Boys will be Boys #4

Tyler and Rachel were driving today from his Grandmother's house in Morehead, KY here today, when he spotted 2 puppy dogs on the side of the road. Being the good Christian boy he is, he stopped and picked them up. So now we have 2 more dogs, Tyler and Rachel for the week, so we have a house full.

Corey and Jeremiah also fell in love with the dogs, and noticed they had lots of ticks and burrs on them. Corey had the idea that after they took the tics off the dogs, they would burn them in a small coffee can. Things were going well until the fire went out and Corey had the bright idea to add GASOLINE to the embers!!! As I was screaming "No, Corey it will catch fire" you guessed the fire went from the coffee can up the gas pouring out into the gas can itself and started burning. Well Corey threw the can down (close to the house) as Tyler grabbed the hose and Corey tried to hook the hose up to the faucet, as everyone else took off running. Finally, the hose was hooked up and the fire was doused with only a small ring of burnt grass around the coffee can and a melted gas can to show for the excitement.

As Corey was telling Brandon the story, it reminded him of a time in Jackson, TN where he and his friend Will had a similar problem, but that time some of the gas got on the house and caught it in fire! (Sorry Donna and Lewis, I had not heard this story before). They got the fire out before much damage, but Brandon noted that there is still a mark on the house today!

boys will be boys #3

Banjo = $200

Decoys of woodland creatures = $100

Enjoying the warm sumer night with your friends = PRICELESS

Boys will be Boys #2

Had a GREAT Fathers day! Tyler called from Memphis early in the AM, Brandon gave me his present before he left for Napoleon, Ohio, and Corey slept on the couch all afternoon while I paid bills and balanced the checkbook!

• Tyler called today and said he was doing laundry recently and saw smoke coming from his clothes dryer! Seems like the clothes he was wearing while rebuilding his car were soaked with gasoline. Well the washer did not remove all of the gas and it spread to the other clothes, so when he put them in the dryer they caught fire! Luckily he was right there and was able to put out the fire before it spread.
• Still waiting on my Fathers Day present from Corey and Tyler. Corey said it was on the way but it was "complicated". (Found out today that "complicated" was a cash flow issue = too much cash out, not enough cash in), but I think they are in Columbus right now getting it.
• Brandon was bought a new TV and sold his old one to Corey and his old Wii to me. Has basement set up like a theater to watch it. Brandon has his paps wheeling and dealing genes in him. Pap would be proud.
• Both Brandon and Corey are doing very well in softball right now, Corey finally got moved to the outfield where his speed is a big plus. I am amazed at how fast my boys can run, I was never as fast as they are!

Neon is fading quickly, engine almost gone, needs to be replaced, but would cost more than I paid for the car. #1 prayer request = figure out what to do about a new car. Hate to buy a new car, but need something reliable. Tyler is going to try to work his car magic on it like he did on his car. Really have nothing to lose.

FINALLY, working in Columbus after 2 weeks in Chicago. Traveling is OK, but I miss sleeping next to my wonderful wife! She is much softer and sweeter than any hotel room will ever be! Glad to be home, unlike some people I know, I enjoy home cooking more then eating out!

I am thankful for a wife that loves to cook for her husband and family. Right now she is in bed reading her recipes preparing for Tyler's visit next week.

Pray for our CONNECT group, we have had a couple of visitors the last couple of weeks, one very strange one and one very nice one. Summer is a hard time for people with young kids due to sports, and vacations, but pray that remember their class cares for them and misses them when they are gone.

That's all for now, good night, and God Bless!

Boys will be boys

• Sitting in a hotel room in Chicago watching the Cavs trying to play basketball. They are losing by 5 points going into the 4th quarter
• Tyler rebuilt the engine on his car last weekend! That boy amazes me with his know how and willingness to do things I would never dream of doing. Replaced a few parts and got it back together and the car runs fine.
• Corey fell asleep on the couch last week so Brandon thought he would be funny, so he put hot sauce on Corey's lips, guess it about burned him up!!
• Angela got Brandon back by putting the same hot sauce on his taco, he took a bite of it and almost threw up.
• Brandon and Corey had this great idea to help do the landscaping on our front yard, but Angela is having a hard time getting them to finish the job. They did a good job of clearing the old stuff out, but need to build a retaining wall before we can plant the new stuff.
• Thats all for now!

