CONNECT Group Christmas 2010

Catching up December 2010

Wow!

It has been a while since I last updated. I guess with Facebook and Twitter, blogs are last years news. But I know there are still a few people who check, so here is the latest.

• Everyone coming home for Christmas! Can't wait to see them all again, been too long. Tyler and Rachel arrive on the 23rd, with Brandon and Julie arriving the next day. Corey is still around Newark so we see him about once per week
• Have not traveled much since October, just staying busy with work and calling Asia and Europe instead of traveling there. OK with me, I am going to count, but I think I have traveled at least 100 days for work in 2010
• Angela is in full Christmas mode. She is baking up a storm for our CONNECT Group Christmas party this Saturday, look for pictures next week. I have been helping with a new style chocolate bow for her cakes that is much easier to make and looks great.
• Was going to trademark the name "Cakerella" for her today, but found out someone else already has it. That's Ok, she is still my Cakerella
• Took 1/2 day vacation yesterday and went to an auction for model trains. It started at 9 AM, I stayed till noon, went to work, went back to the auction at 7 PM stayed an hour and there were still over 200 items left! There were over 1,500 items all together, and 90% of it was from 1 person!!! He and his wife were actually at the auction, so I talked to him and he said he still has another 400 to 500 items, he didn't want to sell yet.
• I bought a Ohio State Train set that I did not have for about 50% of what I would have paid retail. It was just really fun just looking at all the train stuff!!!!

That's all for now, more to come by the end of the month. Merry Christmas!!

illuminations at EPCOT

John and Pam Birthday

What a weekend

Brandon and Julie came to visit for the 4th. Great to see them and their dog Tyson.

Spent the 4th with the 3 best things in life:

Family

Food

and Fireworks!

Singapore #3

Just got home from Singapore, 3rd time in 7 months for work. This was a quick trip only there 2 days. A few interesting facts:

1. 32 = number of hours it took me to get there. Mostly due to a 6 hour delay in Chicago before we got on the plane. United Airlines gave us (me and 2 guys from work) food vouchers so that was nice.
2. 4 = number of moovies watched on the plane including Avatar
3. 50 = number of hours actually spent in Singapore, got there Monday, delivered the session and left the next day.
4. 0 = number of times we left the hotel. At least it was a 5 Seasons hotel with restaurants and great food.
5. 26 = number of hours it took for me to get home, only 1 hour delay in Hong Kong
6. 24 = number of hours after I got home that my luggage was delivered.
7. priceless = being home
8. 11 = number of hours before Brandon and Julie arrive home!!!!! They are on the way, praying for safe travels.

Crazy Corey and friend Chris

Memorial Day 2010

Christian Help Not Wanted?

Christian Help Not Wanted?

Catching up May 2010

Things been going pretty good for us. God is continuing to bless us daily. Few things, in case you missed them.

• Corey got a tattoo, Hebrew letters for "Christ in Me", he and Eli are headed to Memphis right now to see Tyler and Rachel and enjoy Memphis in May
• Brandon and Julie took engagement pictures and posted them on FB, very good looking couple
• Tyler got 2nd place overall in his first BBQ competition this year, won 4 trophies. Hope to have him come up this fall and cook a whole hog for family hayride
• Angela and I been working getting ready for the Park Trails yard sale this weekend. It is going to be huge! There are over 40 homes in our subdivision that are participating. I am cleaning out the basement and garage, trying to get rid of old junk, I mean prized possessions that are worth lots of money!
• Angela got her flowers planted, going to look good as usual
• No traveling for me in a while, but trips to Dallas, Miami, and Chicago are looming in the next 6 weeks
• Finished teaching a college class this week at MVNU in Newark, biggest class ever with 21 students
• Mom doing a little better, just keep her in your prayers, she just needs to get up and move more everyday to get her body loosened up, arthritis is getting the best of her I worry.
• My favorite niece, Jordan, is coming home to visit this weekend!
• That's all for now

Must Read Book

I just finished reading "The Prodigal God" by Tim Keller and would highly recommend it to everyone. It is a closer look a the Bible story, The Prodigal Son from Luke chapter 15.

In this book, Keller renames this story to "The two lost sons" and goes on to explain it was not just the younger son, the one who left and came book, that was lost, but also the older brother who stayed and did was expected and obeyed his father.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Neither son loved the father for himself. They both were using the father for their own self-centered ends rather than loving, enjoying, and serving him for his own sake. This means that you can rebel against God and be alienated from him either by breaking his rules OR by keeping them diligently."

"Elder brothers obey God to get things. They don't obey God to get to God himself.-in order to resemble him, love him, know him and delight him. So religious and moral people can be avoiding Jesus as Savior and Lord as much as the younger brother who say they don't believe in god and define right and wrong for themselves."

"Elder brother self-righteousness ... creates an unforgiving and judgemental spirit."

"Mercy and forgiveness must be free and unmerited to the wrong doer. If the wrongdoer has to do something to merit it, then it isn't mercy, but forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness."

"selfless love destroys mistrust in our hearts toward God that makes us either younger brothers or older brother's."

I hope this makes you think about yourself enough to get the book and see how it speaks to you.

Pressing On! In Christ Alone!

Go Bucks!

If this does work go to www.youtube.com and type in "flash mob at the Ohio Union"

Memphis Vacation Pictures

Family Easter Celebration

Catching up

Wow, what beautiful weather we are having today. Wish I had a convertible and a full tank of gas, would take Angela somewhere for the day. Maybe later our 29Th anniversary coming up on 4/4, need something creative for a gift, any suggestions?

