tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45568787066973099312024-03-19T04:48:19.678-04:00RIGHT WHERE WE BELONGsharing life, faith and homeKaren and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.comBlogger1986125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-91322892881951529202024-02-10T13:11:00.002-05:002024-02-10T13:11:14.911-05:00Bear Finds a Comfy Spot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvYA9MLTXzAPrjogYYWlLN17stHKvShrJNlPrvCK3Tq4j1IslvN8zs7kV7gmHMwQPaz6GIpdTJmnMPBO8JqM8AAJsxPlM64cguNlJ49320l0Kc8Ogc9XEEltkNlNScjPFQc5ouiuMIQ9Jpdn-Bc45DSN83gM4Far4LNpOepRfCs9j7ujVmKxDeEWw470/s1600/CIMG3584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvYA9MLTXzAPrjogYYWlLN17stHKvShrJNlPrvCK3Tq4j1IslvN8zs7kV7gmHMwQPaz6GIpdTJmnMPBO8JqM8AAJsxPlM64cguNlJ49320l0Kc8Ogc9XEEltkNlNScjPFQc5ouiuMIQ9Jpdn-Bc45DSN83gM4Far4LNpOepRfCs9j7ujVmKxDeEWw470/s320/CIMG3584.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p> Today, Bear made himself comfortable on the soft pillow on the chair by the window. He's a wonderful, cat who came up on my lap earlier. Here he is while I exercise along with Curtis Adams on the TV.</p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-51863378636586668492024-02-03T16:22:00.002-05:002024-02-03T16:22:24.409-05:00Quiddler--A New Game To Me<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFpwX7_HxnJyYTyaWD13lthyphenhyphenRcSsZwj9nTz1dDt3uVjdfMWUHjWtxNkv_wnsxwOF4Wyy02B41fPbjxz1u421bCMUaFtTF_T3mgOhMceYQ49wGav3_P6HeatEdTXr_U9mhINKMngtynQQFkJ95b4iG74P-vFfpUjFdXreRtE2Ae28Dmty6BgMII-rytQM/s480/Quiddler.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="480" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFpwX7_HxnJyYTyaWD13lthyphenhyphenRcSsZwj9nTz1dDt3uVjdfMWUHjWtxNkv_wnsxwOF4Wyy02B41fPbjxz1u421bCMUaFtTF_T3mgOhMceYQ49wGav3_P6HeatEdTXr_U9mhINKMngtynQQFkJ95b4iG74P-vFfpUjFdXreRtE2Ae28Dmty6BgMII-rytQM/s320/Quiddler.webp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from Amazon</td></tr></tbody></table><br />When I went to ladies game night at church Friday night, I had lots of fun. We had salty and sweet snacks to eat while we played. There were plenty of games from which to choose and people could play any one they wanted. I played a new one to me called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/SET-Enterprises-5000-Quiddler-Card/dp/B00000IV95/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22V65DHKWNIB6&keywords=quiddler+card+game&qid=1706993863&sprefix=Quid%2Caps%2C208&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Quiddler</a>. It's a word game using cards which have one or two letters on them with a point value. The idea is to use all your cards to make words. A 10-point bonus is given for the longest word (most cards) and the most words in each round. It starts with each person getting three cards. You pick up a card and discard each turn. You hold all the cards in your hand until you can play them all. When one person goes out, the others get one more turn to play whatever they can manage. Points are awarded based on the point value of the letters used and letters that cannot be used are deducted. Each round, one more card is dealt up to ten. After playing with ten cards, the game is over. High score wins. Rounds go fast. It's a game for ages 8 and up. </p><p><br /></p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-10265031807924450052024-01-08T09:20:00.000-05:002024-01-08T09:20:02.310-05:00Fun Fantasy Football Season! Won Championship!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSBqGBFE0VndtgIesgv46TFwInx5C8QLN_uTMywGPlvBzkee2tvI4oC-1eM-jJXGnoFfEgGExRerGzGDc8CvBMA9meCNStmZWVH4K5lQvczDQyCmhtagpPQF1d623HjuBBwCFKHUqy73TeO1rkK3vEQgDLt6txQZxuFsxsPi810QlDPoO3tt3LCxsbh0/s1600/CIMG3572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSBqGBFE0VndtgIesgv46TFwInx5C8QLN_uTMywGPlvBzkee2tvI4oC-1eM-jJXGnoFfEgGExRerGzGDc8CvBMA9meCNStmZWVH4K5lQvczDQyCmhtagpPQF1d623HjuBBwCFKHUqy73TeO1rkK3vEQgDLt6txQZxuFsxsPi810QlDPoO3tt3LCxsbh0/s320/CIMG3572.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />My third year playing Fantasy Football, I just squeaked into the playoffs with an 8-6 record. I was definitely the underdog going into the playoffs but then my guys came through and I blew everyone out with a 2-week playoff total of 306.28! I had the 1st draft position in our snake league so was able to get a good draft. <p></p><p>This season went fast! I read through two Fantasy Football magazines and watched the Fantasy Live show every week, and had fun picking guys up from the waiver wire along the way, adjusting my line up every week, and cheering on my guys. I am a Browns fan and had four on my team (Njoku, Cooper, Defense, Moore and Flacco). I had Flacco as a backup instead of Sam Howell who I played just for Jalen Hurts' bye week, picking him up so no one else could get him. </p><p>Here are my Keys to winning:</p><p style="text-align: left;">1. Draft good players that I would want to cheer for. That means not drafting guys on other teams in the Browns division. The only exceptions were when (1) I was short on receivers due to injuries so picked up Odell Beckham but didn't have to play him after all; and (2) taking the Steelers defense week 18 because I knew the Browns would be resting some key players. </p><p>2. If deliberating between two players, choose the one from the better team.</p><p>3. Be willing to play good players even when they are playing against the Browns (my team).</p><p>4. Don't put so much weight on the projection points, trust your gut and listen to Cynthia Friedman's advice on the Fantasy Football show.</p><p>5. Don't put players who are playing early in the flex position. </p><p>Do you have any other tips to share in the comments on keys to winning in Fantasy Football? I'd love to hear them!</p><p>I'd like to give a shout out to my stellar players who were consistent and helped me win this year who were: Jalen Hurts, Amari Cooper, Raheem Mostert, Breece Hall, David Njoku, Nico Collins, Justin Jefferson and Browns Defense. I'm already looking forward to playing again next year.