Amazing Computer Animation

Hit Pause button (II) on Music Player at right for this to work correctly

Memorial Day

How easy it is to just enjoy the great weather and the day off of work, without really remembering what Memorial Day is all about.

I have to admit that our family has been very lucky in that no relative, that I know of, has paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

BUT that does not relieve me of the obligation to stop and say a special prayer this weekend for all of those families who have lost love ones defending our country!

We are very blessed to live in a country where men and women have always been willing to take the fight to the enemy and defend all of us, even those that do not agree with them.

I think there are 2 things that make our country great:

• Freedom of Religion, for each to search out and understand how God is reaching down to us, just like our salvation, where we are free to choose to follow Christ.
• Freedom of Speech, many people confuse their freedom to speak with my freedom to listen! Everyone in this country has the right to say whatever they want to, but we also have the right to listen or not to listen! Sometimes this causes people to say and do things that are the opposite of what I believe (think Rosie), but our troops are still dieing today to protect that right!

So make sure you stop this weekend, visit the grave of a loved one who has passed on, and say a prayer for them, their family, and then pray for our troops, and our leaders. They need it, they are under all kinds of attacks; spiritual and physical.

GOD BLESS THE USA!

Ballad of the Average Joe

To the tune of "Somewhere over the Rainbow"....

Somewhere under the radar
Out of sight

I’ll be quietly working
Away from the lime light

Somewhere under the radar
It just feels right

Too much noise and attention
Is a future not so bright

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
That average Joes will go as far as EE’s

Without the pain and suffering
That visibility can bring,

That’s where you’ll find me.
Somewhere under the radar

Try as I might
Life in the safe zone can be

Soaring at your own new height.

Dreary Day

We are finally getting some long overdue rain. Grass was just starting to look brown in some places. This week should be a good week at work after yesterday which was wall to wall meetings. My boss will in Chicago all next week so things are always a little slower, can get caught up on some things. Don't get me wrong I like my boss a lot and definitely have had a lot worse. somehow it it is just different.

Mark and I were discussing work last Saturday on our way to Buca. somehow we got on the subject of what kind of workers should Christians be? I have always believed that Christians need to put forth extra effort, more than others as another way of showing we are different than the world.

For me, it comes back to the cliche' that "I may be the only Christian some people ever see" or "If every Christan was just like me, what kind of world would this world be?" I really believe we need to stand out at work more than we do at home or church.

I have had people report to me, who called themselves Christians, but took every opportunity to get out of doing what was expected of them!! When I called them on it, they claimed that what happens at work was different than what happens outside, NO IT DOES NOT!

How effective of a witness would anyone have if they cannot lead by example in the simple basic things of everyday life?

Something to think about on this dreary day, time for ME to get to work!

Sad times

This not been a fun week at the Salyers.

1 of the twin great nephews fell off a chair and broke his arm.

Brandon's leg showed "abnormal" on an X-ray and he has a an MRI tomorrow morning

And Henry is in Hospice as his body is shutting down.

The week has been such an emotional roller coaster that it is hard to put into words how I feel. I know that God will take care of Brandon.

gotta a cut this short, Tanny just called and wanted us to come back to the hospital.

Just pray for all 3 of those listed and their families.

Raising Kids

With our church hosting a Global Impact Celebration this weekend, we get to have a missionary speak during CONNECT group, so I get the week off from teaching.

The 1st speaker was great. Walker Moore, was here Wed & Thurs and he was both funny and challenging. Thursday was especially good. He talked about the concept of kids growing up, how they need to act like and be treated like adults at a specific time during their lives. I agree with the concept and can look back how in our son's lives how that has worked well for us and allowed our boys to learn some responsibility at a young age.

