Wishing for Summer

We haven't seen the sun for days. There's a layer of clouds at about 1000 to 1500ft over ground, put there to stay for days, often weeks. We call it High Fog and after a week with no sun it wrecks the good spirit in even the thoughest persons. The trouble is, that over this grey layer of water droplets the weather is perfect with bright blue skies, but during the week there is no time to go somewhere high enough to make it over it. And that's unnerving.
These are the days when I wish I was in Three Hills where there might be fog but only for a day or two and then it's sunny again. Or when I have to think back to the fall, when everything was still warm and beautiful in little old Sweden. As seen in the following pics:

View of the Swiss Alps (10min drive from home)

Romantik Hotel Rosenlaui where we stayed for our anniversary

For once above the High Fog

Dawn from our living room window

(to see more of these pictures click here)

"...neither are your ways my ways"

I've had that feeling for quite a while: that we should delay our departure to PNG for half a year (i.e. to July). Support hasn't come in as quickly as expected for one thing. And a departure in January wouldn't have allowed for time to renew my IFR licence. However, we didn't want to interfere with God's planning, and He's certainly capable to let our support jump to 100% in no time. Understandably, we didn't want to be in the way for that miracle to happen.
So, in the morning of that particular day I prayed: "Lord, let us know what we should do. Whether we should press on to leave in January or if we should stay." I've done likewise several times before, so when I got to bed that evening I wasn't really expecting anything to happen.
Then Madeleine said: "Honey, I think I'm pregnant." Well, I'm not quite sure if she really said "Honey" but she still had my full attention. "How did that happen?" was my question, for the word "unexpected" is not usually used by the highly organised and thouroughly planning Bischoffs. "Well, you know, the bees..." "I know the ways of the bees," I interrupted suspiciously, "but did they do it on purpose?" There have been some discrepancies between the two of us on how many childern make up a comfortable family, so I just wanted to be sure. "Honestly, no secret planning on this one." she assured me.
What could I do but believe her? And really, with a due date in mid-April and another MAF orientation starting in July it was pretty obvious who orchestrated this "accident". Just that His ways are not necessarily my ways. And by the by, God answerd a third prayer request en passant: If we should have a third child or not.

Baby #3

Bike Trip

Even though it is already a while back, I still have to write about this special week-end. It was the first father-son date, a Wild at Heart event, important for Niklas' development and his identification as a man :)
Niklas always wanted to go on a bike trip. So we loaded up everything for a 2-day excursion and drove for about an hour to the next camping ground. There, we pitched our little tent, swam in the pool, and jumped on whatever you call those inflatable things kids can jump on. Then, we ate our packed supper and went to sleep in our sleeping bags.
The weather didn't play along all that well the next day. We woke to rain, packed up a wet tent, forgot to take a picture from us camping, but made it home almost dry.
Niklas' comment: He didn't really like the biking. An hour one way was too much. Well, he would probably have preferred to take the car – Canadian as he is :)

Ready for Departure

Prairie School of Mission Aviation at MAF Switzerland Event

Today we participated at an yearly event of MAF Switzerland. Not only did we have a presentation of our years in Three Hills, Canada, but we also had the chance to advertise Prairie's flying programm. There was quite a bit of interest and we hope that one or two of those will find the way to PSMA.

PSMA booth