<br /> <br />Other related posts:</p><p><a href="https://zemeks.blogspot.com/2019/08/im-actually-doing-something-i-always.html" target="_blank">I'm Doing Something I Always Thought Would Be Fun</a></p><p><a href="https://zemeks.blogspot.com/2019/12/first-fantasy-football-season-did.html " target="_blank">My First Fantasy Football Season</a><br /></p><p><a href="https://zemeks.blogspot.com/2023/08/my-fantasy-football-draft.html" target="_blank">My 2023 Fantasy Football Draft</a><br /></p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-88349853113128065002023-11-23T08:49:00.003-05:002023-11-23T08:49:36.636-05:00Roxy Makes a Good Bed Warmer<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpgn2XB2bCodH1LfgQLV5s7lCmHpZcG2LHvWCh4dDQTnhyWnukMv2_4iGKY3n3AmTt_1sn6D1BPlkAOi8pPeat2ruIUvFSW2S99DhY13vvvvT3UN6O5WOCT1SADRaRtursWdMX1MDiJevaU9auaJYldKfArPMr-jyRJFPzz8epQlXfQCXmw8zt_e7duQ/s1600/CIMG3535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpgn2XB2bCodH1LfgQLV5s7lCmHpZcG2LHvWCh4dDQTnhyWnukMv2_4iGKY3n3AmTt_1sn6D1BPlkAOi8pPeat2ruIUvFSW2S99DhY13vvvvT3UN6O5WOCT1SADRaRtursWdMX1MDiJevaU9auaJYldKfArPMr-jyRJFPzz8epQlXfQCXmw8zt_e7duQ/s320/CIMG3535.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Yesterday, our dog Roxy joined my husband on the bed and did a great job keeping my side warm for me until I came. She went in her own bed before I even cam in, such a good girl.<p></p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-91830017066474404462023-10-10T15:40:00.001-04:002023-10-26T13:07:52.454-04:00Handyman Needed and Found in a Friend!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_xsYIYP5-UQ8L3Jz1E40YkEjUxJ8EnMvbuTaaclW77KnhUwk0s2ZekPuzRmiFimYOvyZbzm0adxTjwQDwYE3FHh4v2Y-fpblaeBX6hyphenhyphenMlCGFtmnLkpYodjqngbugE0-xzlBwIhcBENA4EjcLQr6h4-uNTVwxRPV9MdFQDmLxN6TD8M8qI97X2o0TbFI/s1600/CIMG3523.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_xsYIYP5-UQ8L3Jz1E40YkEjUxJ8EnMvbuTaaclW77KnhUwk0s2ZekPuzRmiFimYOvyZbzm0adxTjwQDwYE3FHh4v2Y-fpblaeBX6hyphenhyphenMlCGFtmnLkpYodjqngbugE0-xzlBwIhcBENA4EjcLQr6h4-uNTVwxRPV9MdFQDmLxN6TD8M8qI97X2o0TbFI/w200-h150/CIMG3523.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>I've been tightening the top screw of our kitchen cupboard from time to time because I kept seeing the hinge being loose, but yesterday, the whole cupboard door actually fell off! I would think it could be fixed but I'm not sure how to do it. I called Thiel's because that is the company that originally resurfaced our kitchen cupboards 19 years ago, but it seems they want to just redo everything. I don't think that is really necessary. I think I'll try to find a handyman that can put it back up and fix it for us. <div><br /></div><div>Thankfully, a friend from church that I play pickleball with came over one night and fixed it within an hour. He got some longer screws and we are grateful, although he refused to take any money for his work and time. Thanks, Jim! <p></p></div>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-42371901309723100272023-10-07T09:05:00.004-04:002023-10-07T09:05:38.663-04:00Where Are You, Bear?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6o5u64W-GjZLmtBGvi97nzDnIxaGbuKW0TBQuML9l_EZ_nCpadgIPxJ85Ee8QRrL0jMZraIa9Ph6o4XLP-rNAgNdqU0klcVXfKL0MoKAB5NTrS_KmAjz1hEpoj3DKGkWkyEKQLvNciKQbKMz0sfXrfywmKXySKYueIv_M5bUWjm7gBxPx6YUbpncbYvY/s1600/CIMG3520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6o5u64W-GjZLmtBGvi97nzDnIxaGbuKW0TBQuML9l_EZ_nCpadgIPxJ85Ee8QRrL0jMZraIa9Ph6o4XLP-rNAgNdqU0klcVXfKL0MoKAB5NTrS_KmAjz1hEpoj3DKGkWkyEKQLvNciKQbKMz0sfXrfywmKXySKYueIv_M5bUWjm7gBxPx6YUbpncbYvY/s320/CIMG3520.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It was very strange that my cat, Bear, did not come on our bed during the night, nor early in the morning. He usually does. He didn't even come in the bathroom with me during my shower! I looked all over for him, worried he was sick or something and hiding. Last night, the last I saw him, he was lying by my feet while I watched TV. After checking all his usual places, I opened the den door and out he ran straight for his litter box. It took me a while, but then I realized I came up last night right before bed to close the little window in the bathroom off the den. He must have came up and followed me in there without my noticing. (I always close off the den so our dog doesn't go potty in there which happened a few times.) I was so relieved and happy to see Bear was okay, but felt really bad that he was stuck in the den all night away from us. I pet him up and played with him to make up for it and all is forgiven. He even joined me again in the den this morning! <p></p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-77691537322166013012023-10-05T13:05:00.004-04:002023-10-05T13:05:49.741-04:00Nap Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRcXpmSjwlOCjv-jIKONKCgIEFWgIdeKDoDbl5Vls2B4tkZlh7A0OSQWTRuua-VdUOKc8yqJM_53WJ8Dm-t4k3tE4vBG6_Utxaf2I_2_EILyPasABJoRWy0u59Y22ZjhDVseJD240C87q5WgLA00noI4M_w8j2wDlh9UzCviGD9CQ_K7aGFIvAekWoM4/s1600/CIMG3513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRcXpmSjwlOCjv-jIKONKCgIEFWgIdeKDoDbl5Vls2B4tkZlh7A0OSQWTRuua-VdUOKc8yqJM_53WJ8Dm-t4k3tE4vBG6_Utxaf2I_2_EILyPasABJoRWy0u59Y22ZjhDVseJD240C87q5WgLA00noI4M_w8j2wDlh9UzCviGD9CQ_K7aGFIvAekWoM4/s320/CIMG3513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p> After playing pickleball for two hours in the morning and drills one hour in the afternoon in 80 degrees, chose to have a little break. Pets love afternoon nap time with me.</p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-1370833037283154982023-09-14T08:26:00.004-04:002023-09-14T08:26:57.517-04:00Ga Ga Ball is a Hit!<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCRvIRd-N-_NtEdLqOTbieKZ7uaSQCcSfNbd4njbdGUX6eFZlHNAo-nEC2kElQj3l6YG0hRLXgKRnShvLDUebIveX30frGoYez6hzta0LEw5TeWlieA7DaROrcE5kZYjAAqJk_GXBdxhi1zBbENVSsYcp4A0XA08PiNQghA2PqK4NGEoiHSAvooI9bbY/s219/ga%20ga%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="123" data-original-width="219" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCRvIRd-N-_NtEdLqOTbieKZ7uaSQCcSfNbd4njbdGUX6eFZlHNAo-nEC2kElQj3l6YG0hRLXgKRnShvLDUebIveX30frGoYez6hzta0LEw5TeWlieA7DaROrcE5kZYjAAqJk_GXBdxhi1zBbENVSsYcp4A0XA08PiNQghA2PqK4NGEoiHSAvooI9bbY/s1600/ga%20ga%20ball.jpg" width="219" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: Google Images</td></tr></tbody></table>I was so happy the weather was warm enough for us to play outside for the first Pioneer Girls gym night yesterday at Parma Heights Baptist Church. This year, all the girls grades 1-6 will have gym time together and for 45 minutes instead of half an hour. Last night, we had 23 girls. We played Ga Ga Ball first with everyone. It was a new game for some, including myself. I looked it up on YouTube to see how to play it and the video explained and demonstrated it quite well. (<a href="https://youtu.be/-nfPUsPDCNA?si=suBpxTpTS0inzy_U">https://youtu.be/-nfPUsPDCNA?si=suBpxTpTS0inzy_U</a>) Once we played one game, I gave the girls the option to go play on the playground. Ten chose to do that instead which speeded up the games some. I like to give them choices if possible. Everyone seemed happy with that and had fun! We played four games and then had the winners of each play in a championship game. The winner of the night was Jojo, I believe a 5th grader. She was very fast and aggressive. Now I have to think of something fun inside for next month!