Train to Chicago!

One of B's favorite shows is "Thomas the Train." Since the kids have been restrained in their car seats for many hours and will restrained in them for many hours in the future. We decided to take the Metra in from the suburbs where we are staying.
 It was a fun day of seeing old friends and familiar places. But also a day of 7 miles of walking in the heat pushing two little kids in strollers. Missing a train by mere seconds and having to wait an hour in the ogilvie station. Overall a full day of adventure! Next time we'll take the van :)

We thought just B would be Excited but J was very excited as well.

Both boys really enjoyed looking outside

Seeing friends at Moody, not many of them left on campus

Eating lunch with Joel.

The stroller fits perfectly in the bike section.

Drops!

One of my favorite things during mountain week was the opportunity to practice drops. In some cases overseas missionaries don't have runways and still need supplies. Even though this is not so common anymore, pilots would often drop mail, medicine and whatever supplies were needed to these village teams. The packages would be dropped from 200-500 feet  above ground at 70 miles per hour.

 During mountain week I had the opportunity to sit in the backseat of a Cessna 206 with the removed, working together with the pilot aiming for a 50 foot circle. For a guy who is scared of heights this was quite an experience.

In Chicago

We made it to Chicago! The kids did pretty well over the two days we drove. By leaving prior to 7AM both days we were able to make it to a stopping point prior to afternoon nap.
Thank you for praying. It made a difference.

Hitting the road....

Tomorrow we will be leaving NC and starting our BIG cross-country adventure!  Really, I'm hoping it will feel like an adventure for all of us, especially the 2-year-old in our family. :) 

We hope to see many family and friends in the next 3 months, literally spanning the country, from Illinois to Nebraska to Washington State.  If you live in any of those states (or the ones in between) and haven't heard from us yet about when we'll be there, let us know you want to see us and we'll make every effort to work out something!  The goal of this trip is two-fold:  first, to spend time with family and friends one last time before we leave the country in 6 months and second, to share about the ministry that God is calling us into with mission aviation and invite others to join the team of those standing behind us in prayer and finances.  It WILL be an adventure!

Thanks for praying for our trip!

Our little trooper!

One week ago, Benji fell out of the van (while it was parked) and fractured his wrist.  It's "only" a buckle fracture, which is basically a dent in the bone.  We were told this is fairly common among kids his age and that is should heal quickly.  We were given the choice between a full-arm cast or a small brace (that can be removed for baths), both which he would wear for 3 weeks.  A no-brainer (especially in the middle of 100+ degree weather)!  He's been a real trooper, only occasionally asking for his brace to be taken off.  We will all be ready in 2 weeks, but in the mean time he's doing great!

Check out my brace!

Super Benji!

"Argh.  I'm tough!"