Welcome to the World Gracyn Noelle!!!

 

Gracyn Noelle Lyerla came into the world at 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11th. There really aren't words to describe the excitement of seeing a new life come into the world. I'll post more when things calm down in 18 years or so. :)

An Unexpected Follow Up to "Things Better Left Unsaid"

Now that 8- year old Madison and 4-year old Tori share a room it has become necessary to lay down a few ground rules for going to bed; no talking, no playing and no getting out of bed. The first violation (a pretty common occurrence) results in a swat to the bottom, after that they lose their respective stuffed animals for the night.

So last night we did devotions and put the girls to bed. Twenty minutes later I heard giggling and banging around in their room. I opened the door in time to see Madison scrambling up the bunk bed ladder and Tori diving into her bottom bunk. Strike one. Two pops to the bottoms and a reminder of the what happens next followed and I left the room.

A half hour later I heard more giggling and chatter, strike two. Madison handed over her Webkinz without much protest, but I expected much more drama from Tori. Seeing her Minnie Mouse on the floor, I picked it up and headed out the door. Just as I was walking out I heard Tori say "That's okay, that's Madison's Minnie Mouse." Fighting off a laugh and shaking my head I turned around, put Madison's back on the floor and relieved Tori of hers.

When I told Nancy what happened she said even if Tori had kept quiet until I'd left the room it would have been too much for her not to tell Madison, who would have promptly ratted her sister out.

Things Better Left Unsaid...

This was the last page of a shipping invoice we received at our office. A couple of questions come to mind.
1) Why was this necessary? It's the last page, just don't send it.
2) Didn't they ruin the idea by announcing "This page intentionally left blank" ON THE PAGE? Next time why not put "The next page is intentionally left blank" on the page before?





Just a thought for your Thursday.

People I Remember; Part 2

So how many people doubted I would follow up the first installment with a second? Anyone besides me? Yes, I must say I surprised myself. Without further ado, let's get into it.

SFC Elvis Holloway
A section chief in our fire support platoon when I was stationed in Hawaii, Sergeant First Class Elvis Holloway made a big impression on me during my final deployment to the Big Island (Hawaii). After a week of field exercise on the observation post at Puu Ahi we came back to base camp for showers, restocking and rest.
I cleaned my truck, took a shower and met a few of the guys from another platoon to head up to the ad-hoc tavern located at the camp. The weather was getting cooler, so I told the others I would meet them there and went back inside to grab my field jacket. On the way down the aisle to my bunk I passed Sergeant Holloway and said a quick hello. I grabbed my jacket and turned around to head back outside. When I passed Sergeant Holloway's bunk he stepped out into the aisle to meet me.

"Lyerla, I've been watching you. I know you were raised right, you know the Bible and the right things to say, but those friends of yours are taking you straight to Hell. You don't know it, but I've been praying for you."

I was stunned. Someone I knew only on a professional basis was able to see through the wall of religious knowledge I had built to hide behind. Suddenly I was standing there trying to think of a way to respond and get out of there as soon as I could. We stood there for what seemed like an hour, and all I could think to say was "Yeah, you're probably right, and I sure appreciate it sergeant." and a weak laugh, hoping to lighten the mood.
He didn't bite. "I'm gonna keep praying for you." he said, then stepped out of the aisle and back to his bunk. I told him thank you, then headed out the door and up to meet my friends. End of episode. We never talked about it again, but I never forgot that encounter and the fact that Sergeant Holloway was always praying for me. Even fifteen years later I think about that day, and wonder if there is any way he could know how my life has turned out. I give God the glory for my family, friends and the security that has replaced my "wall", and want Sergeant Holloway to know how God used him to bring me here.

People I Remember

This evening during our Wednesday night meal/Bible study our pastor taught from Acts 4:32-37, focusing on Barnabas and his role in the early church as an encourager of the Apostles and his "vouching" for the recently converted Paul.
While listening I began to think back to people in my past who seemed to come along just when I needed them, not family or close friends but those who made a brief appearance with a long-lasting impact in my life. I would like to introduce them to you now over the next few days.

