I was born Lois Jean Carter on 8 August in Newport Arkansas. My family lived in small towns around Newport all my life. That is where I started school and graduated high school in 1977. I really had no concerns growing up as to what I wanted to be. I liked singing, so I was in the choir. However, I knew that would not support me. I just knew that I didn't want to remain on the farm and raise kids.
When the recruited came to my school. I talked with him and went home and told my parents I wanted to join the Air Force. They were a bit stunned. They couldn't understand why. My brother had been drafted into the Army when I was five and they had bad memories of that experience. When I told my brother, he looked at me and said, "Why the Air Force and not the Army?" I told him that the Air Force's basic training wasn't as long as the Army's! I haven't changed in all these years...I want to do the most in the least amount of time!
When I joined the Air Force, in August of 1977, I remember thinking I would never retire. Somehow, life has it's way of taking the "nevers" that we say and bringing them back to haunt you. I retired in 1995 with 18 years in service. I look back and have fond memories of my time in the service. I actually felt that I was freer in the service that I am in civilian life. The reason is that I could state my opinion, respectfully of course, and still retain my job. I don't get that impression of stability when I talk with people who are working for someone else these days.
In 1987, I married the most wonderful man on earth, David Sholl. He was in the Air National Guard. He worked on airplanes. I loaded/unloaded them. It was a match made in Heaven! We have now been together for 23 years. He is still in the Guard, only Army. He now works on helicopters instead of airplanes.
I chose to retire early because of the miracle God worked in my life. He gave us our son. One door closes and the next door opens. I went from supervising people, loading and unloading airplanes, to raising a family. I have to admit that I was less than confident that I knew how to take care of a baby. It's been 14 years now and he is taller than I am, in the 9th grade, and playing basketball.
So, who am I? I am a child of God, wife, mother, and business woman who sometimes gets overwhelmed with how fast life has gotten. It seems to me that time has speeded up somehow. At 19, I thought I would never retire from the Air Force. Today, I have been retired for the last 14 years. I have held odd jobs since Michael, my son, has started school. I have always been adament that I would be available for my son when he got home from school. God has blessed me to be able to do that.
Now, my days are freer and I can devoted time to grow my business. It's time to increase my business skills in order to make my business more profitable. I am ready and I know that with the proper people around me that success, however I define it, will be there for me.