Merry Christmas!

Tucker & Tanner LOVE Christmas morning!

Tucker picks out a present.

Tanner chooses a present.

Merry Christmas from Coshocton, Ohio! May this day be one of great joy and reflection on God's giving us the greatest gift of all...Jesus Christ!

The Great Cocker Christmas Cookie Caper

During Monday's pre-Christmas errands I'd been blessed with such plate-load of iced sugar cookies shaped like stars, candy canes, and Christmas bells. Tanner was in the car with me riding shotgun and there was a short period where he was alone in the car separated from the cookie plate by only a row of car seats. When I came back to the car, realizing the risk I'd taken, expecting the cookies to be gone, it was as if the cookies had never been on his mind. Little did I know...

So, this morning rolls around (it's great being on vacation this week) and I'm wailing on those cookies washing them down with several cups of fresh-ground, fresh-brewed Caroline's Coffee from Grass Valley, California and Tanner still isn't paying attention to the cookies. It was odd, normally he'd be sniffing out the counter where the plate was stored but I was so enjoying those cookies I didn't pay much attention to the Cocker calculations going on between his big floppy ears.

Then Karen needed to go do the final grocery shopping for the Christmas festivities and I needed to run by the post office and stop by the library. So I re-wrapped the cookie plate, pushed it back on the kitchen counter and didn't think any more about it until I arrived home to find the Great Cocker Christmas Cookie Caper had been pulled off in our absence.

I came in the kitchen door and saw plastic wrap on the floor. That's ALWAYS a bad sign...I quickly scanned the counter top and realized the cookie plate was missing. I crept around the corner into the dining room and this is what I found:

Tanner in the dining room with an empty cookie plate.

Tanner trying to come up with an alibi.

Tanner blaming everything on Tucker.

It wasn't that long ago they conspired to pull a full packet of hot dog buns off the counter. You can read about that from Tanner's point of view here. No matter how far back we push things on the counter, Tucker and Tanner continually amaze us with their ability to snatch things off of it while we're gone.

Tanner's currently curled up in his bean bag rolling his big brown eyes with an expression of extreme guilt. Oh well, I guess we didn't need those extra calories anyway. But then...neither did Tanner!

Tanner The Missionary Mutt

Tanner and I are heading out for more pre-Christmas errands today. I thought you might like to see a couple of yesterday's snapshots of the #1 missionary mutt and resident trouble-maker.

Tanner waits for permission to run into the snow-covered grass field across from the airport.

Tanner Lou

Another Gray Day

This is the part of the year where the sun is a rare visitor. Overcast is rather constant over Coshocton from December through April. Everyone just lives kind of a depressingly gray, damp, wet, and cold life for the next four months. The constant is the clouds. The variables are temperature (cold or colder) and water form: winter haze, rain, snow, or ice. We're not forecast to really see much, if any, sun for the next ten days (and beyond).

Here's a summary of the weather forecast for the next week and a half: everyday temps fluxuating between the low 20's and 30's with: snow flurries, snow flurries, partly cloudy, mostly cloudy, rain showers, snow showers, snow flurries, snow showers, mostly cloudy, followed by more snow showers. I'm not sure of the finer points differentiating between snow flurries and snow showers...but I'm sure they do exist.

After the beautiful pictures of winter in Lancaster, PA (see previous posts) I thought I'd include the contrast of winter in Coshocton, OH.

Keith & Karen's front yard.

Keith & Karen's backyard.

Like I said: cold, dark, and damp.

On Vacation
We're actually on vacation his week. Karen spent the day in the basement doing laundry from our trip to PA and wrapping Christmas presents. Tanner and I drove around town taking care of pre-Christmas errands. Now everyone else is taking a nap (Tucker, Tanner, & Karen) while I pull this post together. Once I get this posted, I'll probably lay down for a bit as well. Hey, have a great day and if it's sunny where you are, ENJOY IT!

Home From Lancaster, PA

Karen and I just walked in from our return trip from Lancaster, PA. The roads were dry and clear and traffic was surprisingly light.

The snow stopped about midnight last night and the sun rose in a clear sky over Lancaster this morning. Here are some final snapshots from Steve & Cindy's:

Steve & Cindy's Backyard Shot 1

Steve & Cindy's Backyard Shot 2

Steve & Cindy

Thank you Steve and Cindy for being such gracious hosts while we were "snowed in"! Thank you Jay and Rene for returning my winter jacket after I'd left it at your house. We look forward to spending time with Ryan & Audra, Duane & Cindy, and Elvin & Mary, on our next trip into Lancaster as the weather altered our plans to visit this trip.

We have about three inches of snow on the ground here in Coshocton. Thank you Tim and Michele for watching Tucker and Tanner and shoveling/salting our walkway!! We look forward to returning the favor for your cats very soon...

The Snow Just Keeps Falling in Lancaster, PA

The snow continues to fall hard and fast. The rumor is it's going to stop later tonight but that remains to be seen. Here are some snapshots taken before it got dark.

Karen and "Ace" enjoying a walk in Steve's backyard this afternoon.

The deck earlier this morning.

The deck later this afternoon.

Steve and the Snow Blower

Portrait of Man and Machine vs. Nature

My brother-in-law Steve and his snow blower.

Snow Emergency in Lancaster, PA

The glaciers are descending, Eskimos are moving to PA, I think a polar bear just walked down the street...somehow we made it through the night warm in our beds and awoke to a SNOW EMERGENCY! There's frozen white stuff flying everywhere...with "the heaviest snow yet to fall" according to all the breathless meteorologists blanketing the airwaves.

