It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like...Summer, Really

Life continues well here in sunny Florida. We are enjoying the balmy temperatures and are amazed every day when we walk outside into the 85 degree November afternoons.

We still don't have internet. I won't elaborate on that particular topic, as it might lead me to say things I shouldn't.

The kids are doing their school work with a minimum amount of fuss, which isn't to say no fuss, but certainly not as much as there could be...or so I console myself. We've found a homeschool organization in nearby Ocala, so they've made a few friends and are being socialized, for all of you that might be concerned about such things.

Aaron and his co-workers are putting the finishing touches on the UAV's, and they are excited about the coming trip to Ecuador. As I've mentioned before, they'll be testing the UAV's with the kind of landscape you just can't get in central Florida. For example, they'll be flying over the Andes to see if the little planes can handle the stresses of wind and elevation. They'll also be taking videos of their flights to use in presentations and to study as well. I hope to be able to link to those videos at some point in the not too distant future.

The kids and I will head to Oklahoma, and Aaron will meet us there when he flies home from Quito. We're looking forward to the actual journey, which will be a long series of field trips if I get my way, but we're especially excited to get back "home" and visit family. 

We really do plan to get internet as soon as we can, and when that magical day comes, I will post much more often. I promise.

From a Distance

We are still living in the wilderness of no internet. AT&T tells me a different story every time I talk to them. It's become almost funny now. I should've kept a comprehensive list from the first conversation. I believe there is some light on the horizon, but it may be a falling star and not the rising sun. We shall see.


Aaron continues to enjoy his work at I-TEC. They have done several tests of their UAV's, watching them fly in circles around a field for an hour-and-a-half. It was encouraging if not riveting. Aaron and two other men will be heading to Ecuador in December for some jungle testing, which should be quite an experience for the Oklahoma farm boy who has never had a chance to use his passport.


We've had several family members visit over the last few weeks, some of them for a few days, and some for only a few hours. It's always great to talk with people who knew you when. We took them to the Rainbow river and sympathized with them as they dealt with the Florida humidity. We'd love to have more friends and family visit...hint, hint.


We also spent several days with the N's, a couple from Columbia who had been here for a month visiting with their new granddaughter. (The child of a couple who are doing flight training here at I-TEC) This couple do mission work with some tribes in the Amazon. They only spoke Spanish, so I had a real work-out, translating and trying to think in both languages without making a fool of myself in either one.


In short, I have much to be thankful for, so if you hear me griping about the lack of internet, put me in my place.

If There's a Wireless Grid, We're Still off It

We're still here, despite the enforced radio silence, (aargh! internet companies!) and Florida life is busy, but very rewarding. We've made lots of friends with the other workers and volunteers at I-TEC, in fact we've all started having weekly worship evenings together and hope to start a ladies Bible study and lads' night soon.


The kids and I are enjoying school and meeting other homeschoolers when possible. I say that the kids and I are enjoying school, but really I mean that I'm enjoying school, and the kids are tolerating it. I think that's about as much as you can expect for any child. I'm telling myself that anyway, so don't burst my bubble.




We've moved into a house that belongs to the I-TEC organization itself. They use this house for volunteer families so that their time here can feel like a real home. It's absolutely wonderful, and although I love our little RV, I have to say that moving back into an actual "sticks and bricks" home has been fantastic. I forgot how much I loved baths, and household appliances of my very own. We have our own washer and dryer for the first time in a year, and there's even a dishwasher!




Mim was so excited when she saw the dishwasher. You'd think she had done more than two loads of dishes in her life the way she squealed and jumped up and down. My reaction was much the same, but of course I have more dignity. (Don't ask Mim about her memory of that event. Ten-year-olds are notoriously untrustworthy.)


Aaron is working hard with the other fellows at I-TEC, testing, improving, and building the UAV's. They're looking forward to launching them in actual jungle conditions in Ecuador by the end of this year. This is the kind of job he was made for. He loves thinking of creative solutions for technical issues and procedures. I know, that's not my cup of tea either, but isn't it great that God designed us all differently? He's certainly going to have contributed more to the cause of justice with his mechanics than I will have with my current study of linguistics in the Third Reich.


A kind friend is allowing me to use her internet today, so this post has no pictures, I just wanted you all to know that I haven't forgotten the friends and family out there who keep up with our craziness, and as soon as AT&T decide they have an "open port" we'll jump back into the 21st century and the world of the world wide web.

Settling and Travelling and Generally Living

Our First (and only) Alligator!

Life in Marion County continues, and we are feeling more at home in the bi-polar Florida summer. July saw rain almost every day, but we've finally had a few days in a row where the state had a chance to live up to its nickname. Even the rainy days, though, were punctuated by brilliant sunshine, and occasionally the rain itself fell through beams of light. Very unusual to our midwestern weather sensibilites.





 We've been trying to get outside and exercise as much as possible, because you can only spend so long in an RV and still be a loving family. On Saturday we went with some fellow I-TEC volunteers to kayak the Rainbow River here in Dunnellon. It is a beautiful spring fed river, ending its brief journey in the Withlacoochee (What a name!) river, which heads on down to the gulf.

Aaron is keeping himself very busy between repairs to the RV (The new air conditioner was very welcome!) and his work at I-TEC. He sometimes carpools with the interns here at the house were we have parked the RV. There are three grown men in that tiny truck! Phil is driving, Aaron is sandwiched in the middle, and Chris, an Ecuadoran, gets the other window. Phil and Chris are working in the flight training program, or hoping to very soon when paperwork and such are arranged.

Our other neighbors here at "the intern house" are a young couple who recently had their first baby. Young Issy is the official I-TEC baby, and we are enjoying the opportunity to hold her. Jon and Tasha and great parents who plan to go to Columbia (Jon's home country) as missionaries when all his training is finished and they have raised support.

