Unexpected blessings...

As promised I'd love to share a little about our time in Salt Lake City, enjoying family and new friends at Discovery Community Church!  This trip was such a fun, sweet time that is actually a little hard to describe...  My dad is the oldest of 5 boys, Uncle Scott, who we visited in SLC, is the youngest.  Somehow in all of the years of extended family gatherings, our families have only managed to cross paths a couple of times.  With 5 brothers, each with their own families, who revert to boyhood when together- I can't recall actually ever sitting down and having a conversation with Uncle Scott, Aunt Stacie or my cousins before this trip!

What an unexpected blessing to be able to visit with them!  We had an absolutely great time with them, mainly hanging out at their home since the weather was in the 50's (on Memorial Day weekend!) and rainy.  There was lots of laughter, a rained out BBQ- Uncle Scott was a trooper to grill everything with cold rain running down his face, the opportunity to share with their church what we're doing with MAF, the chance to get to know my cousins, getting a great haircut, saving their fish from my curious 2 1/2 year old, playing Kinect (sp?) and having really really great conversations about parenting, faith and family. 



Too bad the video of Ethan driving on the Kinect didn't turn out.  We came back to Idaho tired (XBox Kinect at 12am will do that!) but refreshed.  Thank you Uncle Scott, Aunt Stacie, Alyssa and J!! Have fun in the U.K. welcoming the newest member of the family into the world!

Quest Kodiak

We have been out here at Sandpoint, Idaho studying all that there is to know about our latest mission aircraft the Kodiak 100. This plane is truly making a difference in the world and has even caught attention in the news.  Read on to see how on pages 20 and 21!(You can click on magazine below to make it full screen and the arrow on the right to page through to the article.)

Open publication - Free publishing - More aircraft

Where has the time gone....

I can't believe we've been in Idaho 6 weeks already!!  Here are some interesting surprises we've had, or lessons learned, since we've been here:

Based on our 6 weeks in Idaho last July and August,we thought it would be hot, so we made sure to pack, shorts, swim suits, even E's "shark fin" flotation device.  We were ready for "summer" but now as we plan our trip next week to northern Idaho we're hearing reports of some "inclement  winter weather." In JUNE!!  Crazy!  It has been cold here!
I know I really shouldn't complain since I know most of you are melting in this scorching summer heat.  Maybe we should send you E's "shark fin" and you could wear it as proudly as he wants to next time you visit the pool. Hopefully before we leave we can put to good use all of the beautiful water parks that Nampa currently has sitting empty with our little boy looking in, longing to make his now bath toy into an adventurous day as a shark. 



We also thought that we would have plenty of down time to write, ponder, and pray about all that God has been doing over these last months.  Since we got here we have hit the ground running learning everything that there is to learn about life within MAF, the planes we operate, and life overseas.  With only 18 days left we're ready!... Right?  : D

Third, we thought that heading out west we were ready to pack up and move out! But, we have learned that we value each  friendship more and more as we have not been able to connect with you face to face.  We have come to appreciate in a whole new light the value our relationships have.  In short- we miss ya'll and are so thankful to have friends like you who check our blog to see where in the world the Chins are today.  If we could only put you in the shipping crates!

Over the past weeks we have had a great time doing lots of things to prepare us for overseas,but we've also had a chance to enjoy all that Nampa and the Boise area offer.  We only have photos of a few and you'll probably notice a pattern here...  We've explored the  local tractor shop, drag raced hot wheels in the park, and learned everything that there is to know about MAF (5-10 airplanes in the hangar and E is most excited about the golf cart!).  Even though we've had a good time, none of that replaces the joy that we have when we are with you!  Looking forward to seeing you soon!  Till next time....

Here a potty, there a potty, everywhere a potty, potty!

It's a bright afternoon with the sun shining high in the western sky.  To the dismay of many of you back home, it's a cool day, just breaking into the mid 60's.  You find yourself cruising along a remote stretch of I-84 in southern Idaho, wind in your hair, with your favorite cruise music playing over the speakers.   The view is spectacular.  Everywhere you look there are sheer rock faces, with mountain peaks standing tall into the clouds.  With only a few  cars on the road your mind races back to the days of the settlers, wondering what it was like to cross this magnificent landscape with only your family, your oxen and your covered wagon.  As you sit in awe of the sheer determination and ruggedness those settlers displayed so long ago, your moment is shattered with the sound of your own family, specifically your little boy calling "Daddy I go potty!"
Suddenly your thoughts short circuit.... "Ummm, potty!  Right!"
But where?! You're out in the middle of nowhere. Quick look around-
"Stop!  No, go- the exit is only a few...  No, slow down- Agh!  No time....HONEY!"



As your resting wife awakens from her serene sleep, as Sleeping Beauty just after the prince's kiss, she is now thrust into the mayhem and moisture that is about to ensue.   What to do?
"Never fear," your wife says, sounding more like Superman than Sleeping Beauty, "I have a potty."
"You have a what? "
"A potty! Slow down right here."
"Here?"
Quickly, the car goes from the luxurious speed limit of 75mph to a gravel spewing stand still along a stretch of sand crusted, tumble weed covered road.  Seemingly before all four wheels come to a stop, your wife pops out of the passenger seat like a Nascar pit crew at the final stop of the Daytona 500.  With portable potty in hand, your tormented son is whisked away into the underbrush, pants dangling around his ankles.  "Never Fear" is right, the portable potty saves the day!  (And is now our constant companion!)  Oh, to be a parent!  They never mentioned anything like this in the proverbial parent's  instruction manual!
Now that that's taken care of... on to Salt Lake City, UT for a great weekend of sharing about MAF and enjoying Memorial Day-Potty in Hand!