With my belly already full of coffee, eggs, bacon, toast, and Christmas cookies...let it snow. We have plenty of "milk and bread" so let the next ice age begin...The flakes are definitely growing in size with 2-4 inches already on the ground. We have plans for lunch and dinner out but we'll see whether or not we do venture into the "blizzard of the century" at all. Steve found his snow shovels and placed them strategically at the front and back doors. He just finished re-stringing the starter rope on his snow blower. The snow blower will not only blow the snow it will also generate more CO2 so summer will come even quicker and last longer...it doesn't get any better than that.

More snow updates as time and weather allow...

The Calm Before The Storm?

Karen and I made it safely into Lancaster County, PA last evening and enjoyed a wonderful evening of food, fellowship and gifts with "Mom and Pop B". Traffic was light and the roads were dry. The six hour drive seemed short because we were so enthralled with a book on tape (or CD as the case may be) titled: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. We actually finished listening to the story this afternoon in the comfort of the Harnish's house. Thanks Jay and Renee for letting us stay over at your house last night and letting us relax today!

This evening we headed across town to Steve and Cindy's house for dinner and fellowship. Steve is Karen's brother. Our nephews Craig and Chris and his family were there as well. Now that the meal is over, everyone's gone home, and the kitchen is clean, Karen, Steve, and Cindy are in the living room by the fire chatting.

Everyone is talking about the big snow storm that's supposed to hit tonight and tomorrow. Depending on your weather source, Lancaster, PA is supposed to get 2-14 inches of snow in the next 24 hours. We'll see...you know how much I like snow...Karen's REALLY EXCITED!


Here's Karen and "Ace" (the resident Beagle) on the one couch and Steve in the background checking weather and radar reports on the rapidly approaching storm. All is calm, all is quiet, the winter storm "watch" has been changed to a "winter storm warning". They're about to turn on the Weather Channel so we can get constant weather updates as the end of the world looms...

If we're not all turned into a glacier by tomorrow, I'll try to post up some photos of global warming in action.

Signing off...

This Post Is For Aunt Betty

While in Southern California this past weekend, my Aunt Betty cornered me to let me know how tired she was of going to our blog and not finding any new posts...so Aunt Betty, THIS POST IS FOR YOU!

Actually, Aunt Betty is the sweetest person you'd ever want to meet, and how she ended up marrying my Uncle Kenny so long ago is beyond my understanding. It's beyond Uncle Kenny's understanding as well, but he does realize how blessed he is!

Keith Turns 53
Yep, I had a birthday yesterday. Number 53. Turning fifty was kind of weird, but 53? No sweat. It just means life on this earth is getting one year shorter for me which, in the light of eternity with Christ, isn't a bad thing...ever.

Here I am enjoying one of my favorite meals cooked by my beautiful bride especially for my birthday: meatloaf, cheesy potatoes, and peas. Can it get any better than that? I don't think so unless one tops it off with a cherry cheesecake!

Birthday dinner bonanza...

Cheesecake for dessert!

The cherry topping was added after I blew the decade candles out.

With the dogs sleeping contentedly in their nearby beds, Christmas carols playing quietly in the background, with only a few graham cracker crust granules left on our plates, and Karen and I gazing into each other's eyes...the evening was so wonderful I'd gladly turn 54 today just to relive it.

Grandma Gets To Go Home!

Karen and I just returned from a trip to California where we gathered with family to celebrate the life of my grandma who passed away last week. She was 101 years old and very ready to leave this life for the next one. You may remember last year's post about her 100th birthday party.

Grandma was still on her own in her assisted living apartment right up to the last two weeks of her life. She finished well in a beautiful hospice setting and entered a Christ-filled eternity as she slept.

It's not hard for me to imagine she's already hard at work making beautiful drapes for all the windows in all the mansions Christ is building for those of us yet to arrive.


I have many wonderful memories of grandma that will have to hold me until I too get to go home. The joy and peace of knowing one's eternity is true security. We're only here for a short while and then...forever really begins.

There are two eternities, but only only one true God. There are many paths, but only one trail leads to Heaven--the trail blazed by Jesus Christ and marked with His blood. I beg you to seek His face, trust in faith, walk in His steps, and rest in His completed work. If you do, maybe Grandma will make you curtains too!

Our Latest Coshocton Flyer

We hope you enjoy our latest newsletter!

We Are Alive And Well

Greetings from Coshocton! The past couple weeks have been rather crazy with ministry commitments, producing and mailing our latest personal newsletter, Thanksgiving, and just keeping up with daily life.

Be that as it may, Karen and I are doing well. This afternoon we're headed into Zanesville to pick up the December issue of MMS's GroundCrew newsletter from the print shop. Since that takes us all the way into "town" we'll probably do some Christmas shopping and maybe even have a meal out (if you call the Sam's Club hot dog combo a "meal out").

Speaking of newsletters, Lord willing, I'll have the electronic version of our newsletter sent out and posted here before too much longer.

While life at 368 McClain may not be all that noteworthy right now, there's plenty of excitement in the hangar as the three active mission projects move ahead.

Brazilian 206
Rivets of all shapes and sizes continue to be driven in the Brazilian 206 in preparation for painting the fuselage.

Paul drives rivets to secure the rain gutter he'd just fabricated. Josh bucks from inside.

Honduran 206
The Honduran 206 continues to creep toward completion. Final steps are being taken to clean and "close-up" various aspects of the project!

Andy vacuums beneath the floor panels of the 206 before securing the access plates in place and "closing-up" the floor.

Canadian 337
The airframe repairs and engine overhauls continue simultaneously on the Canadian 337.

Scott and Dale double-check critical data prior to joining the engine case halves for the front engine of the 337.