I held my breath when the phone rang this morning while Jennifer, my older daughter shouted, "It’s Jacqui" and grabbed it. Jennifer had rounded up all the phones so no one but her could answer the call!! Twice before the calls had come in after her tests and there were sobs on the other end, but this time she was laughing and so excited. "I’m a pilot!!!!"
One of the hardest things that any parent must do is let the birdies fly out of the nest, even if they flop to the ground a time or two while they are learning. Watching her struggle through this process has been excruciatingly hard. We wanted her to pass the test, but more importantly we wanted her to know everything she needed to know to be a safe and long-living pilot! So when she failed the first two attempts, we encouraged her to use the time to learn everything possible out of the trial, and reminded her that she will be able to be a better flight instructor for having failed than had she sailed through the first time. Part of her career path to becoming an airline pilot is to be an instructor (probably at Embry-Riddle) for a couple of years to get the flight hours she needs to apply for the airline job.
In the end, the victory is all the sweeter because of the pain of the battle. She’s been so determined. She’s worked so hard and with such focus that it’s been a delight to observe. So Saturday, the kids are taking their dad out to an airshow to celebrate Father’s Day and what a celebration it will be. Unfortunately I won’t get to be there, because I’m speaking at a women’s luncheon. We’re taping the event though, so afterward I’m going to try to post it here for any of you that are interested in hearing what I sound like!
I wish so much that Uncle Johnny had lived to see today, yet I know in my heart that he saw it before we did. He knew she would make it and had a confidence in her that that was infectious. I like to think God lets those that have gone on before peek down on us like spectators at a football game…cheering us on as we struggle in this game of life. While there isn’t enough clear cut scripture to prove it, this one clearly uses the imagery. In the chapter that preceeds it, stories are shared about all the valiant men and women of the bible who ran the race of faith hard and yet didn’t obtain their prize in this life. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb 12:1-3 NIV"
Whatever you are struggling to obtain, to accomplish or perhaps you are simply struggling to survive a season of difficulty in your life… what ever the difficulty DON’T GIVE UP! You too are being cheered on. By us, your friends here on earth. By those that have gone before you and more importantly by the Lord himself! Don’t allow youreslf to despair, give up or grow weary in well-doing, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Gal 6:9-10 NIV"
Thanks to all of you for your prayers for Jacqui. She has learned a lot more from this than I could have imagined when we left her at school last September.
Audrey Jeanne Roberts
Great job Jacqui. And Mom too for hanging in there and letting her little chick fly from the nest.
AJ, Congratulations to the new pilot!
I love reading all your posts and seeing the new previews – although my budget is not big enough to get everything I want.
You do BEAUTIFUL work!
Absolutely the greatest news. Tell Jacqui I look forward to flying with her when she finally gets through it all and becomes a commercial pilot. 🙂
Wow, is this great news or what? Congratulations Jacqui. You are a testament to “if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again”. Well done. I hear the pride in your post Audrey. Congratulations on raising a fine, determined young woman.
Way to go Jacqui!!!!!!
WooHoo!! Congratulations to your dd! How exciting!
A very big “CONGRATULATIONS!!!”!!!
AJ –
Congrats to your daughter. I wish her much high flying success as she persues her dreams.
I KNEW she was going to accomplish this goal! So happy for Jacqui (and her proud family!)
Miss Jacqui you have done us all proud. My most heartfelt and sincere congratulations on your achievement.
This is fantastic news… Didn’t ever have any doubt but what she’d pass the “next” time. She had to much emotion going on inside her the other time. And I don’t even know Jacqui. Tell her we’re all proud of her…
Hugs ~ Kay
I’m so very glad she finally got through this trial. You are so right that she will be a better pilot for having not passed on first try. Tell her Congrats!!!!
Congratulations! What a story! Good for her.
Are you sure she’s old enough to fly? LOL She looks too young to drive, let alone fly LOL
Woo HOOOOOO Congrats!! I’m sure the whole family is just floating on air. 🙂
That is such great news!!!!!
I am very proud of your daughter. I ran the program for Embry-Riddle here at NASKingsville, TX for almost ten years. They are deinitely a wonderful institution with very high standards. I taught English, speech and technical writing to the undergraduate students and read the theses for the master’s students. When I would do recruiting our emphasis was on the fact that the sun never sets on an Embry-Riddle campus–because they are all over the world. I have been to Daytona Beach at their main campus, it is awesome. I believe also that they trained most of the pilots for WW II. She has accomplished something which will serve her well throughout her career. Good for YOU!!! (WOW Betty! Thanks for the wonderful comment from someone who knows! Riddle has been such a joy for Jacqui this year — a hard year with a lot of challenges and struggles, but so worth every $ and every minute that’s been invested. Thanks for having done your part 🙂 as well. Hugs, AJ)
Congratulations Jacqui!!! Uncle Johnny would be so proud of you! I’m sure he was with her in spirit ,guiding her along.And here I am worrying about my daughter getting a DRIVER’S license lol. I hope to someday hear from your family.Would love to get better aquainted with all of you.Dad talked about some of you when he got home from AZ.
Bonnie Rogers Snow (Bonnie is my cousin by marriage through Uncle Johnny’s brother Ralph, who we call Uncle Buddy. We’ve just “met” through email and I look forward so much to getting to know her! AJ)
How amazing for your daughter. You must be so very proud (i’m sure u always are). Kudos to Jacqui!