Vacation Day 2

Got up late, walked on the beach this morning, collected sea shells. Beautiful day, about 80 and sunny.

We did it! We ate lunch at THE LADY AND SONS, the Paula Deen place. We had to wait about an hour, but it was worth it. Angela had the buffet, and I had pulled pork, dessert was good but small portions. Angela got a new apron with "Put some south in yo mouth" printed on it.

After lunch we walked around the City Market, a collection of shops and eating places trying to walk off some lunch. Angela has fond memories or her childhood of little roadside places where her family bought pecans (PEE-Cons). She has looked and looked and finally asked a shop owner where to buy pecans, he told her "Kroger! There are no little stands selling them anymore". Oh, well, that's progress.

We also visited a little store that sold hand cream, the sign said "Know samples". (for my Alabama friends it should have said "no samples")

Looked for a train museum, with no luck, so we headed back, stopped at a place across from the hotel for dinner.

A good time was had by all!

Heading to Gatlinburg tomorrow, probably will not have internet access, so I will catch y'all up later.

Vacation Day 1

We left yesterday after church and drove south of Charleston, SC. Great weather, saw 1 bad wreck, but otherwise uneventful, until we got to the hotel.

We went to a nearby Subway where Angela ordered a salad, it was interesting because the girl who took her order had some kind of a cajun accent. She asked Angela if she wanted crackers, which Angela interpreted as her asking if she wanted no-fat dressing? Not even close, but I stepped in a interpreted. When we paid for the salad, I looked in the bag and saw no fork was present, so I asked for one. The girl looked at me and said they didn't have any! Angela asked how she was going to eat her salad and the raging Cajun offered up a spoon! Luckily, the hotel had a fork so momma was happy!

When we checked in, the only room was on the 2nd floor. When we brought our luggage in Angela asked where the elevator was, and was told they didn't have one! Now if you have seen those movies about people bringing lots of luggage, they have nothing on my wife. I have 1 suitcase, 1 laptop, and 1 other small bag. Angela has 2 suitcases, 2 makeup bags, 1 bag with nothing but stuff to read on the trip, and a bag full of hair curlers. We (me) got to drag them up the stairs and then back down this morning.

Today we got to Hilton Head about 1:00 and checked in at our oceanview room, pictures to follow. We then drove to Savannah, GA and had a late lunch at Uncle Bubba's Oyster House. Angela is now a fan of raw oysters!!! Uncle Bubba was there, but outside in a meeting so we only saw his back. While here we found out that Paula's Party Show is filmed there, so I got a picture of Angela standing where Paula Deen stands, she was so thrilled!!!!

Later we walked around River Street in Savannah for couple of hours, found the River Street Sweets known for their Pralines (pronounced Pray-leens). To our (my) good luck they had their Halloween candy 50% off, so I made up for it by buying more than I would have! It is good stuff, whatever is left, I will share, but don't hold your breath.

We also found the "Lady and Sons" restaurant where we are going tomorrow. Didn't look like much, but it is on the inside that counts. More on that tomorrow.

Finally, we went to a kitchen store where I found my Christmas passing party gift for the Allen family get together, while Angela found a few things that I know will benefit my stomach in the end, so I bought them for her.

A good time was had by all!

Champions! And other stuff

Wrap up of the weeks activities:

1. Brandon and Corey won the championship of the Columbus Parks Department Fall Softball, 1 pitch competitive co-ed league! My nephew Kyle hit a homerun in the bottom of the last inning to win the game!!!
2. Corey was named the new Granville Christian middle school basketball coach! Jay Burson (ex-OSU basketball player) is the new GCA athletic director and called Corey and offered him the job! He is so excited and can't wait to get started.
3. Pam and family are pumped up about the possibility of being on TV. Not sure of all the details but I think Pam submitted information to the new Rachel Ray TV show (She is on Food TV channel with shows like how to eat on $40 per day and a cooking show) and they called her back. Sounds like the show will be about the "uniqueness" of their family, if you know I what mean!
4. I told Angela they should give John his own show, "How to eat on $40 per week!" or "How to survive with nothing but a twist tie" or "McGiver gone wild"
5. STARTING VACATION TOMORROW!!

Happy Birthday Angela!

