are going bowling with some friends after church so that should be fun and something we have not done for years!  

March 20th, 2019-  I am home studying and preparing for my checkride.   Trying to be diligent and study each day so I am ready for when I get the call.  

Last year, Bridgewater College asked me if I would speak at a convocation and we settled on date in March.  I had no idea at the time what my schedule would be (I still don't!) and thankfully I will be home for the presentation tomorrow evening.  I am excited to speak and talk about my journey from a BC student to flying at Air Wisconsin.  

This morning I am polishing up my presentation and went through some old photos from our cross country bicycle trip.  Sweet memories and here are some pics.  

If you are local, feel free to come to the Boitnott Room on the campus of Bridgewater College tomorrow evening at 7 pm.  

March 15th, 2019  Tony picked me up at Dulles and we headed for home and I love seeing these mountains.  I enjoyed eating at a local Italian restaurant and having something different to eat.  

I was really tired when I got home, but laid awake until after 11 pm.  Tony and I talked with one of my classmates on the way home and he was asked to resign on Tues.   We were stunned and I am still processing it.  My mind was racing since he has been a partner and mentor since day 1.  Breaks my heart and I continue battling the thoughts of whether I will be next.  I have to keep pressing on and reaching for the goal.  I will be forever grateful for all the time and effort he has given me during the last 5 months of training.  

​Tony said, "Let's go for a tandem bike ride yesterday."  We tried riding this bike (belongs to his uncle) 17 years ago and it didn't go so well.  17 years later we decided to give it another try.   Our 1st attempt was a swing and a miss.  I leaned one way and Tony leaned the other and we made it about 2'.  We stopped abruptly and the handlebars were 90 degrees off from center.  We tried again, got on and kept going.  I was laughing so hard my abs hurt.  =) We rode about 5 miles and figured out how to make a 180 degree turn  using both lanes of the back country road and even how to get off together.  I just took my feet off the pedals.  =)  Our ride required a lot of teamwork and doing things in unison.  I told Tony it was like the CRM (crew resource management I am learning in the cockpit.  

The bike is heavy and awkward to get in the truck.   Takes both of us to comfortably lift it up.  We decided to go for a ride and ventured through Orkney Springs and past Bryce resort.  What a nice area!  We talked about going to a concert at the outdoor pavilion this summer.  

I took a break from the books for the last couple of days to rest my brain.  I used the iPad today and flew a couple of flights with the new trainer we have and I like it.  I can practice flying the plane, programming the computer, making my callouts, fly an approach and do everything except land the plane.  Great tool to practice with and we just got it last week.  I sent a text to Brian to make sure I was programming things correctly and he said he gave his 2 weeks notice today and will be flying cargo internationally in the Boeing 777.  Got his type rating and ATP and is gone!  No wonder Air Wis can't keep pilots.  People get trained and they move up quickly.  

What a warm day and I enjoyed working out this afternoon.  Tony got home from work and was exhausted.  He still doesn't have a place to live and the drive back and forth is taking its toll on him.

I enjoyed playing the guitar today and singing the song "Who Am I" by  Casting Crowns.  The truth is that I am the Lord's and I will continue to do His work each day of my life.  Our lives pass my quickly and I want mine to be meaningful. Click here to listen to this great song.  Casting Crowns is going to be at the Shenandoah County Fair this summer and we are going to the concert with Bill and Colleen.  We saw them on our cruise last year and enjoy their music.  

March 13th, 2019-  I am sitting here at the Phoenix terminal and getting ready to board my flight back to Dulles in 45 min. so I thought I would take some time to post for today.  

​I had a low key day yesterday and tried to mentally prepare for my last flight.  I was a little discouraged and try to keep my spirits up.  I enjoyed a walk on the treadmill, a walk outside once the rain stopped and then a final swim in the pool.  I was going to warm up in the hot tub afterwards, but 5 drunk guys drinking lots of beer got in.  No thank you!  I wanted no part of that environment.  

Thank you Joey for sending this cute pic in a text.  Made me smile!  Bill and Colleen have a lab Grace that I love to pet and rub her belly. Made me think of her.  

Yes I have had a little bit of stress this week!  Brian's checkride got bumped back so I took the 9:30 pm shuttle to the flight center.  Chris sent me a text at 8 pm so I went back to the room and closed my eyes and set an alarm.  I knew it was going to be a late night.  Brian passed his checkride and was excited.  He was my Captain and seat support so Chris could go back to the hotel for an early flight.  