</p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-74059993153643891272023-08-31T13:09:00.004-04:002023-08-31T13:09:20.562-04:00Dead or Alive?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElYp8NoAd2Iur8k1VoLWDwgkX5_Q71_2OGYF_yVwqAVKB5gGgyYA1vAtZ9freqEFLKACv_lZ5QzP6EHQC3ykZp-DfEC0TFO2UdKXxpkTkIqkGPdId82x6lZaGbWxNnq2nvtj05E1SmPkBAK1m6A_Xu4VUKHI6ODm6bhsMzAeX5VP4PCAMeZK67EzKkuA/s1600/CIMG3479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElYp8NoAd2Iur8k1VoLWDwgkX5_Q71_2OGYF_yVwqAVKB5gGgyYA1vAtZ9freqEFLKACv_lZ5QzP6EHQC3ykZp-DfEC0TFO2UdKXxpkTkIqkGPdId82x6lZaGbWxNnq2nvtj05E1SmPkBAK1m6A_Xu4VUKHI6ODm6bhsMzAeX5VP4PCAMeZK67EzKkuA/s320/CIMG3479.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sidewalk along State Rd.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>On our early dog walk this morning, we came across a raccoon lying on the sidewalk! I couldn't tell if it was dead or just sleeping. He wasn't crushed and I didn't see any cuts or blood anywhere. What do you think? I hope he was just taking a snooze.</p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-39180783748001615742023-08-29T16:08:00.004-04:002023-08-29T16:09:12.143-04:00My 2023 Fantasy Football Draft<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6o_l5mf6jazevphrRMYm2qUtub3NadrdD0-cuI0QKlVI8sw_x3RuMgWbZaZTMpWfwzbzs85jgYc7lvdIMvrq3HS3iI4DM6iAq7JyzKxlptqX3tRk3rQe8vSkNnmOP7r239dcWuyWS8mXu-mVr2pNLId_Ce3eXdJl46z9TEhsHKGCvfLWjBJxCefK5ngU/s400/Browns%20scrimmage-Karen%20in%20uniform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6o_l5mf6jazevphrRMYm2qUtub3NadrdD0-cuI0QKlVI8sw_x3RuMgWbZaZTMpWfwzbzs85jgYc7lvdIMvrq3HS3iI4DM6iAq7JyzKxlptqX3tRk3rQe8vSkNnmOP7r239dcWuyWS8mXu-mVr2pNLId_Ce3eXdJl46z9TEhsHKGCvfLWjBJxCefK5ngU/s320/Browns%20scrimmage-Karen%20in%20uniform.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Beginning in June, I started reading the Fantasy Football magazines to research the various players. Then I enjoy doing mock drafts for different picks. I get excited for draft day and then usually get disappointed because guys I want get picked before my turn comes around. This year I had the first pick. That sounds like a good thing; however, that means I have to wait really long, like 19 turns, before another pick comes back to me in our snake league. Yes, I do get two picks in a row though, but that means I have to pick guys earlier than I planned if I want to make sure I get them. <p></p><p>I just had a general draft strategy this year: (1) make sure I got at least two elite players, including a quarterback; (2) If Kelce was gone by the second round, which he was, then wait till near the end to pick a tight end; (3) wait for the end to pick a kicker and defense; (4) pick at least one or two sleepers or young guys with upside; (5) avoid picking guys from the Browns division (except for Browns)--I don't want to cheer for guys that are playing against the Browns. </p><p>So, draft time comes and I get my "A" mock draft lineup for pick 1 ready to follow:</p><p>Round 1, I take Justin Jefferson (the overall best player according to most experts)</p><p>Rounds 2 & 3 (two picks back to back), I had Josh Jacobs, but had second thoughts because of him being disgruntled so took Tony Pollard instead. (already deviating from my A line up). Round 3, since Mahomes and Josh Allen were already gone, I took Jalen Hurts for my elite QB.</p><p>Round 4 & 5, Keenan Allen was gone by the time it got back to me in Round 4, so I went with Cal Ridley here. Round 5, Yea! Got Amari Cooper, and I'm back on track!</p><p>Round 6 & 7, Yea again! Got Cam Akers as planned. Round 7, here's where it really goes off the rails. Wanted James Connor, but he was gone so took a chance on Breece Hall who should be good a bit later in the season according to the fantasy shows. He was already practicing and doctors say he should be fine.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Round 8 & 9, Had planned for WR Marquise Brown, but felt I had good receivers and better get another RB before the good ones were all gone, so settled for A. J. Dillon. Round 9, Had planned to get Antonio Gibson here, but didn't have a tight end yet, and really wanted Njoku because I think he'll be good! He had a good preseason and Watson threw to him in the end zone. Happy to get Njoku here. Just wish he'd stop jumping around so much--makes me nervous he's going to get hurt!<p></p><p>Rounds 10 & 11, My plan was to get Elijah Moore here, but I went Perine first, who was considered a sleeper and then took Elijah Moore in Round 11. </p><p>Rounds 12 & 13, All the guys I had planned to pick from here on all were taken so had to go off plan. Took Nico Collins in Round 12 because he's a young receiver who experts said could be really good. Picked Geno Smith as my backup QB. </p><p>Rounds 14 & 15, the best kickers and defenses were already taken by now, so took Zuerlein as my kicker and the Browns defense. (Next day I looked back at the Fantasy magazines to check on the kickers and chose Santos from Chicago instead.) I was happy with the Browns defense because of what I've seen in preseason. They look better and happy they are away from that zone defense which never worked last year. They are fired up with their new coach and I am optimistic that they will be good this year.</p><p>Round 16, went with a second tight end, J. Johnson. Wasn't really happy with that pick though so next day went on the waiver wire and chose Okonkwo from TN instead.</p><p>All in all, I am pretty happy with this draft. I know I'm heavy on Browns, which may be a mistake, but at least I will enjoy cheering for these guys on my fantasy team as well! I wanted to get a stack with Hurts, but got beat out on the three Eagles players I wanted--A. J. Brown, Devonta Smith and Goedert. Oh well, so goes the draft.</p><p>Are you happy with your draft?</p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-32385751069413231562023-08-14T08:08:00.004-04:002023-08-14T08:13:35.590-04:00Happy 4th Gotcha Day, Roxy!<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmBKb6SVCA-BvhwtiRGI6Q4bVscKmqe3MUI0AEhdhCQVX6OS3YQdb6smt-GDB-3gOzMg6Ncj6-GiYNByHy--VPclgZPD3Mrr90-tADr83DX4AllvW83Yz9l48h6X8OuJbh3R-W28mDwPPfROy_GYdBEQcsGH0ddvsOoaCiqvT-MzVCsU9wq1zkhI1XSQ/s1600/CIMG3456.