Aaron will head to Smoketown, Pennsylvania soon for a special air show that has a missions theme. I-TEC will be there along with MAF, JAARS, and other air/mission organizations. The UAV's should be a big hit, and I'm looking forward to hearing all about it when he returns. The previous picture is one of the UAV's as it prepares to receive a coat of paint. We thought it looked like it was smiling and wearing a pretty stylish headdress.

Back on the Grid

We have arrived in Florida. Actually, we arrived three and half weeks ago, but as per usual, setting up the computer is not a priority for the man who gets to go to work every day and use a computer. Well, that's just my theory. We now have it, though, so I have no more excuses for any and all lack of communication.

Our trip down went very well, with only one minor incident. Here's a tip for all you would-be RVers: don't try to make a sharp turn on an incline. It isn't good for the back end of your fifth wheel.

Minus One Jack. Oops.

We stayed at an RV park in Little Rock, right on the Arkansas River and a bridge walk away from the Clinton Presidential Library. I can't say that the CPL was my top, A-1 location to visit, but it was actually a very nice area, and had some pretty awesome animatronic dinosaurs out front. Little Rock was especially nice because we got to have dinner with my cousin, her husband, and their very sweet little fellow.

Little T Meets Bubbles

We waited until this big guy stopped moving.

The next two nights were at State Parks, one in Alabama and one in Northern Florida. They were both gorgeous, but we were especially impressed with the Suwanee River State Park. There were beautiful walks leading past the river, a sunken limestone bed, and fresh springs. The kids insisted they needed to drink the spring water, so we let them...with Aaron's Lifestraw. OK, I know; I'm overprotective.

Aaron had to run into the picture, hence the goof.

Mim Tastes Spring Water

We arrived to a very hot and humid Florida, but the wonderful people have more than made up for the climate. We already have new friends, and a couple of them even have swimming pools, which is wonderful for a couple of kids who might as well be fish.

Biking the Blue Run - Hot, but Beautiful

Aaron is enjoying his work very much, and I'll write what I can about that in the future. He's doing some engineering-on-demand and also working on some exciting UAV projects. The idea is that these UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) will be able to get emergency supplies and other necessary items in to areas where an airplane is too slow a source of help, or unable to land in proximity. He's having a lot of fun, and isn't sure that it's fair to have a job where you are excited to go to work in the morning, and enjoy what you do.

God is blessing us with the patience to put up with the little things, which can become big things, as we all know. (i.e. Ants. There are a lot of ants) It's wonderful to know that we can serve him while doing what we love.

Holding On for One More Week

At the OKC zoo with "Blaze"

We have one more week here in western OK, then we're headed south (and east, I guess). We're enjoying the time here with family. The kids are keeping busy with farm life and kid life, spending time with their grandparents and their cousins. They've made tents, visited the zoo, played at the park and generally been kids in summer-time - carefree and crazy. If you care and want to see pictures of some of these events, they're on the other blog- you know, the one that mostly has pictures of my children and tales of their exploits, and is not updated nearly as often as it used to be.

Lunch with the Barn Crew

Aaron has been very busy as well. Now that the truck is finished (see previous post) he has more time to help his father. The Thiessen building crew (Aaron, his dad, and a sister) have been putting up a barn. We take them lunches and watch the miraculous progress on the barn day by day.

Aaron Proves He Can Handle Heights

Aaron has also been practicing his handy man skills on the RV, fixing the A/C leak, (it still doesn't actually cool anything, but it doesn't spray water anymore) and building a bookshelf and a new bed. Yea! More storage!!

A New Bed! Yea!

Now we've just got to finish packing and make sure the RV is ready for the cross-country trek. We have a window unit to rig to our trailer, then dismantle for the traveling. The kids and I have sorted through all the toys, books, and clothes, so that shouldn't take too much more work. We all have about one foot of hanging space and three drawers each for all our clothes. Let's just say it's a challenge.

Next time I post, we'll probably be in Florida. Internet access might be spotty, but I will do my best. We're excited to begin the work there, and I look forward to sharing more details after we've arrived.

Vimes and Nobby Restored and Explained

Vimes, the pickup, is almost ready to be back out on the road again. He can make the trips now, but without his right side mirror it probably wouldn't be legal, so we're waiting for the final detail before we call him healed. (My brother-in-law took all the but the last of these pictures. Ask a man if you want pictures of automobile work. Thanks C!)

Aaron has worked and worked on this truck, and since almost everything he did was a "first time" it has taken a while. He said, "It's a good thing you aren't relying on my being a body mechanic for our household income." I'm sure it would be a lot faster the second time, though.

The bottom body panel was pretty smashed up on the right side, so Aaron found a salvage yard with a good donor truck for the two passenger-side doors and the bottom half of the ridiculously named bottom body panel. He, with some help from his father and brother, got the new parts installed and pulled dents and deformities out of the remaining bits.

He decided to paint it black instead of matching the existing blue. The top and hood still looked nice, though, so those will remain the original color. Which means, of course, that our little pickup is now literally "black and blue". I think it's fitting. After all, the pickup is named after Commander Sir Samuel Vimes from the Discworld universe of the recently deceased Terry Pratchett.

Vimes is a man has been through some rough times, but is essentially a good, honest, hard-working cop, just trying to bring justice to the city and serve the law. He gets a little beat up sometimes, but he always comes back because there's a job to do, and he knows he's the man to do it.

The RV, on the other hand, is named Nobby. I won't go into the details of that character, but if you're familiar with the world of Vimes, you'll know that Nobby isn't as...well respected...in the minds of all and sundry. I'll just leave that there. Suffice is to say that he is still a good guy, still a member of the team, and always faithful, more or less, to the cause.