My examiner was Jim was very nice.  I was nervous at the takeoff and made a mistake bugging the correct speed on climb out when we retract the flaps.  Complete brain blank and then got on track after that.  Had a good flight and I was pleased.  Steep turns and stalls were good even though I had to work hard because I was still nervous and starting to settle down.  We had an ADC (air data computer) failure because of a blocked pitot tube and we had to switch our screens that have all our information.  My 1st approach I was too high and had to do a go-around....surprise, surprise!  Came around and landed the 2nd time.  He repositioned the sim and I then I had a flaps fail and came in too high and fast again...go-around.  Landed the 2nd time and corrected my mistakes.  It has to be hand flown without autopilot and without any vertical guidance (visual approach- which is the hardest type).   He even complimented me on my crosswind landing and wind correction.  That was nice to hear.  

We repositioned again for another approach and then I flew that approach  in to a landing.  We did a V1 cut (losing an engine on takeoff) and I did well.  We ran the emergency procedures and flew the approach in with one engine.  I was a little shaky on the controls (no auto pilot), but not bad and came in for a landing.  Got off just a bit at the end, but was able to land.  Did the passenger evacuation and we were done.  Long night!  Brian got his paperwork filled out and earned his type rating and ATP.  I look forward to receiving that valuable piece of paper soon!  

We got back to the hotel at 1:45 am and in bed at 2 am.  Woke up at 5 am, shuttle at 6 am, flight at 8 am and then landing at Dulles at 3 pm.  3 hours of ok sleep is not nearly enough!  I feel a long nap on the plane.

Chris and Jim recommended 5 more days of training.  So I will return home and await the phone call again.  I will keep studying each day!  

On the post yesterday, I added a link about the Grackle bird that is out here.  I asked some of the locals and nobody knew what it was so I found in on the internet.  =) 

Thanks for the texts, prayers and encouraging words yesterday.  You all are amazing and have been so good to me.  Time to board my flight!  =) 

March 12th, 2019-  I have been surprised how many folks are following along on this journey with me.  You have read about the highs and lows in my training and everyone knows that I am so honest with others and myself.  

I was on a mountaintop 2 days ago after my best lesson yet and things starting to click and last night threw me straight into the valley.  It was a terrible night.   I was behind the airplane from the 1st approach to landing and things just kept getting worse each time.  What I need more than anything right now is confidence in myself and consistency.  That is a constant battle.  I see glimpses of what I know I can do and then I get rattled after I make a mistake and let that snowball and it feeds more mistakes in the lesson.  So frustrating and I have been working on the glaring weakness in me for a long time.  

​My mind is racing in so many directions this morning and I just need to settle down.  After 6 days of the same breakfast food, I am staying in my room having my quiet time with the Lord and encouraging myself to keep the negative thoughts that have been persistent throughout this journey (that I can't do this and the reality that the company can let me go if they don't want to keep training me).  I know I can do this and I can learn to fly this fast jet.  My instrument knowledge is weak in some areas and the speed of this jet only magnifies those weaknesses.  

I love beautiful pics and need some encouragement so I am posting this pic that I took last year of an eagle that landed on a barn as I drove to the airport.  It was stunning to watch him fly and sit up there majestically as the sun rose behind him.  I want that to be me....flying and soaring high in the sky as a pilot with a type rating, my ATP and serving the Lord thru this calling on my life.  I have a major hurdle to conquer- this checkride.  Please pray for me to know how to overcome my weaknesses and mistakes that I make in the sim and get to the level of proficiency that I must have to continue.  I have the drive and work ethic to accomplish the task.  Things have to start clicking in my mind and body so I can get signed off for this checkride.  My skill level is still below the standard level that is required.  

There is a song by Sidewalk Prophets that I have known for a long time and have been singing it out to the Lord this morning.  Click here to listen to Help Me Find It.  I know the Lord has opened many doors for me throughout this long 5 year journey to get to this point.  I need His help so I can finish this race.  

Another song that I have been singing out today is Keep Making Me by Sidewalk Prophets.  Click here.  I desire for the Lord to be my everything each day.  Living in a hotel tends to strip away all those distractions in life and I have to cling to the source of my strength...Jesus.  I know the Lord has created me for a purpose and I want to fulfill it.  This 5 month journey of flight training has been a huge roller coasters of ups and downs.

