Answer to Questions II

The following are the answers to a couple more reader questions that came in after I published my first series of answers.  Thanks again for everyone that participated and asked a question.  I hope that it gave you some good insight into my life.  It was great getting to connect with you a bit and I hope it continues.

Fred Balt (my wife’s Uncle, a wonderful man I got to meet at our wedding) asks: “My question to you is quite a simple one: how do you manage to fit all your writing in with your busy schedule?  And also: when will you people be visiting us here in South Africa?”

Answer: It’s funny that you ask this question now because this week has been the busiest I’ve had in quite sometime and the reality is, I haven’t been able to fit it into my busy schedule!  Hence, me writing this late Sunday night.

For the past 6 months I have been going through a period where my workload has been quite light and has allowed for lots of free time.  This has been due to a big transition between pilot training and being a fully qualified C-17 pilot.  The upgrade process has been challenging and exciting, but it’s kept my work day fairly short and has given me plenty of time to write.

I’m rambling though.  The best way I’ve found to find time is simply by waking up in the morning before the rest of the family.  Since my time at the Air Force Academy I’ve found I’m most productive the first 3 or 4 hours after I get out of bed.  So, while Marelize and Malone are still fast asleep I come down, normally around 6 or so, and have my quiet time with the Lord, then write.  It seems to work pretty well.

Finally, to answer your second question, your brother-in-law Chris and I are currently trying to plan a hunting trip in Namibia for sometime around May of next spring.  This is far from being set in stone, but if things work out, hopefully Marelize, Malone and I will be able to visit all of you at that time.  I’ve been wanting to visit the wife’s homeland for quite sometime now, so if not in May then very soon afterward.

Laura Caldwell asks: “You’ve spoken about how your perspective on being at the Academy, once rather cynical, changed after your sophomore year. Why and how do you think you changed?”

Answer:  Laura, excellent question! First of all, I feel so priveledged to have attended the Air Force Academy. It was difficult, for sure. However, it has provided me with so many incredible friendships, skills and opportunities for my future that I would not have had otherwise. My perspective has changed for two main reasons.

First, its always easier to see the value of something in hindsight. Lots of us bash the Academy while we’re there, but sing its praises as soon as graduation day arrives. Second, sophomore year at the Academy is a little rough.  Sure, you’re not a freshman anymore so you don’t have upperclassmen yelling at you or stopping you in the halls to make you do push-ups.  But, you’re not really an upperclassmen either.

You can’t have a car so you’re pretty much stuck there on the weekends unless you can find a ride with someone or get an upperclassmen to loan his car to you.  Plus, the academic load is hardest sophomore year with most cadets averaging 21 credit hours a semester.  All this combined can make one a bit stressed, discouraged and cynical.

But then, junior year comes around.  You have a car so you have some much needed freedom and your life feels normal again.  You finally get to take your major’s classes rather than only required classes.  And you finally get a little say over how the squadron runs and how your life looks.  Things are just much better.

All this combined with a few key friendships I made that year (met my beautiful wife that summer), as well as getting involved in a wonderful little ministry called theMill, helped me trade my cynicism for a bit of gratefulness and I was able to complete my last two years with a much better attitude.  Just wish I’d figured it all out a bit sooner, but so is life.  Hope that answers your question!

Popularity: 1% [?]

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.