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmBKb6SVCA-BvhwtiRGI6Q4bVscKmqe3MUI0AEhdhCQVX6OS3YQdb6smt-GDB-3gOzMg6Ncj6-GiYNByHy--VPclgZPD3Mrr90-tADr83DX4AllvW83Yz9l48h6X8OuJbh3R-W28mDwPPfROy_GYdBEQcsGH0ddvsOoaCiqvT-MzVCsU9wq1zkhI1XSQ/s320/CIMG3456.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8 Yrs. old - Celebrating her 4th Gotcha Day</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>We've had Roxy four years now and she is officially a senior dog at age 8. It's been filled with ups and downs, but mostly she is a good dog and keeps us on our toes. I think this is her favorite part of the day, after going on three or four walks during the day, she gets porch time with us and a Frosty Paw treat on warm days. </p><p>Roxy thanked me for changing her vet appointment to a different day. I just couldn't let it stand when I realized it was on her gotcha day which should be an all good, fun day for her. Postponed it for two weeks.<br /><br /></p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-15422126700059885652023-08-09T13:31:00.008-04:002023-08-09T13:59:02.136-04:003 Odd Things We Saw On Our Walk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNHmY1xbjODMmUK_j-7WelVkJSGpdSL9758HhZhSGLQv3GrVZW9Q-cYxZh3Csk53be2lmJ5rsvNzKKCSkZuAqq1m7RbBzWbZHxkbFZEBIPCQIyzJcQZQhfbozqk4hThi-LDIMlQ5vURIHb70De0oxI73ZYLYI3HLjQ9edf4pdeb1jIDThPeEAqs6N3YA/s1600/CIMG3455.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNHmY1xbjODMmUK_j-7WelVkJSGpdSL9758HhZhSGLQv3GrVZW9Q-cYxZh3Csk53be2lmJ5rsvNzKKCSkZuAqq1m7RbBzWbZHxkbFZEBIPCQIyzJcQZQhfbozqk4hThi-LDIMlQ5vURIHb70De0oxI73ZYLYI3HLjQ9edf4pdeb1jIDThPeEAqs6N3YA/s320/CIMG3455.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Every morning we walk our dog about an hour to 1 1/2 hours and see lots of wildlife and sometimes cats out and other dog walkers. Today we saw something we never saw before--a deer/squirrel feeder attached to a tree on our street. It had corn on the cob in it along with some nuts. <p></p><p>Yesterday, there was a dead duck right on the sidewalk! Sorry no picture, I haven't been taking a camera along but after seeing this, I decided to start bringing it. On the same walk as the dead duck that made me feel sad, we also saw a dead possum in a street! Sad for the possum too. Possums are very helpful creatures who pretty much mind their own business and don't generally hurt people. I much prefer seeing the live wildlife like deer that we often see in people's yards early morning. I wish there was one eating at that feeder we saw today. It would have made for a better picture. </p><p>What was the last strange thing you saw?</p><p>Here are some links to other strange thing posts you may enjoy:</p><p><a href="https://zemeks.blogspot.com/2015/06/strange-things-odd-houses-in-our.html" target="_blank">Strange Things: Odd Houses in Our Neighborhood</a></p><p><a href="https://zemeks.blogspot.com/2010/05/karens-day-off-was-very-unusual-by.html" target="_blank">Karen's Day of Was Very Unusual (by Spunky Doodle)</a></p><p><a href="https://zemeks.blogspot.com/2011/08/3-strange-sights-that-made-my-jaw-drop.html" target="_blank">Three Strange Sights That Made My Jaw Drop and Eyes Pop</a></p><p><a href="https://zemeks.blogspot.com/2011/02/strange-sunday.html" target="_blank">A Strange Sunday</a></p><p><a href="https://zemeks.blogspot.com/2009/03/strange-bus-ride-to-work-today.html" target="_blank">Strange Bus Ride to Work Today</a></p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-84174881121896767402023-08-02T08:35:00.001-04:002023-08-02T08:35:11.571-04:00Too Critical? Who, Me?<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDpf090H0k26ZioMx_e04j_L7zLgHI47um-rWI_1itob7albH4_J0BbG2NYmsJiMDMo7VSX4-Gj0wvKabCt7P5u4FsSzhdQgj7DOSFAy6SlWR5E7yNltQnW61rHf7Sq0WUr9afDkKj3rDC6Hoz4gmTE_dnkWjjvvxLbvUSt5IwbGI2OgU4gSHu_CMB5A/s186/beaver--google%20images.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="124" data-original-width="186" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDpf090H0k26ZioMx_e04j_L7zLgHI47um-rWI_1itob7albH4_J0BbG2NYmsJiMDMo7VSX4-Gj0wvKabCt7P5u4FsSzhdQgj7DOSFAy6SlWR5E7yNltQnW61rHf7Sq0WUr9afDkKj3rDC6Hoz4gmTE_dnkWjjvvxLbvUSt5IwbGI2OgU4gSHu_CMB5A/s1600/beaver--google%20images.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: Google images</td></tr></tbody></table>Now, if you are familiar with the <a href="https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/4-animals-personality-test/" target="_blank">4 "Animals Personality Test</a> (click the link to go take the test), I am a strong Beaver with a lot of lion in my personality. This is a very short, easy, fun test to help couples understand each other better and learn to get along well. My Beaver traits include: organized, detailed, precise, do things by the book (the right way), checklists, logical, factual, inquisitive, deep feelings, can be critical, but also very hard on self). The lion traits that apply to me are: takes charge, determined, assertive, firm, competitive, enjoys challenges, purposeful, decision maker, leader, goal-driven, "Lets do it now." <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zswwR96GuZNPRfVM09I0ulwqRRSBaGHwf97ZIBWwIi4uNa40YnqekhaXiMANtqERFl88s054S7rOGwcM4lfPomVEBNwdvuCbAeEKcruhtiV4N4YaX0tUVAHET0vn02OcHhSv9_wIwEXaVFXzewtlTcWS-fHrPR9MNyV18MbLf2qTuxMWi3Q326cPKwk/s2592/DSC01531.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zswwR96GuZNPRfVM09I0ulwqRRSBaGHwf97ZIBWwIi4uNa40YnqekhaXiMANtqERFl88s054S7rOGwcM4lfPomVEBNwdvuCbAeEKcruhtiV4N4YaX0tUVAHET0vn02OcHhSv9_wIwEXaVFXzewtlTcWS-fHrPR9MNyV18MbLf2qTuxMWi3Q326cPKwk/w200-h150/DSC01531.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div>Within a couple months, I've been accused of being too critical. I prefer to describe it as wanting things to be done right. Recently, I played pickleball at John Glenn Park in Seven Hills where they recently added two pickleball courts. Immediately, I thought "Wow, those courts are ugly and the kitchen is the same color as the rest of the court!" The kitchen or non-volley zone 7 ft. from the net on both sides is always a different color than the rest of the court just so it's easy to tell if the ball lands in the kitchen or if someone is in the kitchen when they volley. <p>The other thing that really bugged me was that the net </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYI8FHCzMLCYENxEei17eiJbn2P0h1xgQN2S6GEKIBOHeZFMFN2Q93lyiYRxcIdYg3VdXmBRkp0Ex4YvpnE5KuoGn1AJnSqQuQMedWNCYBqSIdweFb9qUpzQ90cIb983q8I3val6Jdeys2W2X9CeqSC_YoOXb4hqkD0KIuU_myl70ck2bgT7TaaYERm7I/s2592/DSC01529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYI8FHCzMLCYENxEei17eiJbn2P0h1xgQN2S6GEKIBOHeZFMFN2Q93lyiYRxcIdYg3VdXmBRkp0Ex4YvpnE5KuoGn1AJnSqQuQMedWNCYBqSIdweFb9qUpzQ90cIb983q8I3val6Jdeys2W2X9CeqSC_YoOXb4hqkD0KIuU_myl70ck2bgT7TaaYERm7I/w200-h150/DSC01529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">37.5" at the ends</td></tr></tbody></table><br />was too high. I could tell right away, and although 2 1/2 inches doesn't sound like a big deal, it's enough to prevent what should be a good shot from clearing the net. Pickleball nets are supposed to be 36 inches high at the ends and 34 inches high in the middle. Several days later, I went back to measure the height of the nets just to be sure they were too high and sure enough, I was right! