Just Plane Dwight and Rena

Snow - The Beauty and the Work

2012-01-21T16:41:00.001-05:00

Friday morning we woke up to frigid temperatures.


For those of our readers who measure in Celsius, the temperature was -16°.


The Friday night snowfall presented a winter wonderland this morning.

.........And lots of work for Dwight as he cleared the snow around our cars. Thankfully a neighbor cleared off (with his tractor) the 4 inches of snow that had accumulated on our driveway. Thankful for great neighbors like Chuck!

Dwight at "Snow's Gym"

Back in Service

2012-01-18T09:45:00.000-05:00

Missionary pilot, Steve Straw, tells about the first flight to the Bongolo Hospital after repair of the Cessna 207 at MMS Aviation and its return to Gabon. We are thrilled that it is now back in service.

Check out Steve's blog about that first flight. Click here.

Catch Up

2012-01-07T22:44:00.000-05:00

MMS Aviation is closed during the week between Christmas and the New Year. This give the opportunity for families to travel back home for the holidays.

Inventory is on the agenda when everyone returns. That's right, every nut,bolt and screw needs to be counted. Some parts are too plentiful and small and those are weighed. Not fun but necessary.

(In both pictures above) Jim counts CherryMAX rivets. They are like high class pop rivets and are quite expensive.

Mike compares the number in the box to the quantity on the inventory sheet. They are supposed to agree.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the office people are lined up to see the CFO, Mary for their financial questions

Having fun with the line-up outside the CFO's office.

By mid-week, inventory, review of the MMS Standard Operating Manual, and recurrent training on the repair station manuals were completed. That let mechanics get back to work on airplanes and everything at MMS Aviation get back to normal.

Trans- Atlantic Flight

2011-12-31T15:49:00.000-05:00

Many of us at MMS Aviation have been following a Cessna 207 on it's journey from the United States to Gabon, Africa. The plane came to MMS in a sea/land container needing repair after a mishap. MMS invested many man hours in the repair of this missionary airplane and friends and churches are praying for its safe journey as it flies home.

The damaged airplane under repair

You can follow the airplane's journey as it flies back to Gabon. A skilled pilot from Weaver Aero is piloting the "ferry flight" and you can check out the trip on missionary pilot, Steve Straw's blog. http://gabonpilot.blogspot.com

Another Mechanic Certificate Issued

2011-12-24T12:57:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, on the shortest daylight day of the year, I finished administering Andy Porter's FAA Oral & Practical Mechanic exams. Andy and I began the testing process on December 20th. He answered 176 oral questions without access to any reference material. Following the oral questions, Andy completed practical projects covering all 44 subject areas in the general, airframe, and powerplant exams. It was a pretty intense ten and a half hours of testing, and Andy came through with flying colors. Andy completed MMS Aviation's aircraft mechanic apprenticeship earlier this month and, being from England, actually came through the exam with flying colours.)

Andy accepts his temporary FAA aircraft mechanic certificate, December 21, 2011. (Upon reviewing the paperwork I submit, the FAA issues the permanent certificate.)

A Beautiful Aluminum Water Bird

2011-12-17T13:18:00.003-05:00

Several years ago, Asas de Socorro (Wings of Aid/Help) of Brazil was scouting around the US for good Cessna 206 parts and a complete airframe in Alaska caught their attention. It was ultimately purchased and shipped to MMS Aviation. The aircraft was sound but needed some repair and several FAA approved modifications to make it more useful for missionary flying.

The Airframe arrives at MMS Aviation in the summer of 2008.

Funds had to be raised for the refurbishment of the plane. A more powerful engine and propeller combination were planned. Updated instrument panel and radios were to be part of the plane's preparation. Installation of seats designed to be more crashworthy than the originals and new interior material was also on the work order. And, the whole airplane would be put on a set of composite amphibious floats that had yet to be approved for the Cessna model 206.

Fuselage repair and cabin floor modification began right away.

MMS Aviation staff member, Ian Hengst, led a varying number of crew members as the work progressed. Apprentice mechanics worked along side experienced staff mechanics through all phases of the restoration and modification. In December 2010, most of the work was done except the float installation.

The Cessna is hoisted in Hangar A for float installation.

A new set of recently approved Aerocet amphibious floats rolls into position.

Final rigging and checking of all systems were pretty well completed by February 2011, and then the real fun began - paperwork! Records of work performed had been kept throughout the process, but there are some things that have to wait until the end. Ian did all the technical paperwork and I began producing documents for the plane's importation into Brazil.

A lot of visitors saw the airplane during its "paperwork" phase. Chanelle and Javin got a special tour of the plane from Grandpa.

In late summer, a missionary pilot who flys a Cessna 206 on Aerocet amphibious floats on Lake Victoria in Africa, was in the US and was able to do the return-to-service (RTS) flying.

"Zero-nine-xray" taxies in following its first RTS flight.

With an Export Certificate of Airworthiness issued by the FAA and approval from Brazilian authorities to bring the plane into Brazil, Asas pilots arrived early this month to take delivery of the airplane and fly it to Manaus, Brazil. Ryan Joy, Asas' maintenance cheif and MMS graduate, was here in Coshocton for the transfer of the plane as well.

The float plane arrives in Manaus.

In an email he sent yesterday Ryan said, "Yesterday, Thursday, Dec. 15, at 4:50pm, our float plane pilots Tim Ault and Márcio Rempel landed on the water in front of our hangar in Manaus, wrapping up a trip that took 6 days, over 6000km of terrain, and involving 30 flight hours, bringing them from MMSAviation in Ohio to Asas de Soccoro, Manaus, Brazil. Removing any doubt that they had made it to the Amazon, they landed in the middle of a tropical rainstorm!

Arrival celebration in the Asas de Socorro hangar

Ryan added, "We had a party all set up to welcome them, with 8 different families represented, complete with some cold Coke and some pão de queijo (traditional cheese puffs-can't have a party without them!). We celebrated their arrival praising God for bringing them back home in safety with this newest tool which will be used to take the message of salvation to the ends of the earth/the Amazon!

It's a thrill for Just Plane Dwight and Rena to have a part in this story.

Warsaw School Remembers Its Veterans

2011-11-12T10:50:00.000-05:00

Our grandchildren attend Warsaw Elementary School. With yesterday being Veteran's Day (in the USA) the school wanted to honor those veterans related to children attending the school. The turnout was good. Following a free breakfast, we entered the gymnasium where special seating was arranged for the veterans. The children sang patriotic songs and the principal spoke to the children on the importance of remembering and honoring those who serve to protect our country. Each veteran was announced individually and the children to whom they were related also stood with their personal veteran. Javin and Chanelle were very proud of their "Poppy" who served in the Second World War. We also remembered privately their other Great Grandpa who left us this year and was also a WW II Veteran.

Javin and Chanelle at the free breakfast (with Poppy and Nana) for the veterans and their families


The veterans being honored

Chanelle has enjoyed being in the 5 & 6th grade Honor's Choir. They sang several songs for the Veteran's Program.

New Family Member

2011-11-04T14:10:00.000-04:00

The last few days have been hectic and crazy. Our tiny granddaughter made her appearance on Oct. 31,7 weeks early, weighing 2 lbs 6 oz. and 15 inches long. Her name is Kiara (pronounced kee-ah-rah) Bell Jarboe. Our daughter in law is recovering from a c-section at Riverside Hospital in Columbus (OH).

Late on her second day, Kiara was rushed across Columbus to Children's hospital for emergency surgery very early Wednesday morning to repair a hole in her intestine. We've been back and forth between the two hospitals and stayed Wednesday night in Columbus rather than do the 80 mile drive back to Coshocton (OH) where we live.

Kiara is doing well and making good progress, but it will be a long time before she will be able to go home. We would all appreciate your prayers, especially Kiara and her Dad and Mom, Scott (our son) and Stephanie.


Newly born, weighing 2 lbs 6 oz and 15" long.


Proud Dad, Scott

Stephanie gets help changing the diaper

Day 4, the day after surgery. Taking her first peek at Grandma.

Kiara's eyes are covered because she is under a light to treat some jaundice while Grandma get's Kiara to stretch her legs.

Stephanie will be dismissed from the hospital today. Pray for them as they sort through their schedule. Stephanie will be unable to drive or return to work for 6-8 weeks.

Busy Sunday and Monday

2011-10-12T12:01:00.000-04:00

Orange Friends Church in Lewis Center, OH, invited MMS to participate in their annual "Taste of Missions" Event Sunday evening. We were only too happy to represent MMS and share the ministry of missionary aviation.

Dwight talks to an inquirer at the MMS Aviation display table

The airplane for Gabon, Africa is just about done. Missionary pilot Steve Straw is here to do the return to service flights and take delivery of the plane. He and some members of his family took the project team and us out to eat at a local Mexican restaurant in appreciation for the work done.

Steve Straw presents a plaque to MMS Aviation in appreciation for the work done on his airplane. Representing MMS is Dwight and Dale Coates (project supervisor)

Below is a video of the final stages of completion of this airplane for ministry in Gabon, Africa

Double Celebration

2011-10-08T20:33:00.000-04:00

Now that Dad Tarter lives close to us, we can celebrate his and Dwight's birthdays together. Their birthdays are just two days apart.


Getting candles on the cakes

1 2 3 blow!

The yellow cake has #1 on each side of five candles in a row (151). Can you guess why the grandchildren did that? The answer is at the bottom of this page.

Being silly for the camera

151 combined years. Dwight 63 + Dad 88 = 151

September's Over Already??

