Year End--Year Start

As we prepare for New Year's Eve this evening (and look forward to watching the Rose Parade, the Rose Bowl, and several other college football bowl games tomorrow) Tucker and Tanner are nearby begging for more Herr's "Texas Pete" hot sauce flavored potato chips from the bag in my lap, fresh snow flurries are adding to the ten inches of snow already on the ground, and Karen's in the kitchen whipping up a cherry pie (complete with lattice crust) to share with friends coming over for dinner. Georgia Tech is playing USC in the Sun Bowl. Go Georgia Tech! (Sorry, Sally...ANYBODY but USC.)

Looking Back--this has been quite a year of travel, turmoil, and transition for us. The last six months have pretty much turned our lives, ministry, and faith upside down and inside out but without the tragedy, loss, and pain that so many of our friends, supporters, and prayer partners have endured these past 12 months.

Looking Forward--our house is on the market to facilitate our move to North Carolina, we "officially" start service with Missionary Air Group tomorrow and, as we head into 2013, we have far more questions about everything than we have answers about anything.

Georgia Tech just scored.

I thought I'd just insert a few photos from the past few days to share a bit of what's been going on.

 Karen whips up some home-made dog biscuits for Tucker and Tanner.

 Karen whips up a Christmas morning pineapple upside-down cake.

 Tanner opens a present.

 Tucker opens a present.

 Hanging out with Tanner Christmas morning.

 Tucker and Tanner rest after all the excitement of Christmas morning.

Karen whipped-up some apple pies for Christmas dinner dessert.

 The snow hit the day after Christmas.

The snow piles up on our deck railing.

 Wouldn't you like to buy this house and send us to North Carolina?

Karen weaves the crust for this evening's cherry pie.

Karen's cherry pie...

Thanks for your friendship, love, prayers and gifts that have sustained us for the past 16 years in ministry with MMS Aviation here in Coshocton, Ohio...and thanks for your friendship, love, prayers and gifts that will sustain us in ministry with Missionary Air Group in Burlington, North Carolina!

12-12-12 at MMS Aviation

Just thought I'd post a few pictures of what's happening in the hangar this 12th day of the 12th month in the 2012th year of our Lord.

 Andy safety-wires a component of the engine for LAMP's Lance.

 Chuck and Geoff apply masking to the rudder of the MAF 206 in preparation for shooting the color coats (red & blue) on the fuselage.

 Terry McClary works under instrument panel of the LAMP Lance.

 Ben and Bob install the baffling on the 172's new engine.

Safely up from Rus Rus, Honduras this MAG 206 waits for restoration to begin in preparation for its deployment to Guatemala.

Amazon Salt & Light's Cessna 185 awaits paperwork completion and its return to service flight.

December 8th and it's 54 Degrees Outside

December 8th and it's 54 degrees outside here in Coshocton, OH...the land of Bob Evans, Browns, Buckeyes, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The rain outside "should" be snow, but I'm not complaining. It's going to be 70 degrees in Burlington, North Carolina today. Ah, Burlington...the land of Biscuitville, Jaguars, Tar Heels, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Biscuitville

After 15 years, it's hard to believe we only have two more weeks of direct involvement with MMS. Friday, December 21st should be Karen's and my last day in the hangar as "official" MMSers. The next time we visit MMS after that (MMS is closed between Christmas Eve and New Year's day) we'll be serving as part of Missionary Air Group. We fully expect to still be working closely with MMS within our new roles inside MAG.

Apprentice Geoff Linkleter at work in the MMS paint booth

Our house hasn't sold yet, though we have had two viewings recently. The winter months in the Midwest aren't necessarily hotbeds of house sales, but we have received positive feedback from both walk throughs. We're just waiting to see how God arranges all the details.

At MMS, I'm working on preparing documentation to assist those who'll inherit my responsibilities and Karen is training another staff wife to handle her receipting duties.

Tucker and Tanner continue to be the ornery missionary mutts they've always been. They're nine years old now and like shorter walks instead of longer ones, but still greatly enjoy going off-leash to explore the open meadow up by Coshocton Airport. They're scheduled for a hair-cut next week. I'm scheduled for a haircut next week, too...but with a different "groomer."

Tanner says, "It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas!"

We're heading to PA Friday to spend time with supporters, family, friends, and visit our sending church in Lancaster where we'll touch base, answer questions, and share about our move to MAG. 

We're also visiting different local churches in the Coshocton/Zanesville/Newark areas to broaden our relationship base and, Lord willing, open some doors for future financial support opportunities.

Thanks for your prayers as we enter this time of transition! May the Lord richly bless you as we enter this special season set aside to recognize and celebrate the Greatest Gift of All!