Tyler was a store manager of a dry cleaners at age 15, Corey has had his own business mowing yards for several years, and Brandon has had a job outside the home almost since the time he could drive. We have tried to make sure they are not given everything, and I feel they have an appreciation for the value of a dollar and that it is OK to work towards something before you get it.

I can just look around and still see people who call their 30 year old kids to get them out of bed in the morning so they are not late to work. The kids never learned any responsibility because they never mowed a yard or helped out around the house that I know of anyway.

Our boys are not perfect and have made mistakes, but the thing I am proudest of is that they have learned from the past and are better men today for it. No parent wants their kid to have to go through hard times or struggle with relationships or money or problems.

THAT is the point where kids have to grow up. When they go against the way they were raised and make a bad choice, they always know that love at our house is unconditional, but there are consequences for actions. When they take that responsibility, they become the men God wants them to be.

Jack blew it?

I can't believe it but Jack Bauer just let the Chinese get the circuit board and escape!! Today's episode of 24 was great!! Not only did Jack make a big mistake (which keeps the show on the air) but Bill Buchanan was fired by his wife! Great story lines are emerging, this is a well written show.

Now back to reality:

• New worship pastor accepted the call and starts in June! Can't wait, think he will be just what the church needs to continue the blessing's God is giving our church
• Spent last Wed-Fri in Chicago, hated being away from the family, but suffered through 4 star meals, 800 thread count sheets, and 3 kinds of creme brule` all at the same time! Life is tough sometimes.
• Helped scrub the outside of the Dear's new house Saturday got lots of sun and the house looks like new.
• God continues to bless our CONNECT group. Laura's 2 daughters were saved on Sunday morning, ate lunch with Amanda and Drason Sunday shared horror stories of raising 3 sons.
• The study of Romans is amazing! I am learning so much as I prepare the lesson about how God is working all around us.
• Actually using the treadmill, trying to get my summer body ready, it will take awhile I am sure.
• Pray for Global Focus this week at church, pray that God will speak to lives and people have the courage to answer.
• Thank God everyday for 1 thing he has done for you recently! It will make your day.

Easter Sunday

Here is my beautiful wife dressed up as the "Easter Bunny" with all of the little kids in the family. This has become a family tradition because the kids love it!!

We had great day in all respects. Church was super with salvation's at both services. Our Sunday School class had record breaking attendance with new couples joining and becoming involved in our church.

The lesson was out of Romans,

(Rom 1:4 MSG) his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master.

What a perfect verse for Easter Sunday where we celebrate the resurrection of our savior! That verse tells it all about why Easter is so important to Christians, it is that resurrection that sets Jesus apart from everyone else that claims any kind of power or ability to save us from our sins.

That should get us all excited about becoming a better christian this year. No matter what we have done in the past, we are all forgiven by the true savior who rose from the dead and lives today in Heaven.

Amazing Grace

• Angela and I went to see the movie "Amazing Grace" last night. I give it a B+. It was the story of an English politician in the 18thCentury who fought for, and finally succeeded in getting the slave trade banned in England. His inspiration was his Pastor, an ex-slave trade ship captain who became a christian and gave up his job, to serve the Lord.
• I wondered later, how many of us would do that? What if God convicted us that our job was getting in the way of serving him and led us to quit and go another direction with our life.
• I know of 1 person would did that, my father-in-law, Billy Allen.
• He was 40 years, a successful business man whom God called him into the ministry. He gave it all up and to do the Lord's work. From what Angela tells me, there was much financial sacrifice, but he never wavered. He went on to be a successful Pastor for 17 years, before God called him home. What a role model he was!
• I think that is what separates people in life, the amount of passion and commitment they have for what they believe in. Way too many people in life, just want to coast through their job, their spiritual walk, and their relationship with others and their relationship with Christ. They really do not want to listen to what God is telling them to do, mostly out of fear of the unknown.
• That is why people like Billy Allen and some long forgotten English politician, can change their part of the world and make the world a better place for all of us, still today.
• What is stopping you or me from changing our little corner of the world?