• Been busy time, as you saw in last post, I went to Singapore and China for work a couple of weeks ago. It was very interesting, not much time to sight see, but a little time to shop.
• Brandon got new job at Best Buy, full time, manager of the mobile communications area, gave 2 weeks notice at the bank. Miss him and Julie a lot.
• Corey loves the hospital, seeing all kinds of interesting people. moved into new apartment so we are empty Nester's again.
• Going to see Tyler and Rachel week after Easter! Cannot wait, he got an invitation to audition for BBQ Pit masters on the Food Network, will let you know how it turns out.
• Went to Brock's (Kyle and Kelley) birthday party last Saturday, he was wild with excitement, looked more like Christmas with all presents he got.
• This week annual visit from Easter Bunny, look forward to pictures next week.
• Gotta go get ready for meeting

Pressing On! Go to Church this Sunday!!

Photos from Asia

Hello from Asia!

Made it to Singapore last night, uneventful flight, except the food was really bad and very long flights, 14 hours to Hong Kong and 4 hours to Singapore.

Watched "The Blind Side" and "2012" movies, both pretty good.

Weather here hot and humid, about 80 last night with 100% humidity. Preparing for session tomorrow, our to dinner tonight with the Abbott group.

Report tomorrow

When will it end?

I want to acknowledge, that I was skeptic on the whole Global Warming thing. I thought it was just another way for the liberals to take control of even more parts of my life and introduce more laws that limit my personal freedoms.

But I think the last few weeks have proven me right! I have about 20" of climate change on my front lawn and the global warming temperature currently is about 20 degrees outside, which for the record is about 20 degrees below the normal for today.

I can never remember a winter like this with major snow storms one right after the other. I have piles of snow beside my driveway that are approaching 5 feet high! I did see a snow plow come down my street today, which was awesome, since it took a week last time.

Had a great Valentines day, got the Queen some jewelry, I got some real Goumas candy, local family candy makers, and a card. The outside of the card was fine, it was red in color and something about puckering up. I opened it it started playing the song, "... this kiss, this kiss ...", really romantic. Then I read the inside of the card and it said happy BIRTHDAY! The Queen did cross that out and write "Valentines" above it.

Said she bought it without having her glasses on. Went to Japanese Steakhouse for dinner.

Pressing On!

The end is near! Updated

We got the news this week that Tinker needs to be put to sleep. He is getting older, has lots of arthritis, and has issues with people. Hate to see it come to an end, but I will not miss taking him outside early in the cold mornings.

Corey has another job interview at the hospital this Friday. So pray for success for him. Brandon likes working at the bank in Kansas, and Tyler is back to school after a long weekend due to the weather in Memphis.

I remember when we lived in TN, it was NOT unusual for school to get cancelled if snow was forecasted! Seems strange in Ohio, but until you find out there is one salt truck for the whole county! It keeps Interstate 40 clear, and not much else. Usually the ice or snow lasted about a day, then it warms up in the 40s and everything melts.

Angela had minor eye surgery, doing well, I am traveling a little, not a lot right now. So all pretty quiet.

Pressing ON!

Bad week, so far

Been a crazy week at work so far, but pushing through to the end!

Started Monday with taking Aunt Rhoda to Doctor to remove a melanoma on her ear. 6 hours later I had to leave and go to work, but Corey stayed with them. He got home about 4 PM (see twitter update on left).

I get to work, log on Monday afternoon and all my files are gone from my computer! I had a message from IT Security saying they were moved to a new folder, only 2 problems: 1) I could not open the new folder, and 2) when I could, no files! been waiting since then and they are still not there. Getting harder to work, saving things on my desktop.

Yesterday, I was working and the power went out in my office. I laid down on the floor to reset my surge protector at the same time a co-worker came in my office, saw me lying on the floor and thought I was dead!! She called "Jeff" and when I answered, she didn't no whether to hug me or hit me. Sorry Melissa.

Went to viewing hours for Pauline Larch from church last night, great lady went to be with husband Art in Heaven.

Then the Queen and I went to Bake and Brew on N. 21st for dinner. Had the hash brown crusted fish = GREAT! Stopped by the "good" goumas store for a dessert. Only had 2 chocolate covered marshmallows, could have had 22, they were so good.

Ended the night watching Massachusetts save the country by electing a Republican Senator that can stop Obamacare before it destroys the country.

Today has been uneventful, the power went out again, but I stayed in my chair and Melissa was fine.

Corey has 2nd interview tomorrow at LMH, praying for him a job!

Pressing On!

Stossel's Latest on Crony Capitalism: Seriously?!

Stossel's Latest on Crony Capitalism: Seriously?!

I signed this and hope you do too!

One Nation Under God

Christmas has left the building

We put away all inside decorations today. Wow, it was tiring and took about 4 hours.

It would have been quicker if Corey was home, but decided to stay in Kansas until today. Wonder if that was part of the reason? Takes a while to take down 4 trees and all decorations Angela likes to put up. But it does make Christmas fun and memorable.

In all truth, it probably took over half the time getting the basement back in shape to put stuff away. found lots of Yard Sale stuff, and baby carrier, evenflo bouncing seat, etc, that we can give away to someone.

With all that, our basement looks a lot better. I told Angela, that if we didn't get it cleaned up, they might want to film and episode of "Hoarders" down there. But not now, it looks great, just need Angela to go through a bunch of toys we have accumulated over the years.

That's all for now, trying to decide to leave my OSU Train up a little longer in celebration of the Rose Bowl victory!

That's all for now, back to work on Monday!

Pressing On!

Great Start to 2010

Buckeyes win the Rose Bowl! Pryor finally plays to potential, all is good in Buckeye land tonight!

Corey and Blake headed home from Kansas in Saturday

Family met at Bonner's for food and game. Traditional food of pork, sauerkraut, and black eyed peas for New Years.

Angela and I a little sad, 1st New Years with none of the boys around. Life goes on!

Looking forward to a fun, successful, and exciting 2010!