2011-10-01T22:05:00.000-04:00

The last weekend of August I was at a retreat for the board of directors of the International Association of Missionary Aviation. A storm passed through Coshocton the first evening I was away and blew down part of one of our apple trees which was heavily-laden with fruit. Co-workers came for the downed apples at Rena's invitation and I had a clean-up job waiting upon my return.


I took off the little branches with a pruning shear, then used a chain saw for the rest of the fallen tree.

Since mid-July I'd tried to schedule with a seaplane rated pilot with the right kind of experience to come do return-to-service flights for a Cessna 206 we've prepared for Asas de Socorro in Brazil. Everything came together early this week as an AIMAIR pilot, Jim Streit, came to MMS Aviation to help us. The only fly in the ointment was that the new engine's fuel pump wouldn't produce enough pressure for full power operation. A new engine driven fuel pump was ordered and hopefully the flights will resume by the middle of next week.

After two short flights the plane taxied in and the fuel pressure troubleshooting began.

September flew by this year. All month it seemed there was more things to do than there was time in which to do them. I have an idea October might be like that too. This morning I "pinch hit" for one of the MMS mechanics who is out of town. The Boy Scouts in the Troop that meets at the church he attends are working on the aviation merit badge. It was a lot of fun working with the boys, especially trying to teach them the aviation term "aileron".

A Day in the Life of a Mission Pilot | JAARS

2011-09-24T10:13:00.000-04:00

Paul Westlund, a missionary pilot in Papua lost his life in a plane crash on September 22. While Dwight had met him once, we did not know him personally. The loss, however, is tremendous and the whole missionary aviation community feels the ripple effect. Please pray for his family and coworkers in Papua. Below is a link written by Paul of a typical day in the life of a missionary pilot.

A Day in the Life of a Mission Pilot | JAARS

Gospel Carrier

2011-09-17T11:35:00.000-04:00

Carrying the Gospel to the lost by airplane is the mission of Gospel Carrier International.We at MMS Aviation see to it that this ministry's airplanes are well maintained and ready to do the job. The GCI outreach to the Chinese population in the USA and Canada has Evangelistic teams that use their airplanes to transport them and ministry materials around the country. In addition, their discipleship follow up, includes a lot of travel. It is an exciting work and well worth your investigation.

New Home

2011-09-11T20:41:00.000-04:00

Two of the nine man loading crew from their church

A truck with a volunteer driver

My parents have a new home very near us. We are pleased with their decision to move 400 miles to Coshocton to be closer to us. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren are enthused about seeing them more often and so are we. Dwight and I went to PA a week ago to where my folks lived near Reading. He returned home on Labor Day and I remained for the final packing and to help with the driving to Ohio on Friday the 9th.

The Lord provided help in so many areas of the move and we're grateful. Some brought in meals or invited them to their homes for a meal, others helped pack or move furniture. One lady who stopped by, even volunteered to give Dad a haircut, which she did. The church deacons and others came to load the truck. A friend and fellow believer in Christ, whom Dad led to the Lord and discipled, is a U-Haul dealer and wanted to drive the truck for us.

The Lord gave us safety (many were praying) in spite of areas of flooding along and heavy rain on along the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-70. We would appreciate your prayers for my parents amid all the adjustments and settling in.

Is it all going to fit in?


Bill and Mae watch the unloading from the porch of their new apartment. Does it look like Bill is directing traffic?

Gabon Africa Cessna 207

2011-08-28T13:51:00.000-04:00

We have been keeping you posted from time to time on the work of the Cessna 207 for Gabon, Africa. As you recall, it was damaged during a forced landing and was shipped to MMS for repairs. Click here for that story. Check out the good news in the video below. We are excited about the progress that is being made.

Rolling Ridge Ranch

2011-08-23T16:30:00.000-04:00

School started today for the grandchildren. So on Friday, Jen took off a half day from work and we (Jen and Rena) decided to do something really fun with the kids before the start of school. It was decided that Rolling Ridge Ranch in the Amish community of Millersburg, would be the place to visit. Chanelle brought along her friend, Kylee.

The Ranch has a petting zoo as well as a wagon ride through the countryside where exotic animals are cared for. We rode a wagon pulled by a pair of beautiful Percheron horses. Our Amish driver and guide was loads of fun and had many great stories about the animals we were seeing and feeding.

We have way too many pictures and video clips to post on this blog, but if you want to see all of them, be sure to watch the video below set to music.

We're Getting Ready

2011-08-20T14:37:00.000-04:00

A very special couple is moving to Coshocton and we are getting ready! We are quite excited. We spent a little time at their apartment sprucing things up. Can you guess who is coming?

Getting that shelf paper cut to the right size (Jen and Dwight)

Chanelle gets the plants watered.

Chanelle and Javin clean the railing

The shower curtain is hung. Looks like someone(s) is ready for a shower

A Few Hours in Michigan

2011-08-14T14:16:00.000-04:00

After a trip to Rena's parents near Reading Pennsylvania in the middle of last week, Friday morning I was back at MMS Aviation. I wouldn't be there most of the day so I returned some phone calls and checked on progress of various projects in our hangars. At 9:30 am, a Cessna 172 RG arrived to take me to the Ionia County Airport in Michigan near Grand Rapids. I'd been asked to speak at the School of Missionary Aviation Technology (SMAT) graduation ceremony. Sixteen aircraft mechanic students and nine pilots were the graduating class of 2011.

SMAT flight instructor, Terry, did the piloting duties. He began by giving me a safety briefing.

It was a beautiful day for flying.

SMAT is moving into their new building on the Ionia County Airport. The hangar which housed the mechanic school will become the maintenance shop for their flight training fleet (I stood behind that hangar to take this picture of the new part of the facility).

It's usually a challenge to make a really nice aircraft hangar into a good auditorium, but the SMAT staff did pretty well. It was a pleasure and an honor for me to deliver a challenge to the graduates.

Oh yes, Terry got me back to Coshocton at 5:30 pm.

Visitors from India

2011-08-05T19:51:00.000-04:00

It has been great to have my (Rena's) brother, Bill, and sister-in-law, Deborah visit us for a few days before returning to their ministry in India. They are dorm parents at Hebron International School. In addition, Bill is head of the Alumni Department and Deborah also does some tutoring.

Bill and his big sister, Rena

We enjoyed an evening at Jen and Jason's home

Javin and Chanelle show their Uncle Bill and Aunt Deborah the finer points of a Wii

Chanelle shows Deborah a craft that Deborah's Dorm girls might like to do.


Javin challenges Bill to a Chess game

"Bringing in the Sheaves"

Later in the week, when Dwight returned from Air Venture in Wisconsin, we took an evening to go to Holmes County into the Amish communities, to have supper in the little town of Charm.

Bill thought he would help with the harvest!

Deborah enjoying the cows behind a fence. (They are not kept inside fences in India))

Local traffic

As we publish this, they have just arrived back in India. You can follow their activities on their blog

Better-Late-Than-Never AirVenture Update #3

2011-07-29T22:32:00.001-04:00

After a rainy middle of the week, it was another beautiful sunny day. There are lots of aviation things to see and do but we're here to work representing MMS Aviation. Tim, our AirVenture crew chief, assigned four and a half hour shifts to the MMS team here. It's enjoyable to talk to people about mission aviation and our part in it, but it requires a lot of standing. It doesn't take long for one's legs and back to complain a bit (my age might have something to do with it).

About twenty organizations have displays in the middle tent in the mission aviation complex. Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has the south tent and JAARS has the north one.

There's been a fairly steady flow of AirVenture attendees through the mission aviation tents. Quite a few people have been appreciative of learning about MMS.

Tim and I have worked together this week and are pretty much able to finish each other's stories. All our MMSers are doing a great job and I'm very pleased.

Better-Late-Than-Never AirVenture Update #2

2011-07-27T16:27:00.000-04:00

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is the largest aviation gathering in the world. Typically, 500,000 people visit and 10,000 aircraft fly in during the week-long event. There are lots of wierd and wonderful flying machines, many of them built by their pilot/owners.

One of the factory built airplanes caught my eye by virtue of its paint scheme. This one is a Kodiak built by Quest Aircraft. The Kodiak was designed with mission aviation in mind, but it has wide appeal in the larger aviation community. I have no idea whose this one is, but assume it is privately owned.

This is one expensive paint job!

The Better-Late-Than-Never AirVenture Report #1

2011-07-25T22:06:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday Scott Grote, Dave Shelly and I traveled to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to represent MMS Aviation at AirVenture 2011. A local organization, Mission Aviation Support Association, arranges housing, meals, transportation, and speaking engagements in churches for mission aviation personnel who come to AirVenture. I spoke in both morning services at Valley Baptist Church in Appleton. The 8:00 AM service, along with a fifty minute drive to get there, made me be an early riser. Later in the day we gathered in Oshkosh with representatives of all the mission aviation organizations for a meal together and an orientation session for the week ahead. It was a great time of seeing friends again as well.

Valley Baptist Church

Today was a beautiful day here in Oshkosh. Tim Obarow and I worked the early shift at the MMS Aviation display. Monday morning crowds are generally light, but we talked to several people who showed interest in MMS. In the afternoon Tim and I looked around to see what was at AirVenture this year.

The main "street" of AirVenture will be much more crowded later in the week.

Tim and I visited the Maverick flying car exhibit. The Maverick is being developed by Steve Saint and the folks at ITEC. It was fun to talk to Steve for a few minutes this afternoon.