Pictures from recent trip

Tyler cooking

Old Friends

Statue of Liberation in Memphis

Tylers class

What a week

• Well the Buckeyes pulled one out last night! We were down by 17 points at halftime but we chipped away and finally went ahead with a few minutes to go. We made a free throw with about 3 seconds left and UT had 1 last shot that our big guy blocked. The only problem was the game was not over until about 12:30 AM this morning!!!

• Sorry to my UT friends, this was payback from the football bowl game where you cheated and beat us (you know what happened)

• Starting to get quotes for fixing the house back up, may have to move out for a few days after they sand the floor to let the new coating dry. Angela is working on other options, that are more family friendly.

• Brandon home this week on spring break. He finally bought a Nintendo Wii, and man it is fun!!! for those uninformed, it is a wireless system where you swing the controller based on the game you are playing. for example, when you are playing the bowling game, you swing it like you are throwing a really bowling ball. Great fun for the whole family. Even Angela and Tammy got into the act. Brandon goes back to school this Sunday, guess he will want to take it with him, maybe not.

• Corey got a haircut!! Hasn't been this short in a long time, looks like he is 25 years old. He is going professional this summer with his mowing business, advertising and working for the same guy Brandon did last summer.

• Have one of the new couples from church coming over tonight, trying to meet more of the people in the CONNECT group. One thing we all need to watch is that we don't always stay with the same people from church and form a clique. We need to reach out and make new people feel at home, meet new people, pay forward some of the blessings God had given to us.

• I would like to challenge all of you to invite someone you know over to your house for some fun and conversation. If you think your house is not big or nice enough, be very careful, God has blessed each of us with what we have for a reason, His glory. We need to use what he has given us big or little. I really believe we have to show God we can handle what he has given us, before He will bless us with more. So pay it forward for His glory!

It happened again!

I was traveling to my office so I decided to check voice mails on the way. I had 2 frantic messages from Angela saying there was water everywhere and she did not know how to turn it off!

The water supply line to the sink broke and water was pouring out from under the sink. She called Todd and Corey, both were close by. By the time they got it off it was about ankle deep in the kitchen.

So here we are again facing the replacement of the kitchen floor. The same thing happened before when the valve on the ice maker to the refrigerator busted and a much smaller amount of water was spilled.

This time we might have to replace the kitchen cabinet(s), the floor again, and a few things in the basement. Angela had just looked and it had been almost 1 year since it happened the 1st time.

And of course it could not happen at a worst time. We have some people from our CONNECT group coming over on Friday night and the Music Pastor search team over Saturday. Angela is really handling it well, all things considered.

stuck again

Well it is 10:00 PM eastern time and I am stuck in an airport again! My boss Patti and I are in Chicago for 2 days of meetings. We left for the airport today about 4:00 PM for a 7:30 PM flight that is now delayed until 11:35 PM, if all goes well, will get in about 1:00 AM and then drive home get some sleep and have very important meeting with the VP of HR at 10:00 AM!!

I have been here so long that my laptop battery died and I had to switch batteries with Patti from her laptop.

And I am glad I did!

It seems that when my baby doll gets lonely she gets on eBay and looks around, well to my surprise she is bidding on 4 items, hair barrettes.

If you know Angela, you could guess that plain plastic $1 kind would not be for her. No she is bidding on items around $10 each! Who ever heard of antique hair barrettes? I am sure one of them was like that.

Leave it Angela to find "Hair Jewelry"! In addition she won a ring and is bidding on others. Guess I will have to change my password again.

I am starting to see a pattern with my family when I leave town. Either going out to dinner without me or EBay shopping or something. Oh well, it could be worse, at least when I get home I know they will be there and will genuinely welcome me home.

I now understand why they ask, "When are going out of town again?"

Jeff

wierd sounds

Angela called me at work today to say that the shower in the boys bathroom was making a weird noise, like motor running, causing the pipe to vibrate.

