First off I had the option to go to Prairie School of Mission Aviation at Three Hills Canada. This was the last flight on the summer tour with the Kodiak. It was only a day outing but was a good opportunity to show off the plane to some of the future missionary pilots and tell the students there that they could also get their turbine training at Spokane Turbine Center. I was also excited to go because this would give me some more flight time in the Kodiak. As we were passing over the Rockie mountains, I was once again awed by God's power and majesty in the creation I was looking at. Some of the mountains went straight up 3 or 4 thousand feet with no interruption in its climb for the skies. Even though we were cruising at 19,000 feet I still felt very small compared to the peaks that were jutting up all around me. On our return trip back to Spokane we started to run into weather and the night time. The temperatures were starting to drop and ice was starting to to form on our wings faster than it could sublimate, so that started to get the heart rate up trying to think of our "outs" (ways to get out of the weather) and options. It was good experience for and it was amazing to use the full capabilities of the G1000, using the XM weather which overlays where the precipitation is happening over your moving map. All in all the flight was completed successfully even if it was long day and we didn't arrive back home till the wee hours of the morning.
Most recently I have finished my Certified Flight Instructor Instrument rating as of Oct 22. This has a huge burden mentally for me and hasn't been easy. I had been working on this rating for almost a month and was starting to get some pressure from work to get it finished since they needed me back at the "office" and not boring holes in the clouds all day.
Caleb is lovin' life as he figures out new skills and develops his own little personality! Around 14 months he finally took off walking, and now he never stops! He is a busy little guy, and keeps us entertained and on our toes at all times. He's really smart too. One of his favorite activities right now is taking at least three of our pot lids and spinning them on the floor. We watched him the other day and he has a method: he holds them a certain way to be able to throw them so they always spin, and he can have all three lids spinning at the same time! It's pretty incredible the things they can figure out to do. One of the cutest things he does is "talk" on the cell phone. He has a toy phone that he holds to the back of his head and walks around gabbing like he's talking on it. Precious! He also loves to stack things and knock them over, and if we'd let him he'd pull all of the toilet paper off the roll.
Big news in our lives right now: Caleb will soon be a big brother! Renae is about 19 weeks pregnant and due around March 20. We should find out soon whether it is a boy or a girl. We are SO excited about the blessing of another child and the joy it will be to have two little ones to train and love.
Renae still loves the blessing of being a stay-at-home mom and is keeping herself busy with a women's Bible study, Tots and Co. at church, spending time with other moms, and teaching a couple piano lessons. She also enjoys the "baby" reading time at the library once a week, which apparently is just a hilarious time observing fifteen babies together with their parents singing and listening to short stories.
I realize this entry is a little lengthy due to our lack of current updates...I will try to post sooner so that you don't feel as if you are reading a novel! Hope you enjoyed the current news, and feel free to send us an update on your lives too! We would really enjoy hearing from you. God bless!