Encouragement

2011-07-25T15:39:00.000-04:00

It is so encouraging to receive a "pat on the back" once in a while. Recently, MMS received a "pat on the back" in the form of a letter to the Editor of the Coshocton Tribune. Thank you.
Click here to read the letter.

A Visitor From Logos Bible Church

2011-07-23T21:14:00.000-04:00

It is always fun to have visitors to MMS and this week was a special one. Bobbi is a lady we have corresponded with for several years, but had never met. Her church, Logos Bible Church in Pickerington, OH, has partnered with us for several years. Since we will be the featured missionaries at Logos for the month of August, Bobbi wanted to get updated information, pictures for a bulletin board and see the MMS facilities. She had lots of great questions and we were only too happy to give her all the information she wanted.


The scope of the MMS Aviation Ministry is pictured on a wall in the conference room.

Bobbi and Dwight stand among freshly painted airframe parts in the massive paint booth

Bobbi sits at the controls of the Cessna 206 for Asas de Socorro in Brazil. It will have its return to service flight during the first week of August. This ministry is looking forward to the arrival of this airplane.


Work is in progress on the Cessna 207 from Gabon Africa. An earlier article gives some history of the arrival of this airplane. Click here. Some structural repair is being done after damage from a forced landing. Air Cavalry uses this airplane in support of a missionary hospital.

Pick, Chop, Cook, Mill and Freeze

2011-07-15T18:51:00.000-04:00

Our early apples are great for cooking and making applesauce. The good news is they were ready for harvesting last week; the bad news is that the tree is dieing. Only about a third of the tree bore apples, but one branch was so loaded if broke! I'll need to remove the tree now that the apples have been picked. We'll replace it with a new tree and wait until it grows and produces more apples.

Easy picking down low

First 5 gallon bucket is full

Putting the cooked apples through the mill which separates out peels and seeds.


The first 10 quarts ready to freeze

In all, we were able to make 4 gallons of apple sauce from 10 gallons of apples. Yum. We are all set for the year or two.

July 4th weekend

2011-07-12T20:37:00.000-04:00

Finding ourselves with a long weekend, it was a good opportunity to go to Pennsylvania to visit Rena's parents. Jen and the kids came along too. It had been a year and a half since they had been able to make the visit. Our trip was extended by three hours because of a backup of traffic behind an accident. Thankfully no one was killed. We were amused by a long line of people forming at a "port-a-pot" at the side of the road, presumably left by a construction company for the use of their employees!

The bear (stuffed) at a travel stop was fun to see.

Photo op with the bear

Happy Birthday Chanelle

The first generation with the fourth generation

Swimming is extra fun with Grandpa

1-2-3 jump

Jen and her Grandma

Javin educates Poppy on how to work a Nintendo DS

Moving Day for Scott and Stephanie

2011-07-02T15:59:00.000-04:00

Thursday, we, with our daughter, Jen, made the 80 mile trip from Coshocton to Columbus, OH, to help our son and daughter-in-law move. With the anticipation of a new family member arriving in December, an apartment with more space was needed. It was a long day, but with lots of help from Stepanie's side of the family and her friend, Jessie, we got the job done.

One of the pick-up loads

Dwight. One of many trips to the second floor

Scott with another heavy box

The dogs were banished to the laundry room or a while.

Tired, but moved to a new place.

MMS in the Coshocton Tribune

2011-06-28T20:48:00.000-04:00

MMS was featured in the local Newspaper on Sunday. Check out this link

Javin's Book

2011-06-18T10:38:00.000-04:00

In honor of Father's Day, we would like to share a book written by our grandson, Javin. His first grade class had the assignment of writing a story using each letter of the alphabet (working on it over several days) which would later be bound into a book. Javin decided to write about his Great Grandpa, Jarboe, who had just recently passed away. Through his words and drawings we can tell that he was greatly impacted by his Great Grandpa's life and "home going." Be sure to click on the directional arrows at the bottom right hand corner of the video to get the full screen in order to be able to read the book.

More on the Cessna 172 for Brigade Air

2011-06-15T20:31:00.000-04:00

MMS staff member, Keith Dodson, put together the following video which shows the dedicated work behind getting this airplane ready for Brigade Air. Thank you Keith.

Three Busy Weeks

2011-06-11T22:33:00.003-04:00

After the IAMA Conference on our way back to Ohio, we stopped in Bowling Green, Kentucky to spend a week with Mom. During the week we had great visits with my sister, my three brothers and sisters-in-law. One of those days Mom, Rena and I drove to the small rural community where Mom and Dad farmed and visited the cemetery. In addition to the visit, Mom wanted to see if the grass was growing she and Marvin (my older brother) sowed. It was.

Mom and I at Dad's grave.

Rena and I helped with various chores through the week. As I was clearing grass and weeds from Mom's day lilies, I disturbed a rabbit's nest. Three tiny bunnies bolted from the safe spot where their mother left them. It must have been a traumatic day for the rabbit family.

Rena rescues a rabbit refugee.

We drove back to Coshocton on Memorial Day and got right into our normal routines. There's a great team at MMS Aviation so my biggest challenge upon returning to my office was to go through a big stack of mail. Fortunately, a lot of it was junk mail and it doesn't take long to deal with that stuff.

The fellows are finishing the restoration of a Cessna 172 that was donated to Brigade Air. Two days ago the MMS family joined Brigade Air's Director, two Board Members, and two guests in Hangar A to dedicate the plane. It will be used to inspire teens toward missions through weeklong aviation summer camps.

Brigade Air's Board Chairman, Ron Wyrtzen, and Director, Bruce Wolff, join me for a Kodak moment.

The newly dedicated Cessna 172

More Texas

2011-05-20T23:08:00.000-04:00

Sessions continued today at IAMA until noon.

John Egler from Mission Safety International shares an accident report

Al Meehan of Wycliffe/JAARS simulates a hostage taking situation in a Muslim country with tips on what to do or not do. Also tips to avoid danger.

The group went out to eat at a restaurant in Kilgore. Many of the derricks are still there.

A quick stop in Texarkana as we straddle the state line

We are in Texas

2011-05-19T18:42:00.000-04:00

Rena and I are in Longview, Texas at the 40th annual conference of the International Association of Missionary Aviation (IAMA). Each year IAMA schedules two and a half days of meetings to discuss matters of mutual interest to organizations that make up the mission aviation community.

LeTourneau University is host this year and we meet in the Abbot Aviation Center of the University's School of Aeronautical Science at the Gregg County airport.

In 1966 through 1968 I was a LeTourneau College student and completed the Aviation Technician Course. One of my aviation instructors was Mr. J.C. Harder who taught hydraulics, sheet metal structures, and wood, dope and fabric. He was also a flight instructor and taught me to fly. J.C. has been at the IAMA meetings and it is a real treat to spend some time with him.

J.C. Harder and me

One more story: J.C. played the trumpet and had a lot of nice trumpet duet arrangements of hymns. He would choose a trumpet-playing student to join him and do trumpet duets in churches around the Longview area. I was one of his trumpet duet partners during my time as a student. (You can understand why it is special to see him again.)

Attack Robin

2011-05-12T15:52:00.000-04:00

If you come to our house, the back door is best these days. It appears we have a very protective Robin who has taken up residence! There is no doubt that Spring is here.

The Project is Finished

2011-05-08T22:02:00.001-04:00

Welcome Heather and Caroline

2011-04-23T15:09:00.001-04:00

Tuesday evening found a group of lively MMS ladies gathered at Dana's house. Lots of chatter and laughter could be heared - which is usually the norm when us ladies get together. The occasion was to welcome new MMS wives, Heather and Caroline. Heather and her husband, Andy, are from Scotland and Andy is here for the apprenticeship mechanic's program. Also here for the same training is Caroline's husband, Ben. Ben and Caroline are from MO. Both ladies are very busy mothers of preschoolers.

Heather Swanson and Caroline Fisher

Dana, Sherry and Mary have a chat

Jess and Laurie chat with Caroline and Heather

New Hangar Door Is Installed

2011-04-14T19:50:00.000-04:00

In just eight months, $140,000.00 was given to repair the original hangar and provide additional tools and equipment for MMS Aviation. God supplied through the gifts of many individuals, some businesses, and a few foundations to meet this need. Here are some pictures of what's happening to the original hangar MMS Aviation built at the Coshocton County Airport in 1978. We call it, "Hangar A".

Work began a couple weeks ago. The original hangar doors were"unskinned" and removed. Blue tarps made a curtain to keep rain out while the new door was installed.

The construction crew quickly altered the face of Hangar A.

It rained early this week which stopped work outside, but there were some things to finish inside.

Last Friday the green siding was put on the door and yesterday the crew finished the front of the building.

As soon as the siding was done, work on the roof began. About a third of the roof was replaced by the end of today. Stay tuned for more blog posts (I'll show what that big door looks like when it's open). We're grateful for all who gave and encouraged us in this project.

Birthday Girl

2011-04-09T14:34:00.000-04:00

The day before my Birthday, it was nice to be able to celebrate with family. Since Scott and Stephanie live a two hour drive away, in Columbus, we met them halfway. Jen and Javin were able to come too.

Celebration at Appleby's

The next day, April 4th, my actual Birthday, Dwight took me to an Indian Restaurant in Mt Vernon, OH (an hour's drive west) The unusual name of the restaurant caught our attention. The food, however, was very good.

Unusual name for an Indian Restaurant

Unusual too was the sign in the bathroom. Most employee handwashing signs are quite brief, but this one was more detailed than most !!