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdqAyEnU0o-gp6mW_IMpxIueDnghRhZ-n77OnWZoHdfvNDVZ_E9u8sLvaduzYA6MWf2FIRMqwsvEOa9f7amp03tugeP9-EgnfC_73zsoIcChUhgrcfZxWatRc4xfjyBRt7U1rIVVgqBrpPNToC_9B-FIm1e2IbQJ3Ns_as1DDrRyMprsZdhggPCaeXjE/s2592/DSC01530.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQdqAyEnU0o-gp6mW_IMpxIueDnghRhZ-n77OnWZoHdfvNDVZ_E9u8sLvaduzYA6MWf2FIRMqwsvEOa9f7amp03tugeP9-EgnfC_73zsoIcChUhgrcfZxWatRc4xfjyBRt7U1rIVVgqBrpPNToC_9B-FIm1e2IbQJ3Ns_as1DDrRyMprsZdhggPCaeXjE/w200-h150/DSC01530.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">36.5 inches at the middle</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I mentioned this to the guy who got the group together to play at these new courts and he told my husband I was too critical. I won't be going to play there again until they get them fixed. </p><p>I will try to stay positive in spite of my Beaver personality traits! </p><p>Go on, take the personality tool (test). Let me know your results in the comments.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-78423751996247992312023-08-01T05:44:00.001-04:002023-08-01T05:44:26.568-04:00Favorite Book for July 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjf9oqmsU1rOvzZgA1ENgnRbWI-SCI2QXtbD5iJQqesYEu-PBtISkfCXJqr0kw3HdXEd0ZwPmIOVO6Gwiss_uNQ7RYW_YP3v01GI_t7ESzg02mjCIrCGzKKdiYi-g2Eun4vp5FpL_IsglIbYwT09R5CA3pUMYyQOeJ9JDemiqoWxsiC35YuobVq7NKyU/s1600/G-The%20Quiet%20Tenant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjf9oqmsU1rOvzZgA1ENgnRbWI-SCI2QXtbD5iJQqesYEu-PBtISkfCXJqr0kw3HdXEd0ZwPmIOVO6Gwiss_uNQ7RYW_YP3v01GI_t7ESzg02mjCIrCGzKKdiYi-g2Eun4vp5FpL_IsglIbYwT09R5CA3pUMYyQOeJ9JDemiqoWxsiC35YuobVq7NKyU/s320/G-The%20Quiet%20Tenant.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Once again, I am still in a book drought. I started a couple and gave up on them because they just weren't holding my interest and I had better things to do. However, my husband read some he liked, but his favorite was The Quiet Tenant. Here is his review of it:<p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">In </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">The Quiet Tennant</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;"> by Clemence Michallon, Aidan is a hardworking family man but is not a very nice man, especially toward women. The story is narrated by those closest to him, his daughter, his girlfriend, and the one victim he spared. I thought this book was really good! I was into it from the first few pages. It had good character development and the ending will have you turning pages quickly! (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)</span></span></blockquote><p>I am currently reading it now and am still interested. Hopefully I will actually finish this one. I'm just up to the part where the guy moves his hostage into his home with his daughter. </p><p>Visit our <a href="http://ourstack.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">book blog</a> to see what other books he liked.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span><p></p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-71766824303425220212023-07-31T06:16:00.000-04:002023-07-31T06:16:12.662-04:00Who's Sending Me Flowers?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaADBllLYs6H1GUvq7xGXk6m3-KkhVfRiEQJpviLI7TuUlVCNKo73v3nTIc4XEBLXFajaJUf0geUgKHpXnjIowEXco-ZEa5mCSz4LAQvwYpJTxPuf-9PU4cAAqtCPxWTjidVQY6oKVaS9mxnVuzTvmhv81q3G5F5Ql0KI31IPi01Jfr8Xgq7ZkQ1ru24/s1600/CIMG3448.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaADBllLYs6H1GUvq7xGXk6m3-KkhVfRiEQJpviLI7TuUlVCNKo73v3nTIc4XEBLXFajaJUf0geUgKHpXnjIowEXco-ZEa5mCSz4LAQvwYpJTxPuf-9PU4cAAqtCPxWTjidVQY6oKVaS9mxnVuzTvmhv81q3G5F5Ql0KI31IPi01Jfr8Xgq7ZkQ1ru24/w200-h150/CIMG3448.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>When I saw the flower delivery truck pull into my driveway, my first thought was who would be sending me pretty flowers? My husband used to surprise me with flowers often, but once we got married, he realized I'd rather not spend our money on flowers that only last about a week. Plus, Spunky Doodle, our cat used to chew on the leaves all the time and then throw up. I didn't really think they were from him, but would have never been able to guess who they were from. Want to take a guess? They were from Sarah at Chewy! Here is what the card said:<p></p><blockquote><p>Losing such a big part of your family is never easy. We're thinking of you in this difficult time.</p></blockquote><p> Sending you love, Sarah and Your Chewy Family </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l12wRTtuP_Qkjwd4tZuLhIR-B0oId8SWid8U6b-MQmFANS1Lf8w5XPp2vr79lX_ql7XWaag0EycWiou-1dFASf9l91aMdD9K5lHvTzJ3q2jeH8sLJfJSHeF1g1X65ddUYUrJB94vI0PFOtqfF5ZIZz3-oOEOUtq3e5LxET62HBLly3qwo6tlevq5Z5U/s2816/roses.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="2816" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9l12wRTtuP_Qkjwd4tZuLhIR-B0oId8SWid8U6b-MQmFANS1Lf8w5XPp2vr79lX_ql7XWaag0EycWiou-1dFASf9l91aMdD9K5lHvTzJ3q2jeH8sLJfJSHeF1g1X65ddUYUrJB94vI0PFOtqfF5ZIZz3-oOEOUtq3e5LxET62HBLly3qwo6tlevq5Z5U/w200-h150/roses.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spunky Doodle</td></tr></tbody></table>It was a very nice gesture but even more of a surprise since we didn't have any pet death recently. Spunky Doodle had to be put down almost two years ago, September of 2021. I don't know why they thought we recently lost a pet. It had my name and address on it, so it wasn't just delivered to the wrong place. But, thank you, Chewy anyway! It was a nice surprise. <p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDSysookb_7bFonX5FCE_THELTYebLS0Dfc-FZQZrOqxTuV3SyC34aS-y18AcRWRECz_to8iom8Yzs0VvGpYiO-PaMvDs9AI80eWC5Lh06xFS98Kt997fH7SRHcsqHb3Cjn3xz2720w5jJRYD24qonpRgFTXwx9L0zlO-yZQF-RNsYImvcCXaEh6L6_U/s2592/DSC01532.