Well today is a BIG day in the family, Angela turns 50. I know she does not look 50 but I can verify that she is. We are celebrating tonight with her sisters at Buccca Di Beppo in Columbus.

For her birthday and our 25th anniversary (also this year) I surprised her with an upcoming trip to Savannah, GA to see her idol, Paula Deen, the Food TV star! We are leaving a week from Sunday, spending a few days in GA and then meeting our TN friends for annual trip to Gatlinburg.

It continues to amaze me how time is flying by. It seems like only yesterday that we were baby sitting Kyle and Amy and now in the blink of an eye we are watching their kids. Seems like time is going faster and faster every year.

Back to Angela. There is guy at church who gave me the nickname of "Lucky". It comes from the fact that I am "Lucky" to be married to the piano player (which is Angela). I am lucky, she is beautiful, talented, and fun to be around. She is my best friend and I LOVE HER!

I am the luckiest guy in the world. There are many people who do not have anything close to what we have. Sure, we could always use more money, but who could not? Our boys do not always do what we think they should, but overall they are great boys. Even though our extended families have their moments, but I know they would be there for us.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the woman I love!

CONNECT Group 10/15

It started out like any other Sunday morning CONNECT group, with snacks and coffee and the group settling in. Amanda asked me ahead of time if she could share a praise and of course I said yes.

She stood up and for the next 5 minutes or so, told how God was working in her life, healing her marriage and giving her life meaning again. How God had closed doors until she realized she needed to seek God's will in her life instead of her own.

Then someone else shared a recent example of how God was real in their life and working right now! This continued on for over 30 minutes, and I realized that there was no need for a lesson from me that day. God softened our hearts and the class provided the content.

We laughed and cried, prayed and thanked God for the amazing way He is moving in our lives. It was a day that the Spirit moved in a way that only He can. You cannot plan for anything like that, but we just have to be sensitive to it.

It reminded Angela and I of some of the special times we had with friends back in Jackson, TN. That is a special group of people that we will always share a special bond with. It only made me more excited about seeing them all again in Gatlinburg in November.

Big Night Tonight!

Tonight is the Bonner family bonfire and wiener roast at Henry's farm, weather and wind permitting. Can't wait to see everyone again, Jordan is coming home and bringing a few friends, so Corey is a little excited, think he actually took a shower today! Memi and JR are coming from Kentucky and maybe even Angela's Aunt Carol and family from Portsmouth.

Angela called Carol last week to get her secret recipe for coney sauce for hot dogs. Somehow Angela remembered way back a long time ago when she was a little girl and Carol owned a restaurant. The sauce made quite an impression, but when Angela asked for the recipe, Carol said she didn't know and didn't think the sauce was that good anyway. So for the last week have had hotdogs and different sauce recipes so Angela could figure out how to make it. She settled on one I like, but who knows if it was like the original. I had a good week!

Get to try out the new hot dog cooker forks we bought at Backwoods Fest this year, they about 4 feet long and should keep me from burning the hair off my hand from getting too close to the fire. Suggested to Tammy that Gary start the fire about 2 hours before time to eat to let it burn down some. Full report later. I think Brandon, Corey, and Kyle are upto something.

The other big thing for the night, is yesterday Pam flunked a personality test she took as part of applying for a job! One thing Pam has is personality, so can't wait to get full report on what happened. More to come on that as well.

Eternity!

Last night Corey, Kyle and I went to Spring Hills Baptist Church (SHBC) to watch their production of "Eternity". This play portrays what it will be like when we die and go to Heaven to be judged. There were 5 different scenes with people at various stages in life who have died and now must face the judgment. (We saw something similar when we lived in Jackson, TN, but it was called Heavens Gates, Hell's Flames).

This was a very powerful and emotional hour with joyous moments of those who get to meet Jesus because their name is written in the Book of Life, but tragic for those whose name is not there. Satan jumps out of a pit in the floor and has his demons drag the person to the fiery pit and throw then in, screaming.

To show you the power of this show, SHBC has extended the number of shows until next Sunday, last night was supposed to be the last night. Also, this was the 1st church service I have ever been to where they asked people to leave! There were so many people wanting to attend, that Pastor Pound asked anybody who has already seen the show or who could come back another night to give up their seat because there were 100 more people outside wanting in!

Before last night about a 150 people had accepted Christ as their Savior, with at least another 20 to 30 going forward last night.