Brian has his checkride today at 3 and I will ride in at 6:30 pm so I can fly at 7:30 pm once he is done.  I will fly with the examiner evaluating me, Chris my instructor will be the Captain and seat support and I will do my best. I am not signed off for the checkride so it is just an evaluation and another mock checkride without the oral part.   

So I have the day to pack, workout (it is still raining and storms will pop up later so probably no swimming), get my mind focused and ready to fly tonight and then I fly back at 8 am tomorrow morning direct to Dulles.  I will land at 3 after a 4 hour flight and 3 hour time difference.  Tony is going to pick me up after he gets off from the training academy in DC and it will be good to be home.  Once thing I miss being on the road is the power of a hug and touching those I love.  Sometimes it is good just to give a hug and guess what....you get one back!    I am a big advocate for appropriate touch and I do miss that when I am traveling.  

I will be home for who knows how long.  Chris sends his evaluations in for me each day and then the company comes up with a plan and makes a decision.  We will wait and see what happens.  

Thanks for praying for me and encouraging me.  I want to cross this finish line.  All of us are so worn out from the months of training.  Progress.....I need to just keep chipping away each day and finding out what is the best use of my time when I return home so I can be ready when I go back to training.  

I finally discovered that this bird I have been listening to all week is a Great-Tailed Grackle (what a funny name).  My mom could even hear them over the phone.  They are loud birds!  Check out what they look like and listen to them to by clicking here.  

March 11th, 2019​-  Training last night was amazing!  Had the best day I have had during any part of my training.  I give credit to Chris my instructor who is systematically talking me through an approach and then I can do it.  We reposition the sim and do it again to develop muscle memory and we do it again without prompts.  It felt SO good to see that jet come straight down the centerline and land it each time.  

He failed the flaps so you come in faster, no flaps extended (which we usually do on every landing) and the nose of the plane is higher.   I only did these one time on day 8 and saw the red screen which shows you crashed.  Instructor said "Time is up!  Let's get our stuff and get out of the sim."  No debrief, etc and that is my only experience with a no flap landing.  Last night.....different story.  So thankful for Chris!  I can do it if someone will teach me.  I am trainable and want to learn, but usually I will not get it instinctively.  

We also did some stalls and they were good.   We did V1 cuts (losing an engine on takeoff) and I nailed both of them.  The 2nd one was so good Chris said "I couldn't have done any better myself.  That was perfect."  That was music to my ears.  1st day I got off 70 degrees from the centerline in a matter of seconds.  2nd day I got off 30 degrees and last night, perfect as I held the centerline and climbed out.  You have to use the rudder quickly, the right amount and then the yoke controls the ailerons and rolling movement.  Lots of coordination is required.  We did expedited descents and dropped a lot of altitude in  short period of time using the flight spoilers.  Chris understands the muscle memory I need so we did it several times.  Now I can feel it, see it and do it.   

I have been watching the videos and holding the iPad like the yoke (similar to the steering wheel in your car) and training my eyes and body to correct what I see the plane doing on my instruments.  It has been a HUGE help.  I want my practice each day to translate into success in the sim and that is occurring.  Woo hoo!   

I got to do 2 engine approaches without the autopilot on and enjoyed keeping the jet lined up so I could land and not have to do go-arounds.  Things can go from perfect to really of in just a few seconds because we are flying so fast.  Requires a lot of focus, constant scanning of the eyes, small and constant corrections with the controls and then managing environmental factors such as fog, wind, snow, etc.  We tookoff and landed at Green Bay yesterday so there was blowing snow all over the place.  

Brian had a really hard lesson with so many emergencies/failures thrown at him.  I was pilot monitoring and just trying to keep up.  Chris wanted to challenge him and see what he could do.  Brian is a skilled pilot with previous jet experience.  He will do his LOFT tomorrow which is a practice flight from Chicago to Appleton and then Appleton to Chicago and is a requirement before they send you out to "fly the line."  I get to observe and will be doing my LOFT as soon as my checkride is completed.  

During the post flight debrief Chris was really pleased with the lesson and I was smiling.  Had a great day and I want to keep building on my progress.  He said "You are quite the conundrum of a student.  You nailed the skills that usually give people trouble and then struggle with some of the easier tasks. "  I told him I am a unique individual and have always taken a different path.  For instance, the videos may not help anyone else but they are exactly what I have needed to make this info stick to my brain and body.  When we know our learning style, what works and put forth the effort, we can advocate for ourselves so all parties benefit.  The company gets me to fly the jet (and they need pilots out there working) and I successfully complete my checkride.  