This restaurant's manager wants to be sure his employees are clean

A New Mechanic in Town

2011-03-18T21:15:00.002-04:00

Today, a little after noon, I finished Paul Jones' FAA Mechanic exams. Paul fulfilled the Federal Aviation Administration's 30 month aircraft maintenance experience requirement in February and qualified to take the tests for an FAA Mechanic Certificate. He took three written tests at a computer testing center, passing them with excellent scores. That brought Paul to the oral and practical exams which I'm authorized to administer.

Paul answers a question from my book of many questions.

Paul's oral and practicals began yesterday. In my book of test questions there are about a thousand questions that cover General, Airframe, and Powerplant subject areas. I choose 176 questions to ask for the oral portion of the exams. There are 44 subject areas and I'm required to ask four questions from each. Once Paul successfully completed the oral exam, we headed for the hangars to do the practical part.

The guy with the clipboard gets to give the test; the guy with the hydraulic cylinder gets to answer the questions.

Again, all 44 subject areas had to be tested. Paul demonstrated his ability in hydraulics by replacing the "O" ring seals in a landing gear door actuating cylinder. The entire oral and practical is usually a day and a half of pretty intense testing. I always hope the applicant finishes successfully and is at least a little more exhausted than I am.

Paul is a graduate of MMS Aviation's mechanic training program and will soon serve as a pilot/mechanic with Missionary Air Group in Guatemala.

It's Not All About Airplanes

2011-03-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

Remembering Dad, M. Brown Jarboe

2011-02-26T17:41:00.001-05:00

My father, Marvin Brown Jarboe, Sr., finished the earthly part of his life today. Until he had a massive stroke last Wednesday morning, he enjoyed reasonably good health and an ability to interact with family and friends. He was unloading the clean dishes from the dishwasher for Mom when the stroke occurred.

Dad was born June 4, 1916 and the Great (economic) Depression and World War II were formative events in his life. However, I believe his strong personal Christian faith, reinforced by his parents, siblings, and extended family, was the primary influence on his life.

At Mom's and Dad's fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration their children and spouses as well as all the grandchildren posed for pictures. (There's a serious version of this one somewhere.)

Mom's birthday in September, shortly before their 65th wedding anniversary November 17, 2010.

Dad was a wonderful grandpa. He adored his five granddaughters and one grandson as much as they did him. In 1979 Mom and Dad traveled to Cochabamba, Bolivia to meet our daughter, their first grandchild.

Jennifer Lynn (Jen) gets acquainted with her Grandpa Jarboe.

Our son, Scott, met Grandpa after we returned from Bolivia in 1981.

Just so things don't stay the same, he had one great-granddaughter and four great-grandsons.

Chanelle Robinson, Jen's eldest, delights Great-grandpa.(1999)

Javin, Chanelle's little brother, shares Great-grandpa's enthusiasm for old John Deere tractors.

A couple months after Dad's 94th birthday, I took this picture at a family reunion of Dad and Javin. He looked pretty well for an old man, didn't he?

Our Purpose - To Spread God's Word

2011-02-23T10:40:00.009-05:00

When I saw this 10 minute video of a mission airplane delivering God's Word, I just had to share it with you. The absolute joy and excitement these dear believers express will warm your hearts and inspire you to continue to pray for missionaries everywhere. It also inspires us look ahead to what airplanes that are sent to MMS Aviation do, after they leave our facilities in Ohio.
~ Rena

A Short Trip South

2011-02-18T21:37:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday morning Rena and I headed for my parents' home in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The seven and a half hour drive began in almost blinding snow but after about forty-five minutes we were on dry roads and enjoyed good weather the rest of the week end.

February 12, 2011 near Coshocton, Ohio

The reason for the trip was to attend a church service Sunday evening at which my youngest brother, Frank, would be ordained as a minister. Frank is known among reenactors of the American Revolutionary War era as Parson John. His wife, Carol, portrays Maggie Delaney, Parson John's indentured servant. A good introduction to their participation in living history is the About Us page of their web site. This has become their full-time work and ordination adds another dimension to Parson John as historian and minister.

Parson John tells how he came to faith in Christ.

(He used a strange futuristic device to strengthen his voice.)

It was a special evening. A couple pastors whose ministries helped Frank grow in his faith were there and spoke. A number of reenactors also attended dressed in 18th Century apparel. Frank's pastor, Tim Harris, brought an excellent message he prepared for just one person; and, even though it was for Frank, Tim let the rest of us listen.

My family: Pam, Eric, Dad, Frank, Mom, me, Marvin

The family assembled for a group picture following the service. Marvin and I look distracted from the picture taking and a bit amused in this shot, but it's the best picture on our camera. (The picture is honest--no Photoshop hypocrisy here.)

Rena and I returned home to Coshocton on Monday, Valentines Day.

Heat

2011-02-08T12:46:00.000-05:00

Over twenty eight years ago when we built and moved into our house we opted to heat our home with wood. Dwight built a double barrel wood burner from a kit and we were nice and warm. Located in the basement, the wood burner produces plenty of heat for the whole house. (The upper barrel provides more area for heat transfer.)

Time to add more wood to the double barrel woodburner

Some years later we added a geothermal heat pump. We were offered 1/2 price from a dealer who wanted to make us his guinea pig project. This also enabled us to add air filtering capabilities and cool air for the summers. We hadn't planned to burn wood this winter, but with the failure of the blower motor on the heat pump, we were scrambling to find firewood to keep the house warm. It took a week for the motor to arrive and Dwight picked it up at the dealer last evening. Everything is working fine now.

Installing the new motor

Hangar and Home

2011-02-05T20:38:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a beautiful winter day with lots of sunshine and temperatures a little above freezing. It gave Ian a chance to check out the replacement fuel pump on the Cessna 206 headed for Brazil. If you look closely you'll see hoses (just below the windshield) from the engine compartment into the cabin for test gauges to indicate fuel pressures during the engine run. The test gauges and hoses will be removed before the plane is flown.

This afternoon Jason, our son-in-law, brought Javin by to show us what they picked up from the taxidermist today. This fox squirrel is Javin's very first wild game harvest so Jason had it mounted on this wall plaque. He got the squirrel in October but the taxidermist has had plenty of work. Javin got his deer in late November and I believe a spring turkey season is next on our hunters' schedule.

Leftover Beef Stew

2011-01-30T16:20:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Rena made a very tasty beef stew which we enjoyed last evening. While washing the crock pot after supper I thought about today's lunch and how good it would taste to turn the stew into a meat pie. I don't have the culinary savvy to think these things up on my own; I learned the trick from Mom. She would serve leftover beef stew this way. The crust is biscuit dough.

There's beef stew under that crust.

It seemed logical to make enough biscuit dough for some biscuits too. That way we'd be able to properly use some of the sorghum-molasses we brought back from Kentucky last year.

Biscuits are done. (It looks like I'm trying to blend in with the kitchen cabinets.)

It's a quiet Sunday afternoon here. You probably figured that out already; especially with this being a blog about nothing more exciting than beef stew and biscuits.

Rena continues to recover from her surgery. She went to Sunday School and church this morning and was a bit tired when we got home. That's probably why she didn't object to the biscuit experiment.

Some of my favorite things . . .

2011-01-17T10:15:00.001-05:00

I'm sure you've heard the song from the musical Sound of Music that starts, "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens . . ." (Now that I've mentioned it, it will probably be one of those tunes that get stuck in your head that won't go away. Please accept my apology if that's the case.) Anyway, what I saw as I walked into the hangar this morning makes my list of favorite things.

Mechanical restoration of the Cessna model 206 is practically complete. Last Friday the plane was weighed and its new weight and balance data computed. Ground-runs and final operational checks are yet to be done and all the maintenance records have to be completed before return-to-service flights can be made.

The plane will soon meet transportation needs of Christian ministries in Brazil. (They have a huge place there to take-off and land called the Amazon river and its tributaries.) However, on a cold winter morning in Coshocton, Ohio, it's one of my favorite things.

A New Year At MMS

2011-01-13T10:14:00.001-05:00

A new year has started at MMS. With inventory out of the way, work once again continues on many projects. Another item to deal with is the snow. Check out the MMS blog about this. Click here.

Flowers

2011-01-07T21:33:00.000-05:00

Some little visitors and their Mommy brought me some beautiful flowers this afternoon. Gave my day a big lift. Thank you Jen, Javin and Chanelle.

Meet Stan

2011-01-03T15:45:00.000-05:00

When Rena and I go for a stroll up and down the hallway, another fellow always goes with us. I call him Stan. He's a quiet fellow, but a more faithful guy you may never meet. He's really skinny, but he holds I-V pumps and monitors day and night without complaint. I've not seen him take any initiative and go where you don't want him to go.

Stan and I

Stan's big foot helps him perform his duties.

Stan's pretty stable as well. I'm sure you'd have to be if you had the same vocation. Now, you can picture, in your mind's eye, Rena, Dwight, and Stan out for a walk in the hospital corridor.

Most people might call him Stand, which is, I think, his full name.

Hospital Stay

2011-01-03T14:58:00.001-05:00

December 30th, very early in the morning, Rena and I drove to Zanesville, Ohio to the Genesis Good Samaritan hospital. Rena was scheduled to have a colon resection that day. The surgery was made necessary by a few episodes of diverticulitis over the past several years.

As I mentioned in the previous post, the surgery went well. Recovery has been more challenging than we hoped, but they tell us Rena's progress is quite normal.

