Summer is Here!

The sun is out in all it's glory. We are hitting the 100 degree weather, now if we can make the wind stop it would be a typical summer in El Paso.

Thanks

Both Isaiah and Josiah are now out of the Army.
Josiah will be staying in El Paso as he pursues his Masters in Geo Politics at UTEP.
Isaiah is presently helping me out at the airport and
he will be pursing his Bachelors in Computer Engineering.

International Learn to Fly Day 2011 took place on Saturday May 21

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in the US
is encouraging pilot communities around the globe
to get involved in an effort to connect aviators
with those who have always wanted to discover
flight and helping people of all ages take that first step to
discover the fun, freedom and accomplishment of flight.

At the airport we had several flight schools, TSA, Civil Air Patrol,
participating and promoting general aviation.
As always there were several volunteer pilots
giving free flights to anyone showing an interest.
One of the local pilots was practicing his aerobatics,
which the audience loved.

The day was successful and drew more than
100 people to Horizon Airport.

No March Madness for Me - Purely Delight

My friend Alberta came to the states for a leave from France. I met her in Dallas, Melissa then drove us down to Van, Texas to meet up with more friends from our Newcastle days (Mercy Ships) On Saturday, us 5 ladies went to a local big flee market, had lunch at the Olive Garden and enjoyed each others company. It had been almost 4 years that I had seen these lovely people.

Alberta, Carrie Holmes from South Africa
Me, Ann Berry from Canada, & Brenda from Liverpool,England


Winnie Dray had just come back from Thailand where she was working with SHE

Take note of the necklace Winnie has on, Jewelry Making was started to help the many girls who work in the bars and clubs giving alternative employment and retraining. Girls such as these are trapped by poverty and have no alternative but to take to the streets at night. You can buy some and help support the young girls, check out their web page:
http://www.shethailand.org/index.php

We also had a lovely dinner with Chris and Vicky Gregg, and met the rest of the family.

Spent plenty of time with the Berry's, who put me up for a few days. Thank you both for your relaxed hospitality. It's always good to see you!!!

February Flurries

The news stated that El Paso was colder today than Anchorage on February 4. We had 12 degree weather, light snow, wind 12 mph, and feels like -2F.

The supply water for the tower shattered at the airport. The FBO, Office, and the attendant's trailer had no water. Terry was in town (Thank you God) and he is climbing up on the tower and attempting to repair it.

It was a record for El Paso, all my plants at home froze. Both our parents had no water for a few days. My friend Julie's ceiling in her kitchen collapsed. A lot of mishaps in El Paso. I know for some of you that isn't that cold but we don't ever get that cold. We had brown outs for about a week through out the city.

If all that didn't keep us busy, I fell while I was doing laundry. After being in the hospital for 5 hours I walked away with a cut on my eye,

broken pair of glasses, right ankle twisted, right hand sprang, left hand a broken wrist and I was out of work for a week, and Terry was out of town for the same week. The Blessing was I didn't need surgery I just had a purple cast for 5 weeks.

Blake turned 4 years old. Melissa had a circus theme going and Isaiah and I flew down to celebrate Blake's day and help out. Plenty of games:

Pin the Tail on the Donkey

The Ring Toss

A Fish Pond
Ring Toss, Jumping Balloon, and Face painting by Zach, Popcorn and Goodie bags as they left.

But know the real kids begin to play -Isaiah and Melissa getting ready to pin the tail on the donkey after Zach turns them around, & around, & around

O yea, Melissa had a Photo Booth.

This is what she looked like after the party!

Time Flying By

Here is a recap of December and January.

January - New Beginnings: Terry started a new job with Multistack, which will require him to travel all over the world, and Pat will be managing Horizon Airport. Now that I'm managing the airport, I'm learning all kinds of new things like the wing span of a Malibu is 42ft.

This was an interesting sport plane that flew in this month.

While GeoDigital's helicopter was being worked on by the mechanic, one of the navigators was a bit bored, so he pulled out his fishing rod and a bucket and spent the afternoon trying to get his line inside the bucket and teaching me how to fish - in the middle of the desert with no water.

Pat also did her first run ever, starting with a 1 mile run/walk. Isaiah came and literally walk beside her. Thanks Isaiah!
Actually I did two separate events in January

December - We met and invited our new neighbors for a Christmas Eve gathering at our house, since they had just moved into the neighborhood a few days before. Isaiah, Josiah, Terry and I had a quite Christmas, just us four then Melissa with the kids came for a visit the day after for a week. Christmas is always nicer when the kids are in town!

Waiting for Josiah to open his door and see his face when he gets his new Big Bear.

We had an Open House out at the airport.

Soaring above the west Texas desert:

Pat's parachute and seat belt are fastened and she's getting last minute instructions.

and there she goes....

Terry's next

So this is what the airport looks like from the sky

Wreaths Across America

There were over 4,000 wreaths place by the tombs at Ft Bliss Cemetery, Terry and I helped with Wreaths Across America.

Terry placed a wreath on on his father's tombstone

A finished section

Left the cemetery with a beautiful sunset behind us, and we'll be back next year


At Horizon Airport -a new patio cover was installed in January 2010 and 11 months later in December we're installing a new one.
In October a micro-burst in a major hail storm ripped it off throwing it over 40 foot trees and about 175 ft. away.
Praise God no one was injured and no planes destroyed.


Phil Schneider, Ron Thompson, both employees, Ron Clarke, our glider pilot, George Briones, our EAA president came out and helped.

Isaiah and Don McBride also came with their hammer and nails.


So to our volunteers.---Thanks!

A heart full of Thanks

Melissa had taken the kids out of school for them to be in town for Josiah's homecoming. That made for a short weekend so I drove back to Dallas with Melissa. Stayed for a few days got home and turned around to drive my sister to Odessa. Her very dear friend, Virginia was in the hospital and is now at home with Hospice. Rachel came for a weekend visit. Then a couple days later Terry, Isaiah, Josiah and I traveled to Dallas to spend Thanksgiving with Melissa and family. My heart was filled with so much thankfulness we were all together again.
We played shuffle board, darts, cards, Scattegories, watched football and movies and of course ate, strolled into town.So here's November in pictures:

Josiah, Isaiah, & Rachel after a good Texas steak dinner at Cattleman's

Playing Apples to Apples & watching football

Follow the Leader Grand-pappy and Blake

My first Granchild is getting older- he's putting on his contacts. Yikes

He wanted a picture next to this car- he is getting older.

Getting a little toasting.

The Young Ladies-Avery & Melissa

The Monday after Thanksgiving my father was back in the hospital for a few more days, he's home now and doing better. November was a full month for us.

Welcome Home!!!

Melissa, with the kids drove down to El Paso to welcome Josiah home from Iraq. It was quite exciting seeing the many people waiting for husbands, sons, dads, moms brothers or sisters. As the plane roll into Biggs Airfield the cheers got louder, when the hatch was open and soldiers walked out the cheers were even louder. Balloons, poster boards, flags everywhere cheering the soldiers.

Isaiah and Melissa waiting for Josiah

Melissa, Avery and Josiah.

One happy Momma.

Josiah with dad, brother and sister.

Blake tried hard to stay awake, but by 11:00 he couldn't make it, Josiah took a picture with him anyway. I think Josiah was just as tired as Blake too.

Welcome Home Son and Thank you for your service in Iraq!!

Business Meetings

Also in October we had a business meeting

which brought Terry's family together.

Terry, Joan, Grandma Barrett, Dennis and Richard