On October 11, 1910, former President Theodore Roosevelt took to the skies above St. Louis, Missouri, aboard a Wright Company aircraft.

This unprecedented event—roughly 19 months after Roosevelt left office, made him the first U.S. president to fly in an airplane.

The decision to fly was off the cuff: Roosevelt was visiting Missouri to support state Republicans in their election campaign when he was invited to hop aboard the airplane by aviator Arch Hoxsey.

He initially declined, but then changed his mind and climbed aboard. The plane took him to a height of less than 100 feet and covered 3 miles over the span of 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
Roosevelt was described by a reporter as having “defied death” in front of 10,000 breathless onlookers, and emerged saying,

“That was the bulliest experience I ever had.”

I can’t imagine how frightening it would’ve been to fly in one of those early airplanes!

But I’m looking forward to a flight that’s going to be even faster than the 3 minutes and 20 seconds one that Roosevelt took.

Remember the old song, “I’ll fly away”?

“Some glad morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away.
To a home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away.”

I’m looking forward to that smooth flight that will take me higher than I’ve ever flown—and in the twinkling of an eye!

No layovers, no turbulence, no seatbelts—just a straight, split-second
flight right into the presence of Jesus.

Are you ready?
This Christmas season, make time to deepen your relationship with
Christ.

Read your Bible more.
Ponder some.
And thank God.
For everything.

You are loved!
Susie

Looking for a Christmas gift for a loved one?
Consider giving them Susie’s spring cruise!

2025 Cruise With Susie

The cruise, originally scheduled for April, is now sailing from New Orleans
on March 22-29, 2025 … a 7-day cruise aboard Brilliance of the Seas.
Per-person prices for double occupancy are:

Interior room: $811.50
Oceanview room: $892.50
Balcony: $1,297.50.

We’ll have some great worship times and enjoy the ship’s fun shows, with
stops at Cozumel; Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico; and Belize City, Belize. If
you’re interested, contact Carla Pryor at 251-423-0900
or CarlaRay@aol.com.