George and Winnie Shigeta
I arrived at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii on December 11, 1991. I was as far away from home as I'd ever been, a lonely situation made worse by the upcoming Christmas holiday. Two weeks later on Christmas Eve, Mike Cross one of the friends I'd made and I traveled down to Honolulu to see the decorations and get into the Christmas spirit. My goal for the evening was to be back at Schofield in time for Midnight Mass so I could enjoy one piece of normalcy.

Around 8 p.m. we started to make our way to the bus stop. We boarded the "Waihawa-Circle Island" bus that would take us back to the town a few miles from Schofield. What we didn't know was the bus had already been to Waihawa, and was on its "Circle Island" route. We rode for over two hours, wondering why it was taking so long to get back, but not knowing enough to ask. Finally we were the last two people on the bus. The driver pulls the bus over and asks us where we wanted to go. We told him and he informed us he was off for the night. Our three-hour bus ride ended only a couple of miles from where we started. We got off the bus and began looking for another bus stop. Apparently we looked as lost as we were, because a older woman and her husband walked up and asked if we needed help. They introduced themselves, George and Winnie Shigeta. We told them what happened, and how I wanted to get back in time for church. They walked with us to the bus stop and showed us the right bus to board. Then Winnie tore the name and address stamp off one of their checks and wrote their phone number on the back. She said if we didn't have anywhere to go for Christmas to give them a call and they would come get us. We thanked them, boarded the bus and made it back in time for Midnight Mass.

The next morning after making a phone call home I found myself with nowhere to go for Christmas. I couldn't find Mike so I decided to take the Shigetas up on their offer. The phone rang and George answered. I asked if the offer still stood and he said they would be up to get me. Looking back now it was probably a pretty silly thing to do, going with someone I'd only met the night before, but at the time the thought never crossed my mind. It could have turned out bad, but instead it was one of my most memorable Christmases. The Shigetas and their daughter (I can't remember her name) took me to a movie (Father of the Bride), gave me a box of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and took me to their home for Christmas dinner. After dinner and visiting they took me back to Schofield and I thanked them for their kindness and generosity. They honked as they drove away, and I never saw them again. Of the 35 years I've been on this earth, six hours were spent with the Shigetas, and I'm pretty sure I will always remember them.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the story. If I went on too long, it's something I will work on for the next story. Feel free to comment with your own similar experiences.

Viva la Revolution!!!

I've said it once, and I'll keep saying it. If you aren't making Emily Ingold's "Life with the Boys" a part of your daily blog browsing, why not? Today she's talking about the Revolution Money Exchange It's an alternative to PayPal, providing money transfers at no charge to members. I signed up for an account (You're welcome Ingolds!) and invite you to click on the button I've posted at the top right corner of my blog and check it out for yourself.

Staying out of Ruts

I used to be good at this. Back in college when we would need to fill space in the newspaper I was the guy. Whether it was an entirely new piece of writing or "fluffing" an existing story,I would sit down at a computer, begin typing and the words would flow. Right now I am simply keeping my fingers moving in the hope of getting traction enough to pull me out of the writing "rut" I find myself in right now.

Just when I reach the brink of something a slick patch comes out of nowhere and puts be back to square one. Little things like "avoid passive voice", don't start/end a sentence with a preposition, and asking myself "How many times did I use 'I' in the last sentence?" keep throwing off my concentration. This isn't for a grade, just write SOMETHING! I shouldn't have to worry about AP style or Strunk and White just to jot down a blog posting, right? Right?

So here we go...
The Lyerlas are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Gracyn sometime between the end of May and the end of June. Nancy's doctor-ordered bed rest is in its 3rd week with 4 more to go. In her excitement to see our family Gracyn tried to make her appearance a few weeks early. It took some time in the hospital to convince her to wait a bit longer. Sunday evening we went back into the hospital because the contractions were happening more frequently than the nurse liked. Fortunately another stay wasn't necessary. Those of you who know Nancy can understand she's not the bed-rest type, and I can't say I blame her.

Members of our church have been unbelievable at providing for our spiritual and physical needs over the past weeks and we are truly thankful for their generosity and friendship.

Yesterday was my 35th birthday. Is it just me or do birthdays get more difficult to distinguish from other days the older you get? I remember counting down the weeks until my birthday, this year with everything else going on I honestly forgot until about a week before. (See, right now there is a fight going on in my mind about finding a different way to end the sentence without using a preposition)

Okay, gotta take care of some business. I'll be back!

