THINK SPRING

Perhaps I'm rushing the season a little bit, but today's warm temperatures (and even the little bit of rain showers) sure felt good after a day in the office. Took my tennis shoes to work and headed to the local walking path for some fresh air and exercise. Then, came home and spent some time with the horses. Meetings in the morning, aircraft project statements, correspondence, and end of month projects in the afternoon. I love what I do, but sometimes I just need to be outside - instead of just looking outside.

BOY SCOUT CEREMONY

This weekend we went to Athens, visited our home church (always great to see old friends we grew up with), then went to our grandson's Boy Scout Blue and Gold Awards Banquet. Saturday night was spent with Mary's mom, Sunday with Rachel's family.

Tanner & Doug spent Saturday making this soccer ball cake.

A "shy" Tanner with some of the awards he received.


Sister Leah trying to be patient.

Today, it's back to business as usual. Except - I am training Dana in payroll accounting. It seems there were a lot of "exceptions to the rule" today (isn't that how it always is when you are training someone), and a lot to learn but Dana is working hard and doing a good job. I'm glad for her willingness to provide a "back up" for my job.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY, ANYWAY

I thought I'd be much too sore to even get out of bed today, much less spend the day at MMS doing accounting. But, I made it. The last few days have been eventful. The windstorm that went through Coshocton Wednesday night kept Dennis up all night (watching for storm damage at our house), shut off our electricity until 3:00 Thursday afternoon, then kept Dennis busy all day Thursday removing trees from the horse pasture fence and repairing fencing and gates. Just as he finished that task, we received a phone call from a friend who stores the rest of our horses' hay in her barn. The storm had destroyed a transformer at her house, taken part of the roof off the barn, blew the sliding doors and one side off the barn. Since our hay was in that section, we needed to quickly move about 500 bales of hay.

In the process of moving part of the hay to our smaller barn, the truck (pulling a wagonload of hay) made it part of the way through the gate then refused to move. It was stuck in the mud. After much discussion, winching, pushing, putting out wood shavings (for better traction), prayer, offloading hay from the wagon (that we had just loaded onto the wagon 15 minutes before) to the truck, progress was made and the first truckload of hay was put up in our barn. Now it was time to get serious and go pick up the tractor. In all, 3 trailer loads of hay were loaded. The rest of the hay was moved to the other side of the barn for storage. As I was picking up the trash that had been blown around, the wind blew open the well-soaked item in my hand. You can imagine my surprise as I looked down to discover I was holding a hymnal, opened to the hymn "To God Be The Glory". I had to smile. Even in the midst of all that had happened, everyone was safe, 7 helpers showed up to help move the hay and we finished before nightfall.

Yes, I thought, "to God be the glory."

IT'S NOT AN ALIEN INVASION

When I saw this photo, I had to smile. Although David and Paul may look like aliens, they are really MMS apprentices "suited up", checking out the spray gun and ready to paint an airplane for Moody Bible School. We have done several repairs to this airplane, now painting is next on the agenda. Thanks to the donations of many during the MMS building fund campaign, this paintbooth is now a reality. When Dennis and I first came to MMS over 20 years ago, painting was done outside with "windbreakers" put around the project, and the weather had to co-operate. This is a great, all weather system - safe and efficient. So many changes. This morning I was checking on international wire transfers, paying Ohio State Sales Tax online, and downloading MMS' current bank transactions for reconciling with the accounting program. So many tasks have now been "streamlined". Hey, maybe this will give me more horse riding time!

THERE ARE MANY KINDS OF TRANSPORTATION

It's been awhile since I've had the opportunity to send a note. I had to laugh when I saw this photo of the Cessna 182 on its way to Hangar C to receive a new paint job. With all the advantages of air transportation, the old-fashioned use of our own two legs (Shank's mare, as my grandmother used to say) often has merit. Snow and ice have been everywhere this past week and a half. It didn't matter much to me since I had all 5 grandkids here for a cousin/grandchild 4 day sleepover and was "homebound". They have only done this one other time at our house so it was a special event while Doug and Rachel attended Pastor/Wives retreat and Adam's kids joined in the fun. The first day Dennis was sick, 2 days later MMS was closed because of the icy road conditions so Dennis stayed home again (fortunately for us, since the electric went out and Dennis was able to get the generator going for lights, bathroom breaks, and cooking). No one got hurt, the fears that the youngest would cry for Mom all evening were unfounded (in fact she cried when she had to go home), they had lots of fun playing in the snow, and we have recovered from all the fun times and extra work. I love being a grandma! Now back to "normal" life.

BELLANCA VIKING BACK IN SERVICE

MMS is a great place to serve. There is always a variety of things happening. Some weeks are like last week when it seemed God was working on my "planning issues". Every day apprentices (and staff members alike) are learning and growing in maintenance, communication and personal skills. This week, Andy (from England) began his 30 month apprenticeship program. We are partnering with MAF-International in Andy's training. Today, the annual was completed on the Bellanca Viking owned by I-Care Ministries. This plane is used as a transportation tool while Pastor and Mrs Williams lead Leadership Training and Development courses for developing churches in Mexico and the US. Through the gifts of our personal support teams, we were able to work on this aircraft at no labor charge to I-Care Ministries (saving them several hundred dollars in repair costs that can now be channelled back into their ministry).

DON'T YOU LOVE A BARGAIN

Looking back over last week's blogs, I realized I had a common theme (change in plans). It must have been a "learning curve" week for me. It's the end of the day. Payroll is finished. Federal reports are filed. Here is the "rest of the story" on last week's "change of plans/printer saga". Because of the delays, I was able to do a little further research (for rebates, etc), gather a few more coupons, pick up ink cartridges we could no longer use and a folder with a year's worth of receipts - now I was ready to "deal". Dennis went along for a "couples night out" and trip to the office supply store. By the time I was done, the store manager was laughing, I was able to return to MMS with a $179 printer for $89 and we had an additional $160 in credit on MMS' account. My patient husband even stayed to help set up the printer at MMS while I reprogrammed some of the receipting program "set-up" to accept the new print format. I must admit - I love a good bargain!