It was rainy on the 30th, but New Years Eve day was sunny and quite nice. Like most hospitals that have been around a while, it's a sprawling campus. The main entrance is just left of center in the above photo.

New Years Eve visitors included Scott and Stephanie, Jen, Jason and Chanelle. (Javin spent the night with a school buddy.)

I got to the hospital Sunday about 11:00 am and found Jen, Chanelle and Javin were already there to have church with Rena. Jen brought their "Our Daily Bread" devotional and a Bible. Chanelle and Javin read the Scripture passage and grandpa read the devotional. (Chanelle and Javin are both very good readers.) It was special of them to help make up for our missing church.

It's too late to back out now . . .

2010-12-30T16:11:00.001-05:00

No pictures this time, but I'm sitting in a hospital room watching Rena sleep. We got up at 4:00 this morning and drove about 36 miles to Zanesville (Ohio) to Good Samaritan Hospital where she underwent surgery this morning. I'm not too knowledgeable in medical language, but she had a colon resection something-or-other.

The surgeon was pleased with the result of his work and expects a normal recovery. Rena will be in the hospital at least into early next week and I'll be spending my days with her. In addition to the pain, she's kind of dopey and has a bitter taste in her mouth; but, if it was fun, everybody would want to spend New Years in the hospital.

We're grateful for the many, many people encouraging us and assuring us of their prayers. Most of all, we're grateful for our Heavenly Father's care. We trust Him fully with all the events of today and the days that follow.

A Second Christmas in Pennsylvania

2010-12-25T19:36:00.001-05:00

The appointed Turkey Carver

Having already celebrated Christmas with our children and grandchildren, we had the opportunity to make a quick trip to eastern Pennsylvania to visit my (Rena's) parents for Christmas. As you can see in the pictures we didn't lack for good food and fellowship.

Mashed potatoes in the making

Almost ready

Yum

Family Christmas

2010-12-24T11:58:00.001-05:00

Looks like something good in here

We had an early Christmas this year. Our first time trying that. This gave our kids less stress trying to be with us and in-laws at the same time. It also gave us the opportunity to go to PA on Christmas to spend time with Rena's parents.

Cuddling with Mom and Dad.

Chanelle with "Sophie"- Scott and Stephanie's dog

Yay, Phineas and Ferb shirt

Glad Uncle Scott and Aunt Stephanie are here

Javin has had four months of piano and was eager to show us his stuff

The Floats go on the Cessna 206 for Brazil

2010-12-21T09:28:00.008-05:00

The last major hurdle for the Cessna 206 for Brazil is being completed. Watch this video (by Keith Dodson) to see how we put floats on an already completed airplane! You may remember we posted a video on the arrival of the floats in November and information on the ministry this airplane is will be used in.
http://jarboesinmissionaviation.blogspot.com/2010/11/floats.html
It will be an exciting day to see this airplane fly away, ready for ministry in Brazil.

From Gabon, Africa to Our Hangar

2010-12-10T21:48:00.000-05:00

At the end of August three MMS mechanics went to Gabon, a country in Africa, to put a damaged Cessna model 207 in a shipping container. MMS staff, Dale Coates, and apprentice mechanics, Paul Jones and Andy Porter, quickly disassembled the plane and secured it in the container for shipment to the MMS Aviation facility.

Paul, Andy, and Dale on the job in Gabon.

Following a rather lengthy MMS Board of Directors meeting last evening, I went to work a little late this morning. When I got there the shipping container the fellows sealed in Gabon in early September was being unloaded in Hangar C. It had traveled by ship across the Atlantic to New York; then by rail to Columbus, Ohio; and to Coshocton by truck, as you can see.

Fortunately, we haven't disposed of the old fork lift yet. It joined its newer replacement to lift the fuselage which was balanced by the fellows at the tail bulkhead so the truck could pull forward to free the plane from the container.

There was no further damage to the plane during shipping, which proves the guys did a superb job loading it. Our Gabon crew were all smiles as the truck with the empty shipping container pulled away.

Andy, Paul, and Dale - not in Africa any more and dressed for December.

The airplane's normal use is in support of a mission hospital in Gabon and the vast majority of its flights are as an airborne ambulance.

More Meat for the Freezer

2010-11-29T22:07:00.000-05:00

The phone rang this evening and as soon as I answered it a young voice said, "Hi, Grandpa. Guess what. I got my first deer." While hunting with his dad and uncle, Javin shot a young male deer called a "button buck". He shot the deer just before sundown and after field dressing and tagging, Jason, Javin and Javin's Uncle Joe drove by our house so we could see the deer and take some pictures.

I don't know who was more pleased, the successful hunter or his father and mentor.

Jason, our son-in-law, began hunting at an early age and he's teaching Javin to handle firearms and hunt safely. Much of their annual meat supply comes from their harvest of wild game, including turkey and goose.

After Thanksgiving jobs to do

2010-11-28T22:49:00.000-05:00

It's pretty normal for me to do some domestic maintenance items when we visit our parents. My mother had two projects on her list for after Thanksgiving, one of which was to clean and paint an electric heater cover with high-temperature paint. Upon removing the cover, I saw that the wiring wasn't in very good condition. Consequently, the whole heater was replaced.

Replacing the wall heater

The pull-cord on a window blind failed, so Dad and I put in new cord and took care of Mom's other maintenance item.

Re-hanging the blind with its new pull-cord

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-26T12:32:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Thanksgiving with Dwight's family in KY. Our turkey was delicious. A slow cooked turkey in a metal trash can - better known as Trash Can Turkey. If you check the Internet, you will see that this is getting to be a very popular method of cooking a turkey. If you want to try it for yourself check it out here.

Trash Can Turkey in the making. Dwight's brother, Eric, cooked the turkey at his place in Indiana and brought it to the family gathering in Kentucky.

Dad and Dwight peel potatoes

Dwight's sister Pam, with our Scott and Stephanie

Thirteen of us Jarboes were able to get together.

We are truly grateful for the blessing of family. We missed our daughter and her family who were celebrating back in Ohio with Jason's family.

A father and two of his sons (Marvin, left, and Eric)

Darren (our niece Brittany's husband ) takes his turn on the Wii.

Floats

2010-11-24T12:33:00.000-05:00

We are excited! This week the floats arrived for the Cessna 206 which will be used in Brazil for His Kingdom. With the many rivers in Brazil such as the Amazon and it's tributaries, this airplane will be well used in ministry.

Check out the web page for Asas de Socorro (Wings of Help) Although it is in Portuguese, you can tell a lot from the pictures http://www.asasdesocorro.org.br/html/index.php. Ryan Joy, their maintenance director in Manaus, Brazil, is a graduate of the MMS program.

Here's a video of the arrival of the floats at MMS.

Friday

2010-11-20T12:51:00.000-05:00

In the MMS Aviation engine shop there was a decidedly English tone to wrap up the work week. Andy Porter and Mark Beckwith measured parts of the Continental O-300D engine they had just disassembled. Andy and Mark are from England and are here through the partnership MMS Aviation has with Mission Aviation Fellowship of the UK. They're from different parts of England, and even we tone-deaf "Yanks" can hear they speak with different accents. They were working under the supervision of staff member, Ian Hengst.

Andy (left) records data as Mark measures parts with a micrometer.

In the afternoon, friends we knew in Bolivia (with Wycliffe Bible Translators) stopped by the hangar for a short visit. Steve worked in the print shop and Betty taught in a missionary kids' school. This was in Cochabamba, Bolivia in the late 1970s and early '80s.

Rena, Steve, Betty and me at the MMS outreach map in the conference room

It is GroundCrew Time

2010-11-15T18:42:00.000-05:00

Late this afternoon we headed to Zanesville, OH (65 roundtrip) to the Franklin Printing Company. The latest MMS GroundCrew newsletter was ready to be picked up. This company does a great printing job and we are happy with the quality work they do. There will be a few more steps before you receive it in your mailbox. The MMS Ladies are busy sticking labels on envelopes and will have a final "push" just after Thanksgiving to get those envelopes stuffed (approx. 5,000).

We're pretty sure this company was not founded by Benjamin Franklin.

Dwight loads the last box

Mid-Air Repair

2010-11-12T20:23:00.000-05:00

Our guys at MMS know how to change airplane tires, but none of them have ever done it like this! Just for fun we thought you would enjoy this old video clip of Gladys Ingall installing a wheel during flight.

Gladys Ingles was a member of a barnstorming troupe called the 13 Black Cats in the 1920s. Ingles was a wing walker; in this film, she shows her fearlessness in a classic barnstorming fashion to save an airplane that has lost one of its main wheels. Ingles is shown with a replacement wheel being strapped to her back and then off she goes as "Up She Goes," a duet from the era, provides the soundtrack. In the video, Ingles transfers herself from the rescue plane to the one sans main gear tire. She then expertly works herself down to the undercarriage only a few feet from a spinning prop. It's certainly a feat many mechanics wouldn't even try on the ground with the engine running.

They Come and They Go!

2010-11-02T15:54:00.000-04:00

Busy, describes the activities in the MMS hangars. This past week a Piper Navajo flew in from Alaska needing some repair and modification. The complete list of work lined up is on the MMS Blog. This airplane is used by Arctic Barnabas Ministries in Alaska. They provide pastoral care to remote pastors and missionary families.

The Piper Navajo (Arctic Barnabas Ministries) arrives from Alaska

As you can see, our guys didn't waste any time getting down to work on the Navajo

At the same time, MMS was also putting the finishing touches on the Cessna Skymaster for LAMP, a North American Ministry to Indigenous Peoples in the US and Canada.This particular airplane is used in Canada. Below is the test flight video. The final departure was early Sunday morning.