We didn't get picked up from the center until 11:15 pm so it was a late night.  I appreciated the text I got from Chris as I rode the shuttle back to the hotel.  Brian and I are at the Drury Inn and Chris is at the Radisson so we are in different hotels.  Chris said, "I just wanted to reiterate, you had a big day.  I'm proud of you and your progress.  Big smile on my face driving home.  Great job!"   The jolt of adrenaline and confidence was off the chart for me.  I am so thankful to have an instructor who is working as hard as me to get me ready.  What a tremendous day!  

My fitbit quit working when we got to the center so I have no watch, no step tracker, sleep tracker, etc.  So I called the company this morning and they are shipping me a new one.  I use it everyday when I workout, swim, etc. and now I will have to use my phone as a watch.  Also did my laundry this morning and signed up for Drury rewards.  My instructor back home told me to sign up for all the rewards programs because I will be staying in a lot of hotels across the country.  

No videos to review today since the iPad mount would not work last night.  I am going to head to the pool and then study beside the pool in the warm sun.   I will have a training lesson today just like the last 2 days and then a mock checkride tomorrow.  I head home Wed and then will need to return to one of the training centers for more training.  I am getting really close to finishing this segment of the journey.  

March 10th, 2019-  I took a walk yesterday to go find the chopped up cactus I saw laying on the side of the road as my Lyft driver passed it the other day.  I had never seen the core of a cactus and it intrigued me.  It is funny the things that catch our eyes.  I enjoyed a walk outside and even got a surprise call from Nate the instructor who did so much of my flight training.  He is a pilot for Spirit Airlines and just called to check on me.  I have so many people that care for me and I am so thankful for all of you!  

​Had a fantastic day in the sim and I was excitedl.   ​Here are a few pics of the center where we are training.   It is HUGE!  

I made my calls "landing, clear my flight director" and did not include autopilot off because I didn't have it on (it is much harder to fly the jet without the autopilot on).  Brian prompted me and said "Autopilot off."   Chris my instructor chimes in and says "Autopilot has been off.  She hand flew the entire approach."  Brian said "Wow!"  I had a huge smile flash across my face and it made me feel so good.  I was so precise that he thought the computer was flying it.  I need to continue to do that everyday!!  It was a boost for my confidence which is lacking.  

Still making mistakes and I have to clean up places where I get stuck mentally on an approach or an instruction from ATC.   They are significant weaknesses that I have to fix!  Chris is great and is trying hard to help me.  The videos are a big help and I will continue to review them each day and critique my performance and clean it up for the next flight.  Pray for Chris so that he has the needed wisdom for how to teach me.  I have always been a difficult student to teach because I learn slowly and with non-traditional methods.  He cares and is willing to work to help me get whatever concept I am struggling to grasp.  

I know I won't be ready for checkride Tues, but will keep pressing on towards the goal!  I need to keep progressing so the company wants to keep me in the program.  

Brian showed me how to order Jimmy Johns online last night.  I have only had breakfast the last 3 days with a small snack during breaks and was needing a meal at midnight.  That doesn't happen very often!  I am learning how to all kinds of new things.  He has Uber Eats on his phone and orders things all the time.  I am not used to being without a car or unlimited access to food.  

Daylight savings time started today, but not in Arizona so everyone on the east coast is now 3 hours ahead of me.  =)  I had to adjust the settings on my computer and iPad to match my phone which does everything automatically.  

I enjoyed a delightful breakfast with Christy and Mike this morning and they are staying at the hotel after a concert last night.  They noticed me cleaning up the dirty waffle batter cups that people left all over the counter.  The little trash can was 10" away but people leave them all over the place.  So I picked them up and threw them away.  Like I said the other day, you never know who is watching and we are to be a light in this dark world and a blessing to others!  

We talked about my flight training experience and their daughter is interested in possibly learning to fly.  Mike has about 12 hours of flight time, exposure to aviation and we struck up a conversation.  I shared this blog with them and we exchanged numbers.  I have met the most amazing people from all over the country.  What an experience and this blog is a powerful tool that I have shared with others who are interested in flight training and the 5 years it has taken me to get to this point.   Thank you Christy and Mike for reaching out to me this morning and making my day as I am here in a new state and by myself.  You put a smile on my face and I will certainly give you a ring the next time I am in Arizona!  =)

Time to review my videos, workout and head to training.  Brian just sent a text and said "What time is it??"  This time change and our strict training schedule throws an interesting twist in the day.  