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDSysookb_7bFonX5FCE_THELTYebLS0Dfc-FZQZrOqxTuV3SyC34aS-y18AcRWRECz_to8iom8Yzs0VvGpYiO-PaMvDs9AI80eWC5Lh06xFS98Kt997fH7SRHcsqHb3Cjn3xz2720w5jJRYD24qonpRgFTXwx9L0zlO-yZQF-RNsYImvcCXaEh6L6_U/w200-h150/DSC01532.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p>Bear, our current cat, just sniffed at them a little bit and then walked away and left them alone. I had them on the dining room table to get some morning sun while we were at church on Sunday, and then moved them up to my den for afternoon sun and closed the door just in case Bear jumped up on the table. He generally doesn't go in there unless I am in there though. He's such a good cat!</p><p>Other similar posts you might like:</p><p><a href="https://zemeks.blogspot.com/2021/09/spunky-doodle-crosses-rainbow-bridge-at.html" target="_blank">Spunky Doodle Crosses Rainbow Bridge at 17</a></p><p><a href="https://zemeks.blogspot.com/2009/11/why-we-dont-have-flowers-on-our-table.html" target="_blank">Why We Don't Have Flowers on Our Table</a><br /></p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-10078629605132063792023-07-29T09:07:00.000-04:002023-07-29T09:07:51.461-04:00God in the Thunderstorm<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihVUh-BfM25mBQm5TlvotM9BO6KQXVR5bHrD8zQ2KWxPq5cLK_GkBXC47KhY-1t6Nmqpx1xTBUj3ZFlk5J_FBftC0G-fHzv92CvKd1yaWmthCT3NMVWDz6s9WvvJkF1XQ418YiocyIY8UxbdGNJn6g-qZ6YeaZI7Ebat2bsYo1MSlIMrS4WiLZjWLSwLM" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="128" data-original-width="176" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihVUh-BfM25mBQm5TlvotM9BO6KQXVR5bHrD8zQ2KWxPq5cLK_GkBXC47KhY-1t6Nmqpx1xTBUj3ZFlk5J_FBftC0G-fHzv92CvKd1yaWmthCT3NMVWDz6s9WvvJkF1XQ418YiocyIY8UxbdGNJn6g-qZ6YeaZI7Ebat2bsYo1MSlIMrS4WiLZjWLSwLM" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">source: google.com/free lightning images</span></td></tr></tbody></table> I was awaken this morning by thunder and lightning which always reminds me of God's power! Then for my devotions this morning, I read Psalm 29 which is about God in the thunderstorm. It talks about how powerful God is and why He should be praised. I want to share it with you:</p><p><span style="color: red;">1 Praise the Lord; you angels. Praise the Lord's glory and power. 2 Praise the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord because he is holy. 3 The Lord's voice is heard over the sea. The glorious God thunders. The Lord thunders over the great ocean. 4 The Lord's voice is powerful. The Lord's voice is majestic. 5 The Lord's voice breaks the trees. The Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes the land of Lebanon dance like a calf. 7 The Lord's voice makes the lightning flash. 8 The Lord's voice shakes the desert. The Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. 9 The Lord's voice shakes the oaks. The leaves fall off the trees. In his Temple everyone says, "Glory to God!" 10 The Lord controls the flood. The Lord will be King forever. 11 The Lord gives strength to his people. The Lord blesses his people with peace. </span> (Int'l Children's Bible)<br /></p><p>I honestly do not know how anyone could read this and not praise the Lord. We have such an awesome, amazing, wonderful and powerful God. But He wants to be more than just a God out there. He wants a relationship with us so He sent Jesus into the world to reconcile us to God himself. I hope you know Him! The next time you hear thunder or see lighting, think of God's greatness and power and love for you!</p><p><br /></p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-72959413866044738802023-07-23T12:45:00.000-04:002023-07-23T12:45:28.418-04:00Cornhole--Not My Game!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8lk4NcpyqeHyVLIDt1n0wAw_IXvDsS2Uzzw3WXaxf9GEZJ_H5pO9CzzxEp2dtlrGMBbuDAVmi5E1PtgIVP9GfzSUq1h6TdrmQv7XpylZhs0Qa-6A_sY3XyFcZ2Y0cnUG90AzPvLYvwO4MqjsfHObTeaBWu46Mp8T08IXerjNeyoJyNpmAyeOc1R5eE0/s1600/cornhole%207-22-23%20PHBC%20picnic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV8lk4NcpyqeHyVLIDt1n0wAw_IXvDsS2Uzzw3WXaxf9GEZJ_H5pO9CzzxEp2dtlrGMBbuDAVmi5E1PtgIVP9GfzSUq1h6TdrmQv7XpylZhs0Qa-6A_sY3XyFcZ2Y0cnUG90AzPvLYvwO4MqjsfHObTeaBWu46Mp8T08IXerjNeyoJyNpmAyeOc1R5eE0/s320/cornhole%207-22-23%20PHBC%20picnic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Although I am not good at Cornhole, I went ahead and signed up with Lucille in the Cornhole tournament at the church picnic Saturday because she wanted to play and needed a partner. At least it was something to do. I sort of knew her from the Sr. Center so knew she wasn't very good either. I was doing pretty good when we were practicing before the tournament started; but then I couldn't seem to even keep any on the board! Neither of us could even get one in the hole. I figured we wouldn't win, but didn't think we would get shut out 21-0 which is exactly what happened. We were the first team eliminated. Our game went very quickly! The food was delicious and I would have played volleyball but not enough wanted to play.<p></p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-70170725612972508312023-07-22T11:51:00.001-04:002023-07-22T11:51:06.733-04:00Getting Ready for Fantasy Football<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixF42Xjfmfi9VvK5tl2uu5nUJE9--Au1traoKrsLeO6z_2ms2PScbWJCWSx8Rw6BRETTuuBpUCeMVjK0MwTFvQd_WO8m-00w4oFYAMFE55w1TSScuKdymoHdOGpum2tmFzYgiwoNdp4E3cZi8e1e-boYDS_I74XmWOBdIs5RJF0g9jnboCi4JrRmzVt2I/s1600/CIMG3441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixF42Xjfmfi9VvK5tl2uu5nUJE9--Au1traoKrsLeO6z_2ms2PScbWJCWSx8Rw6BRETTuuBpUCeMVjK0MwTFvQd_WO8m-00w4oFYAMFE55w1TSScuKdymoHdOGpum2tmFzYgiwoNdp4E3cZi8e1e-boYDS_I74XmWOBdIs5RJF0g9jnboCi4JrRmzVt2I/s320/CIMG3441.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear wanting some attention while I try to read.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I started reading my Fantasy Football magazines this morning and taking notes on what players I want to draft by position in order. I try to stay away from picking players from teams in the Browns division because it's hard for me to root for them, but I will make an exception for JaMar Chase. If I have an opportunity to take him, I will if there's no other player available I want that is as good (in my mind). Last year I had Mark Andrews on Baltimore, but he turned out to be kind of a bust for me. I wanted Travis Kelce, but he got picked by someone else earlier than I thought he would! This happened several times when my next pick got picked before my turn came around. </p><p>I am determined to get at least two elite players this year. The QB's always get picked really early in the league I'm in so last year I wound up with Russell Wilson who turned out to be a big bust. He wasn't terrible, but there were quite a few better than him. I dumped him pretty early for Gino Smith. I must remember to pick my QB earlier this year!