USAFA Graduation: Gift for My Graduate

Last week, I blogged all about USAFA Graduation Week! You can check out my posts about the graduation parade, the commissioning ceremony, and the actual graduation by clicking on the links.

Many of you know that my husband has been flying airplanes since well before we met. In fact, he's been flying since around the same time he started driving (even before).

He received a pilot slot to go to Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training (read all about that here), so he will head there after getting his Master's degree.

I knew that for his graduation from the Air Force Academy, I wanted to make him something special... something that he'll cherish forever. I decided that I wanted it to be about flying, since that's his passion. But what? Then I got an amazing idea - to use aviation sectional charts! I had seen them in the flying team's squadron bar used as a table top and thought that looked really cool. I knew I couldn't do anything like that, but then I realized he had learned how to fly at three different airports so far and would be going to a fourth one for Air Force pilot training... and the idea of making a framed depiction of that came about.

Once I found the PERFECT frame (that looks just like an old window-pane), I knew I was set! I spent some time working on it while Dan was out of town at a flying competition, and I LOVE the way it turned out. He really likes it too (I could tell when he received it!), and it is now hanging in our new home.

The picture of it isn't so clear since I took it with my phone, but I am really happy with the graduation gift I made for Dan!

USAFA Grad Week: Graduation

This post is my third installment of USAFA grad week festivities, and it is the last! If you want, check out the graduation parade, commissioning ceremony, and the graduation gift I gave Dan. I will have a couple other posts coming up about events that took place during the same week (rehearsal dinner and wedding), so be on the look-out for those!

On Wednesday, May 28th, 2014, Cadet Lovemuffin graduated from the US Air Force Academy and became Lieutenant Lovemuffin.

It was a picture perfect day. It was sunny but not too bright. It was warm but not overbearingly hot. We had fabulous seats on the 50 yard line inside Falcon Stadium to watch the graduation. Everything went as planned, and my heart did not jump out of my chest... although it was definitely a close call!

Dan was in squadron 39 of 40 at the Academy, so we had to wait until nearly the VERY end to see him walk across the stage and shake Vice President Joe Biden's hand and receive his giant graduation packet.

When Dan was done on stage, however, and walking back to his seat, he turned and looked at us (both of our families and me) in the stands, smiled really big, and held up his diploma packet. I swear I was about to burst with excitement, joy, and pride for him! He worked his butt off for four long years at the Academy, one year at the Preparatory School before that, and for two years in civilian college in Missouri before he applied to USAFA. After seven years of school, his dream had finally come true. All of his hard work had paid off. I knew what a huge moment this was for him, and my heart was racing for him.

As soon as he made it back up to us after the oath took place, he kissed me, and I just about melted. I knew it was over then. Not us. We were just beginning, as the kind men and their wives behind us who had graduated in the 80's and 90's reminded us. But the Academy was FINALLY OVER WITH, and while it was 100% worth all of the shenanigans, it was tough. Those years were just plain difficult, and no, the time did NOT fly by as many people say. It was HARD. But it was also completely worth it in the end. And we did it. We made it into the 2% Club! (Some authority at the Academy has done research and found that only 2% of cadets who are in a relationship at the beginning of their time at USAFA are in the SAME relationship when they graduate four years later - and we made it to that esteemed 'club' - and it feels great!)

Before everything started, it was empty inside Falcon Stadium... the seats awaiting the 1,000 graduating cadets.

Dan was in the back row because of his squadron, so it was awesome being able to see him the entire time! No one believed me that it was him, but I know the back of his head anywhere - and I was right! :) 

Dan after he just shook the VP's hand and received his graduation goodies!

Here he is hugging a classmate: it's all over with!

Of course he kissed me when he made it back up to the stands... and it was the best feeling! USAFA is over with! I still want to scream and shout it! :)

Can you tell how HAPPY we are? YEARS in the making! 

The US Air Force Thunderbirds did a half hour performance after graduation ended, which was really cool to watch. Maybe someday I'll know a Thunderbird pilot (hint hint Lindsey!)

We had to take the stereotypical rearview mirror photo of the USAFA chapel... looking back, we had some incredible times on that base. We decorated rooms, went to bonfires, talked in Arnold Hall, went to Ring Dance... it was a complicated four year journey, and I'm not too sad to see it behind us, just like in this picture.