The War, The Economy and Dick Cheney's Sunglasses

I saw this on Foxnews' website and it brought a couple of thoughts to mind. The first was the advice of Phil Greer, former Director of Photography at the Chicago Tribune and one of my photojournalism instructors at SIU. He said when you take a picture of the "news story" to turn around and see if an even better picture presents itself behind you. I think this idea applies to the situation.

The second thing to pop into my mind was this; if in fact the image in Cheney's sunglasses is of a nude woman as some have speculated (and I seriously doubt), was anyone else taking pictures of the vice-president?

Campus Construction Webcam

The speed of the dorm construction is mind-boggling. I want to give everyone a chance to look in on the progress here. This is a camera positioned at the top of Miller Tower and it looks out over the construction site. As I post this it is dark outside, but during the daytime the view is amazing!

Photos from my Camera Phone of the Tornado Damage

I took these pictures during the days immediately after the Feb. 5 tornado.
Damage to the Watters Housing Complex

Damage to the Hurt Complex

Inside Jennings 325

Watters Commons

Life with the Boys: Myth Busters

As the father of two girls with a third on the way I will never be able to fully appreciate what Abe and Emily experience with Connor, Isaac and Eli. Thankfully Emily captures a glimpse of it here for the world to see. Right from the first image you know it's going to be good! Thanks Em!

Happy Birthday Nancy!!!

Tonight I'm sending out a VERY happy birthday wish to my wife! (Thanks for the reminder, Em) I actually pulled a surprise party off with the help of friends. (Thanks Wes, Katie and everyone who came!) Today we had a great lunch date, and the flowers I ordered were waiting when she came home. Tooting my own horn? Yeah, maybe a little. :)

Happy Birthday Carrie!!!

From your big brother. I need to find some old pictures to post or something...maybe tonight. LOL

Four-Year Old Fitness

To get back in shape before beginning Officer Candidate School in April my mornings begin with exercise. On days when I don't run I use a "Fit For Duty" podcast from the Pentagon Channel as a guide for push-ups, sit-ups and general cardio. I load it onto my PSP and connect the PSP to my television. Yeah, I'm kind of a geek in that way. Using a structured program helps keep me from getting off track and wasting the time.

A few days ago Tori, our 4-year old daughter joined me for my morning workout in the living room. She was following along pretty well at first, but as the intensity picked up she went to the couch and got her blanket. She put it beside her on the floor, and when I asked what she was doing she told me;

"When it gets hard I'll just lay down." And she did.

When I told Nancy she laughed and said Tori must take after her when it comes to exercise.

I said nothing. :)

Pray for the Spitzer family

"Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops."
The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001, S. Lk 12:1-3

As I follow the news coverage of New York governor Eliott Spitzer my first reaction was to join the crowd and gawk in guilty pleasure at the tabloid-rich story coming from Albany. Then I saw the photo of Governor Spitzer and his wife, Silda, and the story I saw in their eyes made me ashamed of my own self-righteousness.

Only days ago this man and his wife were at the top. The governor of one of the most high-profile states in the union and his wife, an accomplished attorney who stepped away from law to focus on their family and philanthropy. Governor Spitzer gained prominence as attorney general fighting corruption in the very state he now led.

Now they both stood there in front of a press corps that smelled blood in the water. The now-disgraced public official, standing like so many before him in humiliation and confessing his sins to the world. No security detail, bulletproof towncar or spin doctor could offer him any protection from the questions that would come. A man who once controlled a state government now controlled nothing. His wife, who perhaps heard the news for the first time only hours before standing with him, unwillingly pulled into the whirlwind and having to hear him repeat the details of his indiscretions. I can't begin to imagine what is going through her mind, but it must surely begin with "How did it come to this?"

Looking deeper into the picture I came to realize the humanity involved. This was not a plot line from a drama series where the director yells "Cut" and the scene ends. No! A real family is under attack, perhaps on the verge of being destroyed as we watch from the comfort of our homes and discuss it as though the problem is a million miles away. After all it's not our family, right?

