Still waiting!!

Little Swanson number 3 was due on Sunday, but as you might expect with someone who shares my genetics, he or she is a wee bit late! Abi was 8 days past her due date, and Matthew came the day after his date, so we're not too concerned by going  a little over with this one too. The biggest hardship is with the weather; the first two were both born in Tummel Bridge, where the weather wasn't quite so much of a chore as it is here! This afternoon saw the temperatures hitting 99 degF (37 degC) so Heather is understandably keen to not be pregnant anymore! We will keep you all posted when he or she makes a grand appearance!

Hopefully the last pregnant Heather picture!

Life in the hangar is carrying on as usual. The summer months see quite a few people disappearing from the hangar for a week or two at a time, taking vacation time to visit friends and family, time to help with some of the many "Vacation Bible School" programmes run by churches across the States through the summer, or making "deputation" trips to share about what they are doing with supporters and at their home churches.
The 206 project has still been moving on though, and the last few weeks have seen me focussing on more of the painting related jobs. I have had good opportunity to spend some time in the paint booth painting the many small parts that have been removed from the plane over the last few months. Painting is one of those things that is 25% science, and 75% art, so once Josh had spent a bit of time going over the theory of it all, the best way to learn is just to do it! It is also one of those things that is incredibly satisfying when it all works out, so the last couple of weeks have been good fun for me!

Painting the 206's engine cowls

Wire brushing one of the rivet heads!

With painting, one of the key things to getting a good finish is to start with a good base. We are now coming close to getting the fuselage rolled into the paint booth for painting, so this week has seen me spend quite a bit of time "detailing" in preparation for paint. The majority of the old paint was stripped with a chemical stripper a few weeks ago, but there are still little flecks of paint stuck in nooks and cranny's and around every rivet head on the surface of the plane. My job this week has been to spray thinners onto every rivet head  and rub it all down with a wire brush! I have to admit I am starting to go a bit cross eyed focusing on one rivet at a time, sitting a few inches from the side of the plane, but it has to be done, and it is a good job for someone who is hoping at any minute to drop everything and rush home for the birth!!


Thanks for all your prayers for the safe arrival of the baby - we will let you know when it comes!!

Tick -Tock.......

On June the 2^nd some of the women at our church along with myself organised a family fun day at a local park near our church.   Some people from the church have had a youth outreach programme going on there for a while building relationships with children who live around the park.  Our goal was to try and reach the parents as well and get to know them a little more.  We had super weather – not too hot!  Lots of volunteers from the church helped with the BBQ and with crafts and games and face painting etc.   The children enjoyed games like watermelon rolling, ( which Andy tried to duct tape together after it became a “watermelon throwing contest” :0).  Lots of local children came by themselves to the park and we were able to meet some parents who ventured out for a free hot dog.  It was a super success and the committee are planning another one in August.  

Rolling a duct-taped watermellon...

The next thing I had planned after the park party was to play at an outdoor wedding last Saturday.  Although 39 weeks pregnant, the wedding was in the morning and I was in the shade at the keyboard and all went well.  Our Pastor’s eldest daughter was getting married and it was a privilege to be a part of the wedding.   The ceremony was over in an hour and we did not stay for the reception as the temperature was getting up to around 85 degrees F.   I came home and Andy and I took the kids swimming.  It was so nice to get into some deep water to take the weight of the baby and feel lighter again!   There is no indoor public swimming pool near here, the public pools are outdoor and just opened at the end of May. 

A week ago Debbie Baisley arrived from North Carolina to stay with us until after the baby is born.  Abi and Matthew are loving having their American “mimi” to stay  and needless to say – so are we!  I am able to get more sleep in the mornings and uninterrupted afternoon naps and the house has never looked so good! : 0) Debbie is a home birth midwife and has known me since I was 10 years old.  I am really excited that she will be here to help deliver our new arrival when the time comes.   I have another midwife who is local who will assist Debbie with the birth.   After having two home water births with Abi and Matthew I am not too worried about having a third.  The major difference this time is the lack of gas and air for pain relief.   It is not standard in America and not available for births anywhere here.  I never used much at all with Matthew as it was quite a quick birth so I am hoping for another one like that!  Whatever happens I know God is always in control.   

Abi and Matthew have been quite humourous trying to make sense of all that’s going on.  After watching a facebook video of my sister’s dog licking her new born puppies, Abi asked Debbie “will mummy have to lick the baby’s eyes to get them to open?” lol! Matthew knew that the baby was going to come out when Debbie arrived so he is a little confused as to why it is not out yet and Debbie has been here a week.  He asked me again today if it was coming in June or July – I think he is getting a little impatient ;0).   Last week they both went to a local vacation bible school based on Ken Ham’s "Answer’s in Genesis".  They really enjoyed it and Matthew informed me on the second day that “if the bible says it, then that settle’s it”!  This week Abi is away every morning to an art class.  They are designing the set for a local Jungle book production in July.  I think she struggled today as there was a lot of talking and planning and she likes to be busy with her hands.  Hopefully they will get painting soon and she will settle into it.   Next week is vacation bible school at our own church.  As they get three months of a summer holiday it is nice to have a few things organised to keep them busy.

Andy is still busy working on the MAF 206 from Haiti.  They are starting the process of painting the plane and Andy is busy painting landing gear parts.  He is awaiting the call home any moment for the birth.  He is looking after another MMS'ers garden and animals while they are away for a week, and got a call at the hangar today to say that their cow gave birth to a calf... not the delivery he was hoping for!! He will get two weeks off when the baby is born which we are all excited about.

My parents are due to arrive in Ohio on the 10^th of July for a month so I am feeling very blessed to have so much help around this time and in the coming months.   The baby is due on Sunday 24th of June so I am counting the days! Health-wise, myself and the baby are doing fine although I am getting very uncomfortable and probably a lot more short tempered than usual.  The weather has been very hot and I am preferring to stay indoors and so thankful for our big old air conditioning window unit in our living room.  It spouts out black dirt which we can't seem to find the source of, but that's a small price to pay for the relief of some cooler air!   Our next blog post will hopefully be about our exciting news! God bless x