Colonial Trade Fair

2010-10-18T20:53:00.000-04:00

Javin and some colonials

We went back to the Eighteenth Century again. This is our final time travel this year and it was only a fifty-minute drive from our home in the Twenty-first Century. Geographically, it was at Schoenbrunn Village State Memorial - New Philadelphia, Ohio. My brother, Frank Jarboe, and his wife, Carol, attended the trade fair there October 16 & 17. (They were at The Fair at New Boston near Springfield, Ohio over the Labor Day weekend.) So when "Parson John" and "Maggie" are in our area we go see them.

Rena watches the almost lost art of weaving in the 17th century.

Chanelle learns to make a pomador.

Dwight talks with his brother - aka Parson John, an itenerate preacher. A tailor and his wife (left) join the conversation. The tailor remarked that my clothing was very odd and certainly not in style, but he could clothe me properly for a reasonable fee.

Javin, Chanelle, Stephanie and Scott watch our sister-in-law, Carol - aka Maggie Delaney (indentured servant) do a laundry demonstration.

Javin stands with a Delaware Indian.

A website describing the restored village gives this bit of history.

Schoenbrunn Village was founded in 1772 by a group of Moravian missionaries and Indian converts from Pennsylvania, and was the first white settlement in what is now Ohio. The War for Independence spelled the end of the prospering little community of 60 cabins, church, school, and cemetery. The Moravians had renounced war and refused to bear arms for either side; as a result, they suffered raids from both sides. Reverend David Zeisberger, the leader, decided in 1777 to abandon Schoenbrunn and concentrate all the Ohio missions elsewhere. Members of the Moravian Church relocated the forgotten village in the twentieth century by means of a map preserved by the mother church at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society acquired the site in 1923 and soon reconstructed a number of buildings on their original sites.

The Cessna Skymaster

2010-10-15T20:40:00.000-04:00

We have been anticipating the completion of this Cessna 337 for LAMP. Notice the two engines - one in the front and the other in the rear. The test pilot will be arriving soon to fly it and return it to service in Canada.

Belleville

2010-10-11T09:58:00.000-04:00

Rena and I spent the weekend visiting my cousin Joy and her husband Tom in New Hudson, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Joy's father and my mother grew up in the Detroit area, children of Oscar and Ruth Schulert. All of my lifetime, Grandma and Grandpa lived on Belleville Road not far from the Ypsilanti Airport, where the Ford Motor Company built B-24 bombers in World War II.

Grandma's and Grandpa's house on Belleville Road as it looks today

Sunday afternoon we drove by the house where our grandparents lived and then visited the cemetery where Grandpa's and Grandma's earthly remains are buried. They were born in the 1880s--it boggles the mind how technology has changed since then.

Joy (my cousin) and I at the Belleville cemetery at our grandparents' headstones

On our way back to New Hudson we drove to Willow Run Airport. The Yankee Air Museum is there and although there wasn't time to visit the whole museum, we stopped by a storage area and looked through the fence at some of the museum's aircraft.

As an Army Air Corp aircraft mechanic, my dad attended the B-24 school at Willow Run during WWII, and that allowed Dad and Mom to meet.

Tom and I looking at museum planes

Where's Waldo?

2010-10-09T22:03:00.000-04:00

No doubt, you remember the series of books filled with intricate drawings of a multitude of tiny people asking "Where's Waldo?" Well, today we found Waldo.

Rena and I drove to Michigan today on a personal and business trip and made a brief stop in Waldo.

So, now we know where Waldo is. Do you?

Birthday and the Fair

2010-10-07T22:02:00.000-04:00

Bill and Mae

This past weekend we enjoyed a family visit with my (Rena's) parents in Wyomissing, PA. My brother, Bill, and sister-in-law, Deborah, also made the trip from Vancouver, BC Canada as we helped Dad celebrate his 87th Birthday. My parent's small group from church that meets together regularly, also helped him celebrate the day before, with cake and cards and loads of love.

Back row: Bill and Deborah Tarter, Rena and Dwight Jarboe
Front row: Mae and Bill Tarter

This will be the last time that the six of us will be together for a while. Bill and Deborah are leaving for India in November to be on the staff of a missionary kid's school. You can follow their journey by checking out their blog at http://www.billanddeborah.blogspot.com/
Meanwhile, back in Coshocton, the County Fair has been in full swing. We left PA very early on Wednesday, and got back just in time to see our granddaughter sing with her school choir at the fair. Grandpa also got in some mini-golf time with our grandson.

Chanelle, front row, blue shirt/pink boots

Dwight and Javin

Fork Lift

2010-10-02T20:03:00.000-04:00

The other day MMS Aviation's Facility Maintenance Manager, Dave Shelly, and I were in Hangar C. MMS recently purchased a good used forklift and Dave was showing me the seat upholstery that was just replaced. He moved the forklift outside so I could take some pictures of it.

This forklift replaces an old MoToLift from the early fifties that had become very difficult to maintain because many repair parts are unavailable. Our "new" one is a 2000 Daewoo forklift rated at 4,000 pounds lifting capacity which will serve MMS very well for many years. A grant from the Tyndale House Foundation provided the funds for this machine which is critical to the maintenance of our facility and our service to the mission aviation community.

Standing by to unload airplanes and parts arriving at MMS by truck or trailer.

Jarboe Reunion

2010-09-29T15:32:00.000-04:00

Saturday we left the house at 6:15 AM in order to go eat lunch - in Kentucky. It was time for the Annual Jarboe Reunion in Wilmore KY. We had a great noon potluck and plenty of time to visit with Jarboe cousins and their families. Some of us stayed the night in the area and traveled two more hours east, to Jackson, KY to attend church where Dwight's cousin, Sam, is pastor. We returned home Sunday evening - glad to sleep in our own beds!

It was also Mom's birthday. Here she and Dad are enjoying her giant musical (chicken dance) Birthday card.

Dwight and some of the cousins

Marvin (Dwight's brother) and Paula

Cousins Esther and Carolyn

For additional pictures click here

My Short Air Force Career

2010-09-23T21:47:00.003-04:00

Saturday, September 18th, there was an airshow at the Coshocton County Airport. There were four excellent aerobatic acts with normal stunt planes, however the final act was a flight demonstration of a U.S. Air Force Thunderbolt II. The Thunderbolt II is more commonly known as the A-10 Warthog.

Two Warthogs came, one for the demonstration and a backup plane.

When it was time for the A-10s to head to their next show, it was discovered that one of them had a leaking hydraulic line in the left main landing gear system. The plane was put in MMS Aviation's hangar "C" which had been cleared to house the other show planes. The crew repaired the plane there.

Monday morning we all had to take a look.

The A-10s are based in Tucson, Arizona and two mechanics from their squadron are on hand at the demonstrations. They were responsible for the repair, but they called in hydraulic specialists from an Air Force base in Springfield, Ohio to help. The Springfield base is about 135 miles west of Coshocton and are an F-16 fighter training operation.

The blue jumpsuited guys are from Tucson, the others are from Springfield.

Tuesday afternoon, the hydraulic repair was complete and the system was checked. The airplane was raised on jacks so the landing gear could be retractred and the hydraulic system could be purged of any air that remained due to the line repair. All the equipment (jacks, power supplies, tow bar, etc.) was trucked from Springfield.

All the wheels are off the ground.

Once all was ready for the gear retraction test, aka "gear swing", one of the Tucson crew told me, "Sir, I need you in the cockpit. Empty all your pockets first." He didn't have to repeat himself. (Empty pockets mean there will be nothing to fall into the cockpit to get lost and jam controls at some inopportune time.)

Honorary crewman on the job.

Briefing by the real crew.

Landing gear retracted normally and no leaks--that's what we want!

I better keep my day job. They don't think I served long enough to qualify for a pension, even if I am old enough.

My appreciation for and admiration of the professional military men and women who serve our Country was reinforced this week. Getting acquainted with Mark, Dino, Jeff, Tim, was a true privilege. (There were three other fellows from Springfield here, but I don't remember their names.)

There you have it! My whole military career consists of raising and lowering the landing gear on an A-10 Warthog two times.

Jen

2010-09-21T17:34:00.000-04:00

We were happy to celebrate our daughter's Birthday last week. We are pround of the lovely wife and mother she has become. Both Jen and Jason had busy work weekends, so we were happy to have the kids for the night. A wonderful opportunity to "spoil" the grandkids!

Jen with Javin

The Robinsons

More about the Fair at New Boston

2010-09-14T21:52:00.000-04:00

On September 4th Rena, Scott and I went to the Fair at New Boston near Springfield, Ohio (see previous post). This Colonial era fair draws a lot of reenactors from quite a distance. Among those who travel to Springfield from South Central Kentucky are Gerry and Maria Barker. The Barkers take horses and oxen to reenactments throughout the year to demonstrate how they were the "trucks" of that time period. Especially fascinating to me was the team of oxen.

The wagon is patterned after wagons available in the late Eighteenth Century. The wooden bucket suspended from the rear axle contains (surprise!) axle grease. Gerry has just finished hitching the four oxen to the wagon for the morning's trek through the fair.

Notice that the left rear ox is holding Gerry's hat for him.

In the afternoon, I watched Gerry hitch the oxen to the wagon. He talked to them in a normal tone of voice, just as he would have to a person. The front left ox is the lead ox and Gerry talked to him the most. Gerry had no halters or ropes on the oxen to move them into place.