It made me think about the "pet" sins in my own life that I must overcome on a daily basis. Even though I confessed them to God I spent several years allowing them to control me, not through giving in to them (although it happened occasionally) as much as trying to keep them hidden. The enemy kept telling me how embarrassing it would be having to explain myself to friends and my wife, and was it really such a big deal anyway? So one day I just bit the bullet and did it. You know what? The enemy was wrong. There was no embarrassment in telling my wife. There was freedom. And yes, it is a big deal. When I told her she became my ally in fighting those temptations instead of being a means for letting them have the upper hand. "Why take the chance of rejection?" you may ask. Because I never want to make her stand beside me in a moment when my sins are exposed for the world to see and wonder "How did it come to this?"


A group of men in our church is doing a study through Steve Farrar's book "Point Man". He has much to say on this subject, and I would recommend it to any man who is or will be leading their family.





TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!

West Tennessee Snow Day!

I did NOT sign up for this when we moved to Tennessee! Thankfully it was here on Saturday and pretty well gone by Sunday. The girls got to have fun playing, and knowing it would soon be gone I enjoyed it too. The snow packed well so we were able to have a snowball fight, make snow angels and build a snowman.

Madison Getting the View from Above


Our angel Tori. Yeah, I had to laugh when I said it too. :)


My lovely daughters scheming to whack their dad with snowballs

Allow Me to Introduce You to...

Gracyn Noelle Lyerla!!! Okay, at least her mouth and nose. For those of you who are unable to see her, I won't hold it against you. I have never thought the printouts were as easy to see. It is much easier when you see her moving.
I will add more pictures as we get them. There were more in this batch, but none of them had as much discernible Gracyn.

4-D images? Well, here's the thing...

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that we were going to get to see Gracyn in brilliant 4-D. We went to the doctor's office yesterday with high expectations but left a little disappointed. It turns out there is a regular ultrasound screening before the 4-D ultrasound. The doctor found nothing to concern him when he looked at the screening so he did not do the 4-D. Completely understandable, and we were thrilled there were no worries but it would have been pretty cool to get to see something like this.

To satisfy the masses, or Emily at least I will be posting the latest round of ultrasound photos soon.

White People Like Stealing Stuff from Other White People's Blogs...

I was introduced to this blog during my regular morning jog on the internet (capitalized or not? Discuss.) Emily listed it as one of her favorites, and after a little looking around I would agree. She highlighted a few of her favorite posts, and since I can't come up with anything at the moment I'll add mine to the list. Incidentally if you haven't been reading Emily's blog, why not?

#63 Expensive Sandwiches

#40 Apple Products

#28 Not Having a TV

#16 “Gifted” Children

Where to Begin?

I know it's been a while since I posted and my "resurgent" post was far from earth-shattering, so I apologize. To be honest the holidays derailed my blogging efforts. Once I get out of a routine it is difficult for me to get back to it, even when I know it needs to be done.

As a tribute to missed opportunities I offer a brief teaser of blog content that escaped me at the time, but will be covered in later entries. Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me and said they missed reading my posts!

First of all, we are welcoming a new addition to our family at the end of June. Gracyn Noelle Lyerla is beginning to make her presence known. Tomorrow afternoon Nancy and I will get to see her in a 4D ultrasound.

Sometime in the next month I will be re-entering the military and pursuing a commission in the Tennessee National Guard. To that end I have been working to get back into shape, and finding it to be a much longer trip than I expected! So far I have dropped nearly 15 pounds through exercise and watching what I eat. My target loss is 25-30 pounds, so I will keep you updated.

The most-well documented event that I should have had something to comment about is the tornado that tore through western Tennessee and Union University on February 5th. I felt the coverage by Tim Ellsworth at Union and others would be far more accurate and clearly conveyed than I could hope to match, so instead of writing I focused on helping with the rebuilding efforts around campus.

Then of course there is the national election, the Superbowl and now Brett Favre's retirement. All of these things and more should be covered, (well maybe not the Superbowl, it's kinda old news) in future entries.

Finally, I am playing around with using Microsoft Word 2007 to publish my entries, let me know what you think. Hopefully I can be a little more reliable from here on out. Thanks for sticking with me!

 

Leland

 

And It's Done.

Brett Favre Announces His Retirement

Thanks for the memories Brett! Long live the Green Bay Packers!