"If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV ) says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" My plan: As long as I can remember, I wanted to fly airplanes for a living. Overcoming numerous obstacles, with a lot of faith and perseverance, I finally accomplished my dream. From humble beginnings in rural Kansas to flying as a back seater in Navy carrier-based jets to piloting big spy planes and training planes, I forged my own path. After many crushing defeats, unexpected victories, and combat experiences in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, I finally realized my dream of flying as a commercial airline pilot at age forty-seven. Plans That Made God Laugh is my story. I'm the little guy with the big dream. It's an example of what you can do, with God's help, if you put your mind to it.