</p><p>There are so many really good players, it's hard to decide who my first pick will be!</p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-73655193498730483392023-07-21T14:42:00.000-04:002023-07-21T14:42:07.148-04:00Day 5 of Kids Summer Shake Up 2023 at Parma Heights Baptist<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yp_JdDFx7pJx1ETrlPPycWfYIPlXs_VbtO-Az5uQ1L27TjictBgi58iiG9hxkzKG3GrbtRTflFu_dmg3GnqmeLrPXs0eSnS33DdVPe1aiY3eMJzjicDf2Wru2xXK0u9V6glrcHg0QYZX3SsDEYlhJZ3jmoW6nEn9AkAP9dMubjvARVPWjSjTQgfjrJ0/s2592/Fri%20-%20%20devotions%20on%20pavement.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yp_JdDFx7pJx1ETrlPPycWfYIPlXs_VbtO-Az5uQ1L27TjictBgi58iiG9hxkzKG3GrbtRTflFu_dmg3GnqmeLrPXs0eSnS33DdVPe1aiY3eMJzjicDf2Wru2xXK0u9V6glrcHg0QYZX3SsDEYlhJZ3jmoW6nEn9AkAP9dMubjvARVPWjSjTQgfjrJ0/w200-h150/Fri%20-%20%20devotions%20on%20pavement.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">small group devotions</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Today was the last day of Summer Shake Up for this year. Last night we had a big storm so the grass was all soaked as well as it being much cooler, only 69 degrees at the start, but thank God is wasn't raining! We did some minor modifications such as playing kids vs. the leaders in a kickball game instead of the water games we originally had planned, and moving our devotional groups to the blacktop at the edge of the parking lot instead of on the grass. The kids won the kickball game, but being fair to the leaders, we ran out of time before they all got to kick. I forgot to get a picture of kickball because I was playing!</p><p>We were pleased to surpass our goal of $1500 for bedding for the Chain of Love orphanage in Brazil with over $1800! The verse of the day was <i><span style="color: red;">I am the vine, and you are the branches. If a person remains in Me and I remain in him, then he produces much fruit. But without Me he can do nothing.</span></i> (John 15:5 Int'l Children's Bible)</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJC-VBSddlR07LvdcdeMS6859-njhxWGtB4BkCtTHpcr-4oR7fi4EU6_DDIiCCL2JMejQ-vPzo3r7uvnyjK38GypCF8LmmrHI1LDi97almoJNF2WCYp8oroY6mSsdGVwQmwWalmy4wCb4jnL8own61ZfLjyPla_8JYbRsdRq_gRahNfFAnxS4PDf-RiE/s2592/Fri%20-%20Chicken%20Grab%20game.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJC-VBSddlR07LvdcdeMS6859-njhxWGtB4BkCtTHpcr-4oR7fi4EU6_DDIiCCL2JMejQ-vPzo3r7uvnyjK38GypCF8LmmrHI1LDi97almoJNF2WCYp8oroY6mSsdGVwQmwWalmy4wCb4jnL8own61ZfLjyPla_8JYbRsdRq_gRahNfFAnxS4PDf-RiE/w200-h150/Fri%20-%20Chicken%20Grab%20game.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">game in back parking lot</td></tr></tbody></table>Our second activity was playing grab the chicken where teams stand across from each other and number off. One or numbers are called and those numbered kids run to the middle to try to grab the chicken and get back across their line without getting tagged. Everyone got a turn. </p><p>I only had to make one first-aid trip and one restroom trip today. At the end, all the kids received a New Testament and a fanny pack. Those with perfect attendance got to pick a couple snacks to go too. They were very particular about what to pick. There was plenty for the leaders to get some too. I took the peanut butter crackers and Chips Ahoy.</p><p>It was a good week!</p><p><br /></p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-7405551051411697462023-07-20T14:33:00.002-04:002023-07-20T14:38:42.910-04:00Day 4 of Kids Summer Shake Up 2023 at Parma Heights Baptist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6_2mLbfKS40SadiX01mZlxizb3nY1UhG2HE-fqoZbao9BYTEo8OAN5b5vZCL_ioa1X4tiXE4z_k33Hkcf0TlQrvdUC6dI2bjX7PPU9oDWy01hJBPqmyHIxEuTgnSNAp8dzQ6CxUpI1he4QOGjcsPy76I05mYOgFXF62A_E2Pg_w9vspmjD_Zpn9kX2k/s2592/Thu%20-%20crafts--bike%20plates.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6_2mLbfKS40SadiX01mZlxizb3nY1UhG2HE-fqoZbao9BYTEo8OAN5b5vZCL_ioa1X4tiXE4z_k33Hkcf0TlQrvdUC6dI2bjX7PPU9oDWy01hJBPqmyHIxEuTgnSNAp8dzQ6CxUpI1he4QOGjcsPy76I05mYOgFXF62A_E2Pg_w9vspmjD_Zpn9kX2k/s320/Thu%20-%20crafts--bike%20plates.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Thursday we were down to 38 children in the 5th/6th group. Our first activity today was making a bike plate. This serves as a souvenir from Summer Shake Up. They used markers to decorate their plates any way they wanted. The plates were made ahead of time using a 3D printer. There were a lot of very pretty ones!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlppt6QwXB1IqS48CPG-sFYagEVXFWzWxsB7Lw0FeyRD7jClQBemLjzmOaB39UwIiQny39FVqo4dkFUC_ngizGL7U9AaLb-ytX8aiL39wUN_5gnNPpt25_mtN4rAU_THVxsXmM5ypK5Lwrq9rfXUz3TSzhCPJVN2DvW1m88JxLQOXxEGZjKK_pwBWLrNY/s2592/Thu%20-%20skit.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlppt6QwXB1IqS48CPG-sFYagEVXFWzWxsB7Lw0FeyRD7jClQBemLjzmOaB39UwIiQny39FVqo4dkFUC_ngizGL7U9AaLb-ytX8aiL39wUN_5gnNPpt25_mtN4rAU_THVxsXmM5ypK5Lwrq9rfXUz3TSzhCPJVN2DvW1m88JxLQOXxEGZjKK_pwBWLrNY/s320/Thu%20-%20skit.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>In the skit today, the family on the road trip went to the Grand Canyon and followed "One Way" signs along a narrow path which was related to getting to heaven only through faith in Jesus which gets us on that narrow way that leads to life. In the skit, the family wound up at a cross where the grandson presented the gospel and his aunt and grandparents trusted in Jesus as their Savior. Today's verses were: <i style="color: red;">Jesus answered, I am the Way. And I am the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through Me</i><span style="color: red;">,--John 14:6 and </span><i style="color: red;">Enter through the narrow gate. The road that leads to hell is a very easy road. And the gate to hell is very wide. Many people enter through that gate. But the gate that opens the way to true life is very small. And the road to true life is very hard. Only a few people find that road</i><span style="color: red;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"> Matthew 7:13-14 </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(</span></span>Int'l Children's Bible)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJBTxjN3zsRKuEcc8gg58j_p4dsbs-qQBLXa_DA0OEO-cdm2wYElJuK6xHvdIx0fYW_FL7vke0D_vrEpY9ymy1bMc6aOUDPPRA_zqzdBvGQpztUnSTp_fvCM2wwW-w0lK4rdaegEqpUewHoxb-fAmzDKah1HeUzVZ9NlAXqF-Zy42X45c4vYOIrXm8hA/s2592/Thu%20-%20Bounce%20House.