Help for my friend...

Well, as most of you know, I am planning some activities to help offset some of Mike's medical expenses. For those that don't know what's going on, Mike is my best friend and partner in inner-city ministry and has been taking treatments for cancer. Mike is doing well, and he will be facing surgery sometime in September. Mike will be off work for some time and already the medical bills are piling up, so myself and other friends have come up with some ideas to help out...

The first of many activities will be a car wash held Saturday, September 6th at the new QT in Verdigris at the intersection on HWY 66 & Gordon Road. Several folks have volunteered to help, including some kids from On The Edge youth and some kids from Youth at Heart from Comanche Park Apartments (where we have spent time sharing Jesus with the kids) and many others. What I need from all of you is to bring your cars to wash & tell others about this event. This has the potential to substantially help Mike out with his expenses.

Also in the plans is a huge garage sale. I will be collecting items in the ol' yellow truck to store them. We will have the sale when it cools down a bit, probably in late September. If you have anything you could donate, please contact me...

I am working on other activities as well, and will keep you up to date! Thanks for all your prayers & help for Mike!!

God bless,
Jeff Smith

Help in a time of crisis...

This, my freinds, is what we do.......

edit...let me clear up that statement. We did not have anything to do with the awesome warehouse that was at the Izard County Fairgrounds, we simply brought some Gatorade, Propel, and energy drink and dropped it off here. The drinks were donated by Gatorade and Victory Christian Center. we just simply took it to the hardest hit area so they could distribute it as needed. I will try to post a list of donors soon. It was an unforgettable experience. Please pray for the victims of the storms.

...another hat to wear...

Well, it looks like I have found yet another hobby. My son & I have kinda gotten into r/c racing. It's a hoot!
Stay tuned! I will post video in a few days!!

cool sunrise pic...

I shot this Wednesday morning on the way to work.....I love the sunrises this time of year!

Back to normal.....

Well, it's been a whole day since my power came back on....and I am enjoying it. As I start to look at the damage and concentrate on cleaning up my yard, it will be a daunting task. My brother said he will bring his chainsaw & our family will come together & do cleanup. I am very blessed to have a wonderful family!!

Oh yeah, 4 days 'till Christmas!!

The sun will come out.....tomorrow........maybe

Day nine without power......VVEC says they don't know when power will be restored.....most of my neighbors now have power except for my side of the street.....

Ok, this is getting a little hard for my family. I start to wonder if we should have just taken a cruise or something (like I could afford that). Beginning to wonder about Christmas & how we will have money to pay the bills and buy the kids a little something for Christmas. We know that Christmas is not about presents, but we celebrate our Savior's birth by remembering why He had to come down here in the first place, and by giving gifts, because the best & most important Gift has already been given. Total expenses so far for keeping my family warm & fed-----about 1,200.00, give or take. But know this, we are better prepared when this happens again!

I could ramble about the problems I have had with VVEC, but it would not help the situation. What will help is what I already have, friends praying for me. I just got a message from a good friend & he said "I was just checking up on you & praying for you." Brother, you do not know how that simple statement has helped. As I thought about this message, tears welled up & I am so thankful for friends........

Maybe today will be the day that my power comes back on........

Chin up, dog!!

Day 8 without power......

My poor fat Boston Terrier is about to go crazy! It is like she's depressed. My mom's electric was turned on yesterday and she is happy. I am also happy for her as my generator gas bill was cut in half! My family & my brother & his wife all converged on mom's trees yesterday & cut limbs & trees galore! We worked for a long time piling limbs & here comes my buddy with his front end loader & scooped them all up & pushed the limbs into a big pile!! Thanks, Andy!!

...just now spoke w/ VVEC, and reported my power lines down for the bazzillionth time, and besides them acting as if it a new report every time I call in, they could not give me an ETA on my repair!! At least yesterday they said I would have power by Wednesday, and now no ETA!! They had crews working in my area both Saturday & Sunday, why couldn't they repair the lines lying across my back yard?? Maybe an hour or two to repair the forty some odd homes still dark in my addition.

...on a positive note(I really am trying to keep a good attitude during this crisis), I was able to go to church yesterday & that was refreshing. All the folks at New Life are awesome & I believe I attend the best church in the world! We had our Christmas program last night & our OnTheEdge youth group did a skit to the song Mary Did You Know and they did a great job! Hubert also put on a great program with the choir!

Well, that's all my thoughts for now. Maybe my lights will be on tonight...(I keep saying maybe today's the day).....

Day 6 without power........

I am growing tired and impatient with my electric company. I understand that the linemen and crews are doing all that they can, but I am disappointed with the administration. VVEC started with 9,000 homes without power last Monday, and I heard that on Friday that they were down to 5,000. I also heard that my house may be back on by Wednesday! And others will be dark until Dec. 23rd!!! About half of my addition is back online but I have the line down in my backyard.......
I actually got some good rest last night....about 6 hours of sleep.

It is misting/snowing right now, some call it "snizzle". I am prepared, I bought a Poulan chainsaw yesterday so I can now vent my frustration & stress out on the poor fallen trees:)

Please understand, I am extremely proud of our electric crews, especially those that came from other areas, but my rural company I am extremely dissatisfied with. Crews have been in my neighborhood, so I ask while they are out here, why can't they repair my line? What is their strategy? Most of the time, you cannot even get through to VVEC........I wonder if my bill was late would they tolerate my phone being constantly busy? Or would they simply disconnect my service?

In the dark........

Extreme emotions....

Day 5 without power at my house.......

Well, after working every day at work, then going home and working on different solutions to the electricity situation, I am exhausted. I have went from being totally satisfied with my electric company, to being totally upset with them, and back again. As I made my way home, I saw lights on in my neighborhood but when I got home, I realized that power was on across the street, but my side is still dark due to lines down (see picture back a few entries).

I have spent probably in excess of a thousand dollars this week trying to provide for my family when I probably should have simply went to the Claremore shelter......stubborn, I guess but I fear for my property and my animals.......

The awesome thing is that I have gotten closer to God. It is amazing when everything is quiet how one can hear His voice more clearly. I have been up in the wee hours each day of this disaster just spending time alone with Him.

As I drove to work this morning, I saw several Pike Electric trucks heading into Tulsa. I honked, and rolled my window down & gave them all thumbs up. I also cried a little too maybe due to the stress, maybe due to my just being thankful that they are here. . I know that they weren't headed for my home, but they have left the comfort of their homes and families to help others in a time of of need. Sure they are getting paid for it, but I think they deserve it. So, for the few of you that read this (thanks, mom!), when you see an electric truck, honk & give them thumbs up!!