Gerry just talks to "his boys" as they move into position. The oxen regularly do real work, including logging, not just giving demonstrations like this.

The wagon tongue got hooked to the yolk of the rear pair first.

All ready to haul something, Gerry takes a few minutes to tell fair goers about the use of oxen in general, and a bit about his boys as well. Perhaps this is what an "eighteen wheeler" looked like in 1780. There were many interesting things to see at the Fair at New Boston and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. But, for me, seeing Gerry work with his oxen was worth the price of admission by itself. (Now, if I haven't used all the proper terminology, please keep in mind that I'm an aircraft mechanic from a different century and don't know better. I like history, though.) - Dwight

A Visit to the Eighteenth Century

2010-09-05T22:56:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Rena and I left Coshocton, drove to Columbus where our son, Scott, joined us, and we continued to a place near Springfield, Ohio. The event we attended is called The Fair at New Boston and is a Colonial-era reenactment held each Labor Day weekend.

My brother, Frank and his wife, Carol, portray people typical of those who lived in the late Eighteenth and early Nineteenth Centuries. Frank is known as Parson John and portrays a preacher. At many of the events he and Carol attend, Parson John holds a church service on the Sunday morning of the reenactment using music and a sermon typical of the time period.

Scott, Frank and I at the Fair

Carol portrays an Irish indentured servant named Maggie. This year Maggie gives demonstrations as to how laundry was done. She's a popular person at the reenactments, bantering back and forth with other reenactor with her quick "Irish" wit. Not many people portray the servant class, with most preferring to be artisans, merchants, military personel, entertainers, or gentle folk.

Carol and Rena visit a moment between loads of laundry

A wealthy couple talk with a fellow who appears to be a French trapper-trader

A fire-eater at the fair

As is the case with many reenactments, there was a military battle involved. We were at the Indian encampment when they were preparing to do "battle" with the British.

Back safe and sound in the Twenty-first Century,

Dwight

Click here for more pictures of the Fair at New Boston

Happy Birthday Javin

2010-09-02T21:47:00.000-04:00

Our grandson, Javin, turned 7 years old on August 31. Since that was on a Tuesday (a school day) , we had an early celebration on the weekend before.

Get those candles blown out!

OOOH, I wonder what this is!

Some assembly required. Javin and Dwight put his new toy crane together.

For more pictures click here

Gabon Blog

2010-08-27T10:42:00.000-04:00

If you are having trouble viewing the blog link posted in the previous blog, click on this one instead.

http://www.gabonpilot.blogspot.com/

Rapid Response to Gabon

2010-08-27T10:11:00.000-04:00

Three of our MMS men, are currently in Gabon, West Africa preparing a damaged airplane for shipment to MMS for repairs. Staff member, Dale Coates and apprentices Andy Porter and Paul Jones make up the team.

Dale Coates, Andy Porter and Paul Jones

Damaged airplane after forced landing

Pilot, Steve Straw has posted the progress being made on the project, on his blog, so check out the link below to see our guys at work.

http://gabonpilot.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-wings-have-been-clipped.html

It will be secured in a sea/land container and travel by ship and then over land. The estimate is that it will take three weeks to get here.

We would appreciate your prayers for their safety, stamina (long work days) and health.

Fresh Peaches

2010-08-26T22:40:00.000-04:00

I really enjoy fresh peaches. They are tasty on my breakfast cereal, delightful as a quick snack, and I've been known to add a little vanilla ice cream to a bowl of them on occasion. The last bunch of peaches Rena brought home from the grocery was maturing a bit too quickly and I couldn't keep up with them. So, it was time to make a pie.

Mom taught me how to make good pie crust, but this time I must credit Mrs. Pillsbury. (She makes them in a big factory and exchanges the pie crusts for some of your hard-earned cash.)

It's ready for the upper crust.

Just out of the oven a few minutes ago, don't know how it tastes yet but I'm optimistic.

Thirty Six Years Ago

2010-08-24T21:55:00.000-04:00

A couple of young people got married August 24, 1974 in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Thirty-six years later, to the day, they celebrated the event by driving about 65 miles to Canton, Ohio to have supper at the Bombay Sitar restaurant.

The waitress brought a complimentary dessert with a candle to help the celebration.

That young couple have gotten a little older, haven't they? (They're also wiser, and more convinced than ever that they did the right thing when they married.)

Little Visitor

2010-08-22T21:32:00.000-04:00

At MMS we have many visitors who stop by for a tour, and we are happy to show them the airplanes, explain the MMS ministry, and show how God is providing and working through mission aviation. Some visitors just drop by and others plan in advance and schedule, especially when they are bringing a large group or coming from out of town. Friday, two groups of visitors stopped by. Here's an account of one group.

A little boy named Dane has a passion for airplanes. His grandmother is familiar with the MMS ministry and attends a supporting church of ours near Columbus. She knew her grandson would see lots of airplanes at MMS and scheduled a visit. Dane enjoyed seeing the airplanes, and his grandmother and an Aunt and Uncle learned more about how MMS Aviation serves the mission aviation community.

The first plane they looked at in hangar "A" will be sent to Brazil.

On to hangar "C".

Standing inside the painting booth housed in hangar "C".

The red airplane caught his attention. This Cessna Skymaster is being prepared for a ministry Canada.

Dane at the controls. A missionary pilot in the making?

Time to Reminisce

2010-08-21T17:24:00.000-04:00

Chuck and Margaret Chamberlin are retired missionaries who worked in India. As a little girl, while growing up in India, I knew them as Uncle Chuck and Aunt Margaret. They currently live in Warren, OH. Dwight and I did one of those spur of the moment ideas when I realized that their daughter, Karen, and her daughter, Bronwyn were visiting from Australia for a few days. We just had to go to Warren to see them. Karen and I are close in age and hadn't seen each other in at least 26 years. What fun it was to catch up! It was worth the 5 hour round trip!

Chuck and Margaret Chamberlin, their granddaughter, Bronwyn, and daughters, Karen and Sharon

A time to reminisce as we pour over pictures from our trip to India two and a half years ago

Rena, Karen and Sharon, childhood playmates in India

Vacation Days

2010-08-20T17:07:00.001-04:00

The day after we returned from AirVenture, we repacked and left for Brown County State Park in Southern Indiana for a family reunion. The descendants of Dwight's maternal grandparents have a reunion every two years. Each time in a different location. Over forty relatives showed up; some for just one or two days and others stayed for five days.

Our cabin shared with Dwight's parents and our daughter and the grandkids

Great trails to explore

Great scenery. Javin with his Great Grandpa

Me (Rena) flanked by my sisters-in-law, Susan and Paula. Surviving the heat for a potluck picnic.

Talent night the older cousins participate. The younger ones particiaped too. We just have too many pictures to post.

Side trip to the "For Bare Feet" sock factory. A great place to visit.

More of God's beauty.

Trail riding with cousins

AirVenture Day 7 (Sunday)

2010-08-01T21:50:00.000-04:00

Today was a light visitor day. By mid afternoon many vendors and displays across the airport were showing signs of packing up.

Above is the welcome table just inside the IAMA tent where we were all set up with our displays.

Dwight washes his hands at the portable sink. Note that he is pressing the pump with his foot to make water come out of the tap. Pretty nifty contraption!

Pictured below is out host couple, Terry and Trish Jacobson who so graciously opened up their home for our week here. Jim Newman from MMS also stayed here along with two other missionaries who stayed Monday and Tuesday.

We are now done and preparing to travel home tomorrow (Monday). We will wash clothes, repack and head out to IN for a family reunion for a few days.

AirVenture Days 5 and 6 (Friday and Saturday)

2010-08-01T11:21:00.000-04:00

The days have been long and busy so am combining two days in this blog. We leave the house where we are staying, around 6:30 AM and get back around 8:30 PM.
Please pray for an aviation maintenance student I (Rena) talked with on Friday. He had no understanding of the scope of aviation used in missions and as I began to talk to him he began to understand the need out there. While sharing with him about the possibility that God may touch his heart with the desire to be involved, his eyes began to tear up. I believe God has already begun a work in his heart.

We have had some free time during the day when Jim and Tim work at the table, to look at airplanes, watch some acrobatic airplanes, and visit some vendors and exhibitors.

This is on the baggage door of an older Cessna 210

AirVenture Day 4 (Thursday)

2010-07-30T11:43:00.000-04:00

It's the 75th anniversary of the Douglas DC-3 design. A milestone such as this doesn't go unnoticed by the planners of AirVenture, so there is an emphasis on the type this year. The first DC-3s were civilian planes built for airline service. An excellent example is the DC-3 in American Airlines colors pictured below.

Most Dc-3s were military, and although there were several model designations, the vast majority were C-47s--affectionately called the Gooney Bird. The C-47 pictured below had a full civilian career after World War II as a DC-3C and was a missionary plane operated a time in Columbia, South America by JAARS.

My biggest thrill was discovering that the DC-3 I maintained in Bolivia for five years in the late 1970s and early '80s was here at AirVenture. I hadn't seen the plane in more than 28 years and had no idea where it was or if it still was flying. On Wednesday afternoon I discovered where the plane was parked and hoofed it nearly a mile to see it. The next morning Rena and I took the trams (yellow tram to the end of its line, then the blue tram) to visit the plane together. The owner was there and invited us to look inside which was a much bigger thrill for me than it was for Rena. The years we were in Bolivia serving with JAARS were wonderful years and it was a special blessing for me to connect again with the airplane I maintained there.

