Chapter 1: The Path to Homeownership

The time had come for transformation in my life.

Living in South Gate while I worked in Huntington Park, I found myself commuting to Bell, where my company was located. However, a move to Long Beach was on the horizon. My first blessing was finding a home to purchase. The market around Lakewood, CA, featured three-bedroom houses with a two-car garage priced between $220,000 and $300,000. With my commissions surpassing my yearly salary, I had the financial means to invest in one or two of these properties. Therefore, I chose to remain with Max's company.

I also embarked on pilot training for single-engine planes, which was a much quicker process than expected. Thanks to my previous experience and a knack for learning fast, I earned my pilot's license in no time. Shortly thereafter, I pursued multi-engine certification, achieving that goal after four months of nearly daily flying.

This video features a stunning cover of "Blessings" by Laura Story, performed by Hannah Elizabeth. It beautifully encapsulates the theme of gratitude and the blessings we encounter in life.

Chapter 2: Deepening Connections

Allison and I frequently enjoyed day trips to places like San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Disneyland. My intent was to deepen our understanding of one another.

To facilitate this, we decided to take a week off from dating to compile questions we wanted to ask each other. The only topic off-limits was Vietnam. We planned a weekend getaway to Santa Barbara, staying in separate rooms for just one night.

I expressed to her that if we weren't compatible, it might be best to part ways. Fortunately, we emerged from our questions feeling aligned and connected.

This sermon by Rev. Adrian S. Taylor explores Matthew 20:1-16, emphasizing themes of grace and the varying paths we take in life, which resonates with our journey together.

Chapter 3: Commitment and Celebration

After navigating our questions, I confessed my love for Allison on the drive home, to which she reciprocated instantly. I felt it was time for the next step—engagement.

Two months later, I proposed, using funds from my flight lessons to buy her a beautiful two-carat diamond ring she had chosen. We were now committed to one another.

Allison stayed at my place nearly every night, and one evening, as the hours slipped by, we found ourselves enjoying each other's company more intimately.

We decided on a wedding date—one week before my birthday, September 15th. Allison, who worked as a secretary for an executive at Hughes, managed to take the rest of the month off for our honeymoon.

When we broke the news to our families, they were thrilled but puzzled why we had waited so long, given our evident affection for one another. We simply explained our desire to set our own goals.

The wedding was just ten weeks away. We chose to approach our future as pilots with caution, ensuring we were ready to navigate the journey ahead together.

Thank you for reading. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

✍ — I would love to hear your thoughts on this story!

©DR Rawson

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