Thanks for all the prayers and support from each of you!  I love all of you!  

March 9th, 2019-  The sim in Phoenix is much more sensitive than the one in Ohio and takes some adjustments on my part.  Bruce had given me the heads up so last night was knocking off the rust from not flying for 3.5 weeks and getting a feel for the touchy rudders and controls.  

Brian flew 1st and that was good to help me adjust.  I was like a diesel engine and took a little time get warmed up, but then I started to remember my callouts and responsibilities.  Brian is solid and ready for checkride.  When it was my turn to fly, Chris recorded the 2 hour lesson on his iPad.   I can watch the videos this morning and it is so helpful to see my mistakes and replay the video as many times as possible.  He has never taped a session before and I appreciate his effort and time to make this possible for me.  When I did my National Board Certification for teaching we had to video our lessons and I learned more watching them and reflecting afterwards.  

Chris is a great instructor and I appreciate his feedback.  I actually got to land a few times last night and even put the wheels down on the 1000' mark on the runway which is what we are expected to do every time.  

I also did a few go-arounds because I got off the centerline at the end.  Moving your eyes from the instruments inside the cockpit to the outside as you approach the runway on the last couple of miles is difficult.  We are going to continue working on that today.  Chris was prompting me on control and performance settings, where to look and then I came in and had a good landing.   I was able to tell him ahead of time where I am struggling and then he is able to target those areas so we maximize those precious minutes in the sim.  

I have a lot of ground to cover, but I think watching these videos of the previous day is really going to help me process the info.  I slept in until 7 am this morning since I got to bed at midnight.  Long days for sure.  I am thankful for the breakfast here and I am ready to critique myself on the iPad.  

It is 46 degrees outside this morning so we will see how warm the pool feels later.  Might be a treadmill day and possibly a brief nap this afternoon.  

March 8th, 2019-  I had a great review of the videos Chris and I made in Wisconsin.  I watched them as I walked on the treadmill for an hour and then enjoyed the stability ball for an ab workout while I watched the electrical video once again.   I used the dumbbells for an upper body workout and like the workout room.  

Christina is a former flight student from Virginia who lives out here and she called to meet for lunch around 12:15.  I decided to walk the 7 miles and get some exercise and fresh air.  I asked the guy at the front desk about my route and he said that is a long walk!  Told him I didn't mind the distance since Tony and rode our bicycles across the US.  He gave me a high five and a smile.  I asked if there were sidewalks and was it a safe area.  He said yes, but it is a LONG way!  So off I went ....took a right out of the hotel and kept walking by the palm trees through the industrial area.  There are no food places around so I am thankful for the food at the hotel.  Made it to Arizona State University and the 4 mile mark.  I was seriously considering one of those scooters along the sidewalk and then started seeing them on every street corner.  I figured you had to download an app or something to use them and I could be making progress in the time I would mess with an app.  I started to mix in some jogging because I was going to be late and I hate to be late!  Christina called to check on me and I was 2.2 miles away.  She called about 20 min later and told her I was running and that is when she realized I wasn't in a car, but actually running with my legs to get there!  Too funny....=)

We hung out at Panera Bread and we caught up with each other.  She is recovering from surgery and I was exhausted so we just sat outside as planes flew overhead into the Phoenix airport.  My body and lungs felt great, but my right hip hurt pretty bad during the trek.  I really wish I could get that hip to loosen up.  Been hurting for a long time and it is starting to limit my activity.  I treated myself to a 2 scoop ice cream yesterday.  I figured after 25,000 steps I could enjoy a treat.  

I decided to use Lyft to get back and Brian my partner arrived at the hotel while I was at lunch.  Brian and I ate dinner at the hotel and then studied flash cards and oral prep questions for 3.5 hours until 10 pm.  We finished, I was mentally done and went straight to bed.  

Slept in until 7 am this morning and taking it easy.  Brian and I studied after breakfast this morning for 2.5 hours.  We covered the systems of the plane and I am doing well.  Very pleased with my progress and building my knowledge.  

​We catch the 3:30 shuttle to flight safety, brief with Chris from 4-6 and then in the sim from 6-10 pm.  I haven't flown in 3.5 weeks so I want to have a great day!  

I enjoyed a swim in the heated pool although the air was 63 degrees and down from the 82 degrees 2 days ago.  I know that is pretty rough as we get snow in Virginia.  =)  I took a dip in the jacuzzi to warm up afterwards.  Off to the sim!   

