Yesterday and Tomorrow

(If you are on a mobile device, it seems to work better if you go down to the bottom of this screen and choose "view web version")

We are back in Oregon! Well, most of us are. After a gloriously wonderful, sunny break in Forida over Michael's birthday, Christmas, and New Years, we arrived back in Oregon a little over a week ago. Michael left a few days later for Pennsylvania, the details of which are below. WE HAVE NEWS.....!

Of course, everyone really looks at blogs to read funny or inspirational things and see pictures. So, here are the pictures!

Mini-golf on Daddy's birthday. Loving the sun!

Michael's birthday present

Cousin time!

Birthday spankings!

Isn't she lovely?

And what a handsome young man!

School by the pool

And of course, fun IN the pool!

And of course, some time at Disneyworld!

Michael was a sailor in a show called Harbor Attack. He got pretty wet!

Oooohhh, we're gonna get wet.

Michael and Jess "FlyBoarding" for their birthday (Michael in red helmet, Jess in blue)

We had some great family time

A bunch of the cousins

 

Jess's beautiful girls with K&A at a Christmas high tea

And some awesome beach time, on Jan 2nd!

Body boarding

Michael and Jess

We had quite an adventure getting home on military "Space Available" flights. We had three canceled flights, but of course, our Father took good care of us. Our first canceled flight was out of Florida. That would have been too easy. The next flight canceled was in Charleston, SC and another in Fort Bragg, NC (for those unfamiliar with Space A, you show up to literally take whatever seats you can get on already-scheduled military-mission flights, from a-hopefully-somewhere-near-you (500 miles or less?) base. Of course the military is not obligated to actually run those missions, or allow non-essential persons on board, and therefore the flights can be canceled, or no seats released, at any moment for no reason whatsoever). BUT, in both Charleston and Fort Bragg, we have friends who graciously allowed us to stay with them whilst we looked for other flights; thus, our departure to the west ended up being from Washington, DC.

After riding on a C17 from Washington DC to northern California, we were ready for something a little quieter and faster. Michael got to fly us home to Oregon in a Cessna Conquest. A great way to end a great trip!

The inside, facing aft

Bedtime; we arrived in CA at 12:30 am ET

Aaaaahhhhh, this is nice!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now.....for our news!

Michael got a new job, which he is VERY excited about. He has been hired as a full-time pilot for Haverfield Aviation. To quote their website: "Haverfield Aviation, Inc. is the leading provider of aerial power line inspection and construction support services both in the United States and abroad. It is the most efficient provider of energized line services in the U.S." Basically, they use helicopters to inspect, maintain, and construct power lines all over the U.S. They also use aerial saws, which hang from the helicopter, to trim the rights-of-way for power lines.

Here are a couple of videos to show what Haverfield does. This first one is incredibly interesting, but a little long (~10 min). Even if you watch just the first couple minutes, you'll be amazed! (What you see right now, in the still shot of the video is a live power line, 350 feet in the air.)

 

This next video shows the aerial saw. This is what Michael is really excited to try.

 

Michael is currently in Gettysburg, PA for two weeks in training and then he will start right away. We're not sure where yet. His schedule will be about 21 days on, 10 days off. The chief pilot today said he was excited that the kids and I can join Michael at his work sites in our traveling home. So are we! We'll keep posting updates.

One final note: we are still planning on attending Candidate Decision Camp in Trogen, Switzerland in June, for HeliMission. If you remember, this is the next step for us as we continue our journey of becoming full-time helicopter missionaries for Jesus, somewhere overseas. Our church, Grace Baptist Church, has set up an account to receive tax-deductible donations on our behalf for this trip. We calculate that we'll need about $3,400 total, most of which is for airfare. If the Lord is leading you to contribute in that way, we thank Him for providing and you for listening. :) Please send monies to:

GBC

Attn: Stephens/HeliMission

PO Box 1

Newberg, OR 97132

 

We pray that God blesses each one of you today with more of His grace!

"For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!"

2 Corinthians 9:12-15 ESV

 

Love,

The Stephens Family