PRAY for those who were moved by the play, but did not respond.
PRAY that they have the courage to make the commitment to repent of their sins.
PRAY that they make Jesus the Lord of their lives
PRAY for the cast and crew, I know they are getting tired (Jeremiah is portraying Jesus)
PRAY that people take their unsaved family and friends

You will leave changed

It's Official!

Brock Bonner is officially a family member forever!! Kyle and Kellie met with the judge today surrounded by family. They passed whatever kind of legal waiting period, and got to take the little fella home with them. From what I heard from Great Aunt Angela, Brock got his picture made in the judges chair holding the gavel and probably slobbering on everything.

Corey scared me to death because I text messaged him and asked how it was going and he replied "Not good". As my breathing slowed and my chest felt tight, Brandon called and confirmed everything went quick and fine.

Corey, remember paybacks are coming, it may not be soon, but there will be a day, like when your auto insurance and gas bills are due, they might "lost".

BIG Bonner costume party and weenie roast bonfire this Friday will now really be a celebration!

One of those days

Yesterday was one of those days within the extended family, a little drama, a little humor. The following is based on a true story.

My brother in law, John, took his family to watch Jordan (my favorite niece, unless Olivia is reading this, then you are) run a half marathon near her college. According to reports she did well and passed her personal best with a time a little over 2 hours. (Note: I get tired riding in a car for 2 hours let alone running for 2 hours.)

On the way home the family stopped at Cabella's, which is to hunting what Bass Pro Shops are to fishing. Blake ordered a new hunting bow, possibly for his birthday, bought some arrows and the family hit the road home (visit#1). Well a short time later Blake realized that he had bought the wrong thing and being the good father that he is, John turned around and returned to the store (visit #2). While waiting for Blake to come out of the store, Pam took advantage of the time to go shopping at a nearby Target (Note to self: need to write a blog the creative shopping habits of the Allen girls), John waited in the car, took out his retainer (I thought there was age limit on those things?) and somehow it fell out of the car without him noticing it. So the family gets back in the car, back on the highway heading west when John realizes that he does not have his retainer. They turn around again and return to the store (visit #3) and pull up to the parking spot they had, just as someone was pulling into it and getting ready to run over the retainer, John jumps out scares the poor guy to death, but rescues the device and finally head home.

When they get home, an Asian couple arrives at their home to pick up the stove that Pam had decided she did not want any more. John walks out to meet them and warmly welcomes the 1st person to exit the car with a, "hello young man, how are you doing today?" greeting. To which the reply was, "I am the wife". Needless to say the rest of us were crying with laughter, not at John of course, but with him, because all of us make the same mistake of thinking that Asian women look like young Asian boys!!

The big news of the day on the Salyer side, Brandon shot 2 does yesterday, the last one was doe-zilla, weighing over 200 pounds. Unfortunately after he shot her, she ran through the woods into the heavy brush where it took over an hour in the pitch black to find her and carry her out of the woods, (with my help I might add). I saw parts of the Bonner farm I did not know existed.

Finally, pray for Kyle, Kellie and Brock on Tuesday, the adoption will be finalized and the little fella will be theirs forever legally.

Friday Night Lights

Watched a new TV show last night, Friday Night Lights, on NBC (on Tuesday's, go figure). The show as very well done, it is about a small town in Texas that is nuts about its high school football team. Great action, intriguing stories, some parts not for kids, but overall pretty fair.

Why am I writing about a TV show? Well, as part of the show it reminded me of a big difference between living in the north and living in the south. What the TV included was the team praying before the game. They even said the word "Jesus" on prime time!!

For those who have never lived in the south it is a common practice that before any high school sporting event is played, there is a public prayer offered. There is no one talking or being disrespectful, even in public schools! It is something that my sons got to experience growing up and playing sports.

Many people make fun of NASCAR, but it is the only major sporting event, where someone prays before the race starts, publicly, over the PA system. I wonder sometimes if that is why some people in the media make fun of those who attend or support NASCAR events?

I am glad there are still parts of this country where faith is a part of their everyday lives, and it is normal to give God thanks for all he has done.

Our family always pray before meals, home or in restaurants. It is important that we are not ashamed to thank God for what we have everyday.

Say an extra prayer to God when you read this and thank Him for what he has done for you.