She called Todd, our personal fix it guy, who came over about 7:00 PM. I went upstairs with him and sure enough there was a low humming sound coming from the shower head. We checked in Corey's bedroom to see if he had anything hid in his closet. (The back of his closet is on the other side of the wall of the shower).

The sound was definitely coming from the shower head, we looked around and didn't find anything until Todd picked up Corey's razor, (why does he have a razor?). He had bought one of those new razors that has a battery that vibrates, supposedly to give you a closer shave. It was running! Since it was hanging on one of those shower caddies that hang on the shower head, the vibration was going to shower head, mystery solved!

We all got a good laugh out of it, except Corey who is in denial about that being the cause.

We also one of the families that heard a BOOM outside of our house last week. It made it into the papers that people from Columbus to Newark to Zanesville heard what sounded like a sonic boom between 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Corey even went outside to see if something hit the house.

The official government version said it was nothing, but I think it was secret of aircraft flying over. I am not paranoid or anything but you never know~!

not my idea of fun

Well it's 7:15 PM on Monday night and I have been waiting in the Ottawa airport since 3:30 this afternoon. My flight was supposed to take off at 5:13, then 6:30 and now 7:50. That takes me to Chicago and then I hope to catch the last flight out for Columbus. If not it will be the 3rd time spending the night in an airport, which is not fun. Will try for hotel, but most will be booked up by now.

The ironic part is that it was a beautiful day here today. It was cold, but the sun was shining brightly. The bad weather was closing in on Chicago, no snow but low clouds slowing down the airplanes. I knew the bad weather was coming, which is why I was leaving tonight instead of tomorrow, so much for trying to plan ahead.

I found out my family had a party while I was gone and then someone went to Abuello's without me (course they charged it to me, I love computers, you see who is spending what almost instantly). I am beginning to worry that Angela is out for my money, I will have to keep an eye on her.

Supposed to get a big storm tomorrow, planning on working from, if I make it home, on Tuesday.


Nothing much new with the boys:

• Tyler moved into his house
• Brandon moved out of his old dorm, into a new room
• Corey didn't go anywhere

Big News, I almost forgot, Brandon and Charlie won some kind of a video game tournament at OSU! Hopefully the start of something big, maybe he can make a living and pay off our mortgage or something. Thanks Brandon, I know you will do the right thing.

That's all, I see a plane pulling up, PRAY FOR ME to get home tonight. I need to keep my baby doll warm!

Big Daddy

Winter Wonderland!

• It has been quite a week so far. Temperatures below zero, snowed about 4 inches today. It took my 45 minutes to get to work this morning and over an hour and half to get home. Averaged about 20 MPH all the way home tonight but made it home safely.
• Monday AM on my way to work I was stopped at the light by Bob Evans, getting ready to make a left turn onto the freeway, when the brake peddle went all the way to the floor! What are the odds of the brakes failing while I was stopped instead of traveling 60 MPH! It shook me a little, but know God's hand was on me and I made it safely to Deke's. so the Neon is back in the shop, getting new rear brakes.
• We are finally in the process of finishing the family room. When I lost my job in 2000 we had just finished the kitchen. God has provided the $$$ and we are painting the family room barn red and have a new couch on order. The painter has the 1st coat on the loft and it looks better than I could have imagined. Cannot wait until it is all done. My sister-in-law Pam liked the idea so much she went and bought the exact same sectional sofa we got!
• Tyler is fixing up his new house before moving in. He put tile in the kitchen and will have hardwood floors down before he moves in. Not sure where he gets his talent, but must be from his great grandfather Salyer. Sure not from me, I am not allowed to do anything involving tools or a paint brush.
• Corey's basketball team lost their tournament game so the season is over. The most memorable part was at the end of the 1st quarter Corey got a technical from the ref! He had to stay seated for the rest of the game, which was the only time this season he sat down.
• Have to travel to Canada next week for business, cannot imagine how cold and snowy it will be but will give a full report when I return.
• Question: Why do people have blogs and only update them once a month? Their lives must be so boring they have nothing to write about.
• God bless and stay warm and safe!