Cap’n Jim’s Logbook

This is Jonathan our youngest son. He is currently serving in the USAF at an undisclosed location in Iraq. He doesn’t work on the Predator (the aircraft behind him) he is a weapons mechanic on AC-130U gunships. http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/AWA1/201-300/walk208_AC-130H/part2/walk208b.htm

To say that we are proud of him would be a huge understatement. We are inordinately proud of all our kids, and you can be sure that this space will have many posts about each one. God has been very merciful to Martina and I in that our children have all turned out to be very nice human beings. I say this as a true and impartial judge of their character, motives and judgment. Not a trace of parental pride or bias here… uh uh… nope not me.

So as I said, Jon is our youngest. He was our surprise baby…thus his name, Jonathan = Gift from God. When our second child, Jessica (PhantomBlonde) was born, Martina and I figured we were done. After all, we had: a mortgage, 2 cars, 2 kids (1 Boy, 1 girl), and a color TV with remote. All we needed was a dog and we were the perfect American family! Well, we had decided that of the two operations available, mine was the less risky, so after Jessi was born I would go under the knife. God Bless the bureaucracy at Kaiser! My appointment notice for the urologist arrived the same day Martina found out she was pregnant with Jonathan! BTW, Jessica was all of 8 months old when Martina found out Jonathan was on his way. Let’s just say that the thought of being pregnant and/or nursing for 3 yrs straight did not sit well with my wife. When the second notice arrived, Martina made sure we made the appointment! But that’s a story for another post.

Jonathan has always been the charmer in the family, he is easy going and has a ready smile. Even as an infant he could charm the ladies! When he was six months old we returned to Germany for the first time. For New Year Martina dressed him in a Tux-n-Tails jumper that made him the absolute hit of the party.

Because he found out he could get by on charm, Jon was an indifferent student, doing just enough to get by. He is very smart, he just hadn’t found anything to exert himself over. As a parent doesn’t that just drive you nuts? When you see all the potential not being utilized don’t ya just want to scream?

Well, I think Jonathan has found his calling. Ever since joining the Air Force I have seen a side of Jonathan never displayed before. Make no mistake, the imp is still in there, showing in his smile and his eyes, but now I see something more, Pride and Dedication. He now strives for excellence in everything he does, good enough isn’t any more.

He has become a Warrior. Un-tested in combat true, but a Warrior none the less, for he is over there, in harms way, willing, if necessary to go the final mile, to give the ultimate sacrifice. I pray that it never becomes necessary. I confess, that when I think about it, it fills me with trepidation. Some would say I lack faith, I say they are full of shit! I know he is in the protective hands of a loving father, but so are all the rest who lay down their lives for the ones they love.

Please God, bring my son home safe and sound. If you think me selfish for praying only for my son when so many others are over there with him, then you don’t understand the limitless capacity of our God. There is love enough. There is strength enough. His arms are not too short to encompass all who call upon His name.