Jets, baby!

It goes without saying that I'm a proud wife. I can't even begin to put into words how thankful I am for answered prayer.

Jake finished primary number one, got the only jet spot available and was named to the Commodore's List with Distinction (placing him in the top 1-2%, according to the CO of VT-28). A few pictures from the ceremony are below. I couldn't be more proud of Jake and all he has accomplished. He worked so hard and earned that jet spot - there's no question about that.

You know what else that means ... we've moved!!!! We are now in Kingsville, Texas, where Jake will begin advanced training in the T-45 Goshawk jet. See the picture below.

We got a house, and we're finally moved in. And by "moved in," I mean it's decorated. We are never "moved into" a house until it's decorated. Hee hee. We're ready for this exciting phase in our journey, and we're so grateful for all the prayers, support, phone calls, texts, love and encouragement. We are so blessed.

Pix of the house to come soon. And ... another addition to our family. More on that later. Don't freak - it's a puppy. ;)

XO to all,
Kiley & Jake

Bring on the sparkle ... it's Texas Football time.

It's that time of year again. That's right ...

LONGHORN FOOTBALL.

Been waiting for this all year. Texas FIGHT!

In preparation for tomorrow's game, here are my Friday must-dos.

1. Bring on the burnt orange and cowboy boots! Already know what I'm wearing tonight and tomorrow. Burnt orange and boots, baby. Fashionably, of course.

2. Time to whip out the Texas Fight/Longhorn face stickers. We gotta game to win.

3. Remember when ... think back to all the fun times we had walking to college football games.

4. Pull out the old pix from college games. Classic. Never get tired of these!

5. Get ready to cheer on our boys.

I don't know about y'all, but I'll be cheering for 78 (a.k.a. Snowbear) this year, especially. Yup, Holley's man. She will proudly attend all the games she can screaming Texas Fight, bleeding burnt orange and raising those horns to the Eyes of Texas. Of course, we'll be rooting for Texas' starting center - David Snow, too (along with the rest of the boys). I hope to join her at a few of the ATX home games. I miss my girls and all our fun game-day memories. Ready to make some more during the 2010 season.

Until next time. Hook 'em. XO. Kiley

  

Ooh-rah and such ...

My Marine had his promotion to 1st Lt. today at church. It was such an amazing ceremony, and I am so very proud of him. Our pastor-teacher, Maj. Glen Melin (USMC, Ret.), was Jake's promoting officer. I got to remove his 2nd Lt. gold bars and pin on his new silver 1st Lt. bars. I'm so blessed to be apart of this crazy journey, and I wanted to share some of the pictures and memories from this special day with y'all.

There is nothing more honorable than those that lay down their lives for their country. Thank you Jake — and all of our military men and women — for all you do to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today. This lovely poem written by Richard Lovelace beautifully puts into words the bravery and honor displayed by our fighting men and women. I'm proud to call one of them my own.

To Lucasta, Going to the Wars
Tell me not, sweet, I am unkind

That from nunnery

Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind,

To war and arms I fly.

True, a mew mistress now I chase,

The first foe in the field;
And with a stronger faith embrace
A sword, a horse, a shield.

Yet this inconstancy is such

As you too shall adore;

I could not love thee, dear, so much,
Loved I not honor more.

-Richard Lovelace

You may have to click on some of the pictures below to see the full size.

Officer to be promoted: front and center.

Jake standing at attention while "The Minstrel Boy" plays in the background.

Pinning on Jake's 1st Lt. silver bars (with care).

Jake raising his right hand to take the oath of office.

Our pastor-teacher, Maj. Glen Melin (USMC, Ret.) administering the oath of office to Jake.

The Marine Corp's newest 1st Lt.

Maj. Glen Melin (USMC, Ret.) and 1st. Lt. Jake Frederick.

Jake, Kiley & Glen after church.

Donna, Larry, Kiley, Jake, Jill and Glen after the promotion at church.

Donna & Kiley class picture.

Kiley and Jake. I just love him.

Until next time ... xo. ki.

Love Endures

All little girls need their Moms. All big girls do, too. It doesn't matter what my problem, issue or crisis is—my Mom is always there for me. It doesn't matter if she's a million miles away or if she's sitting right beside me. She always knows the right thing to say and it never fails to make me feel better.
"Kiley, calm down and listen to me ... " she says, in her soft-spoken voice. "Forgive. Always forgive. Then move on." The power and truth to that statement is unbelievable. That and remembering to trust and obey.

When I look back on life, I can't imagine any major event without my Mom. No, that's not true. I can't imagine any event without my Mom. She was always there. And not just there, but she made it all happen. She was there curling my hair, or sticking bows in my ponytails when I had a piano recital or I was dressing up for prom. She was there when I'd wake up every morning and always tucked me in at night. She was the one who listen to me gush over boyfriends, or fall apart during a breakup. She loved me when I was happy, mad, furious, unbearable, relentless and ... well ... just me. Mom was the first person I called when I got engaged and the one to wedding plan with me day and night for four CRAZY months. She's the one that solves all my problems and the one person that knows ALL of my button pushers. I can call her at any hour and tell her anything—and she loves it. She encourages me to do right, and discourages me from going the wrong way. She knows what I'm thinking without asking. She’s not just any mom, she’s mine.

I know Mom might've felt like she was losing me on my wedding day—but nothing could be more wrong. If anything, the planning, scheming, buying, making, cutting, ribbon-tying, sewing, glittery-blur that was my wedding weekend brought us closer together than ever before. I know that by the end of it she was relieved, sad and happy that it was over. Relieved that the sparkly whirlwind was over. Sad that her little girl was grown and moving away. But yet happy still, knowing that in Jake I found the fulfillment that I've always needed. That said, I’ll probably never grow up, but nothing will ever, ever replace a mother's love and the everlasting loyalty that accompanies it. Thank you, Mom, for teaching me what it means to be loyal, enduring and steadfast.

My Mom is my hero. I can only pray that one day I will grow up to be just like her. Until then ... Mom, I love you. Always and forever. That'll never, EVER change.

XO. ki

Lately.

My motto: Life goes on. Always.

For those of you I don't see as often as I like, and don't catch up with nearly enough—here are a few "recent happenings" in the life of the Frederick duo. We've moved from Pensacola to Corpus, settled down in our own, darling little apartment on the island, and attended the 2009 USMC Birthday Ball in Corpus Christi ... all before the holidays hit.

Jake has been studying hard. He is scheduled to start flight school Feb. 1. He's excited, and we're enjoying where God has us right now. It's been such a blessing to be close to Larry and Donna—affectionately dubbed our "playmates." The two of them, along with Deanna, Caryolyn and Verna threw us a "welcome to CC/wedding shower" before Christmas. We had a blast.

For the holiday season this year we hit the slopes in Colorado as a married couple for the first time ever, visted family in Dallas for Christmas and then made the treck back home to Corpus for the Frederick Christmas Day. The holidays make you realize more than ever the importance of family and all that this institution stands for. I love my family dearly. Nees. Frederick. McGhee. Tolbert. Bolles. Bridges. Hodges. Can't beat 'em.

The next few pictures are just random pictures taken in Pensacola, Texas and in between.

Until next time. XO. ki