Air Venture Day 3 (Wednesday)

2010-07-30T10:37:00.000-04:00

Yes, it is Friday and I am running a little behind on posting information. We have had some very productive conversations at our MMS display with some young adults who are very interested in serving with mission aviation. It is so encouraging to see how God is working in these lives.

When the Good Year Blimp flew over the tent, it was fun to run outside and take a picture. It flies around the area all day. This particular fly over was quite low. In addition there are many planes flying around, some in formation, others doing stunts. There is an airshow every afternoon. This is the busiest airport in the world for one week out of every year. At times we need to stop talking because no one can make themselves heard. Typically there are 1,500 airplanes here for Air Venture. Air Venture is the largest fly-in in the world and there are visitors from all over the world. We can see acres full of airplanes, campers, exhibition booths, shops and even a flea market called the "fly market".

"Are they earrings or paper clips?", "are they free?" are the most asked questions I get when visitors see them on our display table. Michele (see previous blog picture) came up with the idea at Air Venture last year when she saw the airplane paper clips in one the stores. She bought some earring hooks and slid them on the paper clips. I carried on the idea this year and made some to give away at our display table. They have been a popular item.

This is a military Drone. It is a lot larger than I thought. They seem smaller on TV. Dwight said that these particular Drones are the ones that drop bombs which are typically larger than the spy Drones.

Want to catch a shuttle? These shuttles are pulled by John Deere tractors throughout the airport. I have been especially appreciative of these since we can't bring transportation inside the fence surrounding Air Venture.

Dwight is real excited about somethng he found here at Air Venture and he will show you on our next bog.

Air Venture Day 2

2010-07-28T11:39:00.000-04:00

MASA

Pictured below is our MMS group at Air Venture in Oshkosh, WI. With the exception of Michele, we are manning the MMS display. Michele is on loan to MASA as their diningroom supervisor and is busier than the rest of us.

Michele, Tim, Jim, Dwight, Rena

MASA (Missionary Avation Support Association) is a local ministry started to help the missionaries who come to Air Venture. Some years ago, missonaires were considering the fact that it was too expensive to be able to find housing, food etc. in order to have a presence at Air Venture each year. One local man asked if he could help missionaires get these needs supplied, could the missionaries continue to come? The answer was "yes" and MASA was born. This year there are about 200 aviation missionaries and Christian University reps. here at Air Venture, representing 28 entities. MASA arranges free housing in Christian homes, supplies all our meals (different church groups have signed up to cook a meal and feed us), provides cars for those who flew here, and has people meet us at the airport and etc. We have been so pampered.

The entrance to the MASA tent which is located just outside one of the entrances to AirVenture

Baggage check in - they think of everything!

You can see the diningroom tent behind. A storm last night destroyed the baggage tent and some of it ended up on top of the diningroom tent. A new tent is on its way today.

Inside the dinningroom tent

Rena and Erica

It was fun to run into Erica again. You may remember on an earlier blog, that Erica, along with other LeTourneau student volunteers spent their Spring break at MMS helping in the hangar. Eric and another student stayed with us. This week Erica is helping the LeTourneau repesentatives at their table in the IAMA tent.

Air Venture Day 1

2010-07-26T23:24:00.000-04:00

Today has been busy with our first day of manning our display table in the IAMA (International Association of Missionary Aviation) tent. Twenty six missionary organizations are represented here under the IAMA organization. We are only a very small part of the whole scope of Air Venture. Five of us MMSers are here - Dwight, me (Rena), Jim,Tim and Michelle.

Tim and Jim talk with an inquirer

Dwight chats with Paul Matovitch, a former MMS graduate who served with MAF

Javin's Day

2010-07-22T10:48:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, our grandson, Javin began formal piano lesson. He is quite excited and has a passion for music. His teacher is a wonderful Christian lady and her students love her. She is very involved in the music program of the local Christian School. He was eager to show her what he had already learned from his Uncle Scott's old piano book (with some coaching from me, grandma). His Great Grandma Jarboe (also a piano teacher) had given him an additional book which he has also worked in. His Aunt Pam, loaned the family her piano. So we are all prepared for an accomplished pianist! After his lesson, he proudly displayed the stickers on the five pages he had passed.

After dropping off his sister to go to summer gymnastics, the rest of the day was spent on making tents (to fill up the whole living room), games of checkers and chess etc. This Grandma took a little nap after he left!

Mrs. Mansfield and Javin

The Pfeifer's Piper Plane (say that fast three times)

2010-07-16T23:05:00.000-04:00

At MMS Aviation, one of the planes used in Christian ministry we see regularly is flown by John Pfeifer. John, his sister Candy Pfeifer, and Mary Jane Carter are the gospel singing group, The Pfeifers. They're based in Washington Court House, Ohio where a long-standing weekly Bible study John leads, has turned into a local church. The Piper Aztec airplane allows The Pfeifers keep a fairly full schedule of singing engagements and still allows John to minister at the church. A team member of theirs hauls the group's equipment to their next engagement in a truck while John, Candy and Mary Jane get there (and home) quickly by plane.

On Wednesday, John brought the plane to our shop with a leaky left landing gear strut. In the picture you can see the left wing is a little low. (With aircraft, right and left is always from the pilot's point of view.) When John leaves the Aztec with us for maintenance, someone has to fly or drive to Coshocton to pick John up and take him back home. The pilot that usually flies up to get John wasn't available, so on Wednesday Candy and Mary Jane drove up to retrieve John.

The ladies had not been to MMS before and John gave them a brief tour, ending in our conference room at the world map that shows the scope of MMS Aviation's ministry. After I'd talked some about the extent of MMS' work Rena snapped this picture of me with my favorite gospel singing group, The Pfeifers.

The name's not unusual if you're from around here.

2010-07-14T22:03:00.000-04:00

A couple weeks ago Rena and I were in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania (near Reading) at her parents. We travel the Pennsylvania Turnpike and when traveling east I know we're getting close to our destination when we go under the Kleinfeltersville Road overpass. Incidentally, the turnpike people are restoring many of these older overpasses and I think they look very nice.

To me that's an unusual name for a road (or town); but, as I think about it, it would be a pretty normal name for someone who lived in or around Kleinfeltersville, especially if your family name was Kleinfelter. Anyway, Rena snapped the picture above as we headed west (and home to Ohio) on July 1st, which was a beautiful day to travel.

Independent Audit of MMS Repair Station

2010-07-09T11:18:00.000-04:00

MMS Aviation has been audited! Actually, we asked for it, and Mission Safety International sent a team to perform an independent audit of our FAA approved repair station. The MSI team was led by Stan who has mission aviation and extensive airline experience. As a safety officer for a major air carrier, Stan audited many repair stations around the world that maintained aircraft for his employer. Having retired from airline service, he joined the MSI staff to help missionary aircraft mechanics maintain a high standard of safety in their work.

Stan stayed with Rena and me during the three day audit, which gave us time in the evenings to discuss the unique approach MMS has in serving the mission community.

A great deal of the audit was going over our repair station manuals to assure they meet FAA regulations, then checking our shop operations to make sure we're following our manuals.

MSI volunteers, Greg (right) and Jim (center), talk about physical plant safety with Dave Shelly, MMS' facility maintenance manager and safety officer. Greg is an expert in industrial safety and regulation compliance and Jim is the quality assurance manager for aircraft maintenance for a mission aviation program in Africa.

Is the soap we use to wash airplanes safe for people and the environment? [Check the label] Yes, it is.

The audit exposed a few "blind spots". The final report will be sent as soon as it's complete and we'll make the improvements that are recommended.

Happy Birthday Chanelle

2010-06-27T21:00:00.000-04:00

We had a family celebration this evening for Chanelle's (our granddaughter) eleventh birthday which is tomorrow. Hard to believe that she is that old already.

Eleven years old!

Yummy cake

Presents of course

A phone call from Uncle Scott and Aunt Stephanie

Vacation Bible School

2010-06-24T21:23:00.000-04:00

Early Wednesday morning we left for Granville, Ohio (about an hour of driving) to Spring Hill Baptist Church. A request came in a few months ago for a missionary representatvie from MMS to speak at their Vacation Bible School. We were happy to fill the request. It turns out that we had about 250 kids from Kindergarten to 6th grade (in four shifts) to talk to about mission aviation. Dwight did a great job. Our prayer is that a seed has been planted in helping these children learn about missions. There was a missionary speaker for the children each day. A great idea.

A Little Talk With Jesus

2010-06-20T20:41:00.000-04:00

Since today is Father's Day I thought I would share the special number that five fathers sang in church today. Of course, Dwight is one of them!

Wedding

2010-06-20T18:41:00.000-04:00

Darren and Brittany Jennings

After our drive to Bowling Green, KY we went north the next day to Louisville to attend Brittany and Darren's wedding. It was nice to be able to get together with family for the big event.

Jeremy, Pam, Chanelle, Erin, Carol

Norma with her Aunt Kay (Dwight's Mom)

Javin and Jen

Cousins get caught up. Alburn, Kelsy, Scott, Stephanie

Javin and Chanelle thought the celebration on the rooftop of the Louisville Glassworks was pretty cool

Dinosaurs

2010-06-20T18:15:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we drove down to Kentucky to attend Brittany's (Dwight's niece) wedding. Jen and the grandkids accompanied us as we first went to Bowling Green where Dwight's parents live. The pictures below show our visit to Dinosaur World just an hour north of Bowling Green. The kids loved it. For us it was a very hot day, but they did not seem to mind too much.

Digging for fossils