March 7th, 2019-  James 3:13 says If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with humility that comes from wisdom.

I can tell you that I desire to do this everyday.  I don't want to miss out on any day or moment that the Lord has for me to further His kingdom.  We live to serve and honor the Lord with every second of our lives, every breath in our lungs and every word that we speak with our lips.  

Yesterday morning I started in chilly Wisconsin and finished my day reading my iPad (imagine that!) with this scenery.... 

From icicles to palm trees...Wow!  Thank you Lord.  The warm air, heated outdoor pool and clear skies is so refreshing to my spirit, mind and body.  I have off all day today and forced myself to stay in bed until 5:30 am.  I was yawning at 6 pm last night and we have simulator time until 10 pm.  I need to be alert!  

Flying to Denver was beautiful and I loved looking out the window.   A 77 year old lady named Toni sat next to me and was going to Vail to ski with her son.  My kind of lady!  We talked a lot and she was so nice and very intrigued with my flying.  I was telling her what was happening with the de-icing and showing her the pics in my study notebook that was on my lap for the 2.5 hour flight.  The lady in front of me kept turning her head so she could listen too.  Once we were in the air, Toni was snoozing so I studied my oral prep notes.  Checkride is coming!  

There is a hunger growing in me by the day to fly this jet!  I am exited and ready to fly it.   I have studied and worked so hard for the last 5 months and now is the time.  

When we landed in Denver, I knew it would be a tight turn because we had to de-ice and that chewed precious minutes out of my hour layover.  Once I got my bag, I tried to find my way down 33 gates for my next flight.  While I was on the elevator, a lady sitting in the row ahead of Toni and to her left said "Congratulations and keep up the good work!"  She was also listening to me talk on the plane.   Just like life, you never know who is watching or listening so make what you say and do have a meaning and purpose!  

I hustled down to the gate and decided to wait until I got to my gate for a restroom break just in case I was running late.  Good choice because I saw them boarding for my flight and I got in line.  Only 3 people got on the plane after me.  That was close!  I put my bag at the end of the ramp to be "gate checked" because I knew there was NO WAY my bag would fit in the overhead bins of the 737 as one of the last people to board.  The plane must have been 90 degrees and I was roasting so I got rid of both coats and sat in my middle seat (no window for this leg).  I hear the flight attendant say "Cindy crew member we have your bag so press the button overhead."  I waved my hand and they saw me.  I am thankful they were looking out for me.  They saw the CREW badge on my bag sitting at the end of the ramp and grabbed it before it went below the plane.  There was room in 1st class and one of the overhead bins so that was an unexpected blessing.  The captain in Appleton told me "You will be living out of that bag so don't let it out of your sight if you are able."  Too many bags get lost and that is not good when we are constantly on the go.  When I start flying the jet, we are the 1st ones on the plane and get to pick where we put our bags and the risk of them getting lost goes down. 

I dozed off flying to Phoenix since the girl next to me looked out the window the entire time and I couldn't see anything.   I thanked the crew for helping with my bag and I headed to a new terminal and territory to explore.  My learning curve grows by the day as I make my way around the country to new and exciting places.  1st thing I did was get rid of the under armor long sleeve clothing because I was roasting!  It was 82 in Phoenix and 0 degrees in Wisconsin.  A shock to the body!  I called the shuttle and headed to the nice Drury Inn.  

I took a pic of the cactus and palm trees here.  We don't have them in Wisconsin or Virginia.  =)  We crossed the Salt River and the van driver said he has lived here for 25 years and it is only the 4th time he has seen water in it!  They had feet of snow up in Flagstaff, Arizona last week and it is melting.  The mountain peaks here had snow on them earlier this week.  

I have today off and enjoyed the delicious "real" breakfast as I wrote this blog entry.  I plan to mix in working out and studying today.  One of my flight students lives in Phoenix so we are meeting for lunch.  It is amazing to me as I see the Lord building relationships around the country.  I am so blessed!  

My partner Brian arrives this afternoon and Chris our instructor flies in tomorrow.  We start in the sim at 4 pm tomorrow.  I discovered from mom that we turn our clocks forward this weekend, but Arizona does not so that will be interesting with the time zone differences and coordinating my folks back home.  

Pray for solid sleep each night, for me to keep retaining this information and that I can recall it automatically and finally that I can perform in the sim!  5 additional days of training and checkride on the 12th.