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJBTxjN3zsRKuEcc8gg58j_p4dsbs-qQBLXa_DA0OEO-cdm2wYElJuK6xHvdIx0fYW_FL7vke0D_vrEpY9ymy1bMc6aOUDPPRA_zqzdBvGQpztUnSTp_fvCM2wwW-w0lK4rdaegEqpUewHoxb-fAmzDKah1HeUzVZ9NlAXqF-Zy42X45c4vYOIrXm8hA/s320/Thu%20-%20Bounce%20House.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids got it rocking really well!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Our second activity was the obstacle course which made most of the kids very happy--they love the slip and slide and the water balloons! In my earlier post from Tuesday, I forgot to show a picture of the bounce house that is also part of it so I'm showing that today.</p><p>That wraps up Thursday with only Friday left to go. Donations for the Chain of Love orphanage in Brazil are coming in good. </p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-21526542527777800992023-07-19T15:07:00.002-04:002023-07-19T15:07:34.940-04:00Day 3 of Kids Summer Shake Up 2023 at Parma Heights Baptist<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsye2was_U2bEIa9SXgWxWQyahuLo7hx0sJGcUsoidiyAbvFR6pti5Nhd3_Xb1HKRGpnqrroX6styV7d6_QY6FoTNXjLs8_NWPG9PcpjVIY1agrU2f0hCsoeyYLPBpB1AuhQqv6Zw5bXeVyU-3AgikOmtMn6NRmFj1IUlFxKjBvdohKeNmDnCpahj-tDU/s2592/Wed%20-%20%20hulahoop%20relay%203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsye2was_U2bEIa9SXgWxWQyahuLo7hx0sJGcUsoidiyAbvFR6pti5Nhd3_Xb1HKRGpnqrroX6styV7d6_QY6FoTNXjLs8_NWPG9PcpjVIY1agrU2f0hCsoeyYLPBpB1AuhQqv6Zw5bXeVyU-3AgikOmtMn6NRmFj1IUlFxKjBvdohKeNmDnCpahj-tDU/w200-h150/Wed%20-%20%20hulahoop%20relay%203.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The double white line is the finish line--<br />team on right had to start over</td></tr></tbody></table><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4XP6qnrcwPVMXB9d9CpxpG3JMEW7eCmP0vlQnp_j258bQuhvUUStCtpYA8oSn0Lp5qWHr1yj4xGHLebk_fqWVdKDFHepW_SesbhFmj7CVZ5ztNw91pgiGlWNCxPkNH-u0K8UccDaB4aPDl3xl628Gi3NAJQQ86fF42va8zjCjS0a-brnMedzi6kEdkM/s2592/Wed%20-%20%20hulahoop%20relay%201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4XP6qnrcwPVMXB9d9CpxpG3JMEW7eCmP0vlQnp_j258bQuhvUUStCtpYA8oSn0Lp5qWHr1yj4xGHLebk_fqWVdKDFHepW_SesbhFmj7CVZ5ztNw91pgiGlWNCxPkNH-u0K8UccDaB4aPDl3xl628Gi3NAJQQ86fF42va8zjCjS0a-brnMedzi6kEdkM/w200-h150/Wed%20-%20%20hulahoop%20relay%201.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Other team had to start over too!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>In the 5/6th grade group on Wednesday we reached 40 kids. Today is a dry day for our activities. Our first activity was a hula hoop jump relay in the back parking lot. We had four teams with ten on each and the idea was for the whole team to cross the finish line without stepping outside of a hula hoop. They could have up to two in one hoop. This was a great game for teamwork because they had to work together. The first person had like 5 hula hoops and put down one at a time in front of them and stepped into it, followed by other team members. If anyone stepped outside of the hoop, the whole team had to go back and start over. They played two rounds and the winner of each played against each other for the championship. It was a close race! </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hiwkdMubupAuIXjXR0dtDle0ULceDQmkNkVxc_Wb8gHagOK95_8oK8HycJz00f9m4lxZOIPZ9jithzfSEtxxZDZl68j3AFjx-k0krJr2f4-e2HvZv7SDTEKu2NOSFu4lL2KV38XRqI6JD3Ooizpz-GUWtmB7XCfG0MawE3OObVkIuyxUkxNeISCrqAQ/s2592/Wed%20-%20%20sharks%20n%20minnows.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hiwkdMubupAuIXjXR0dtDle0ULceDQmkNkVxc_Wb8gHagOK95_8oK8HycJz00f9m4lxZOIPZ9jithzfSEtxxZDZl68j3AFjx-k0krJr2f4-e2HvZv7SDTEKu2NOSFu4lL2KV38XRqI6JD3Ooizpz-GUWtmB7XCfG0MawE3OObVkIuyxUkxNeISCrqAQ/w200-h150/Wed%20-%20%20sharks%20n%20minnows.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharks and Minnows</td></tr></tbody></table>For the leftover time they played sharks and minnows with the workers being the sharks to start it off. The kids had to try getting across to the finish line without being tagged by a shark.</p><p>The skit focused on Psalm 23 and was about our road trip travelers running out of gas. The theme for the day was Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are his sheep. Also, John 10:9 where Jesus says, "<i>I am the door. The person who enters through Me will be saved. He will be able to come in and go out and find pasture</i>." </p><p>Our second activity was back in the woods again, only instead of playing Capture the Squirrel, they played helpers tag. Most of the mud from Monday was dried up. This time the ones doing the chasing wore yellow pennies which made them easy to spot. I was having so much fun watching that I forgot to take a picture! By the time I remembered, it was too late. The kids loved chasing each other in the woods!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjio3CcECGLNiebHlWlWmW-ORtLI_B0lKpM4CzSB6_69zRCc-_ExEBSGlL-6javY5MPbKVeJmpgz5TucJNVRLA9SqtvVoXXut-uPSoKlgxLNa6lsyc50odMC2e_3UaJup9LLkeln6mWHJzeccU-_cskQtKMxaP8nt2smJk5I7K_NGz30S8C5NCtpMhOd7s/s2592/Wed%20-%20pickup%20time.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjio3CcECGLNiebHlWlWmW-ORtLI_B0lKpM4CzSB6_69zRCc-_ExEBSGlL-6javY5MPbKVeJmpgz5TucJNVRLA9SqtvVoXXut-uPSoKlgxLNa6lsyc50odMC2e_3UaJup9LLkeln6mWHJzeccU-_cskQtKMxaP8nt2smJk5I7K_NGz30S8C5NCtpMhOd7s/w200-h150/Wed%20-%20pickup%20time.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5th & 6th graders waiting with leaders to be picked up</td></tr></tbody></table><p>At the end of each day, leaders bring their small groups back to the tent where they checked in at so parents can pick them up at noon. The children give their name tags back to their leader when their parent comes to get them and the leader checks them out. Each grade has their own tent. </p><p>I was a busy runner today making two restroom trips, returning some extra snacks, trying to find the group that was missing a couple socks left by the slip-n-slide, and one trip to first aid at the very end. Only two days left. Be sure and check out the posts of the first two days if you missed them: <a href="https://zemeks.blogspot.com/2023/07/day-1-of-kids-summer-shake-up-2023-at.html" target="_blank">Day 1</a>, <a href="https://zemeks.blogspot.com/2023/07/day-2-of-kids-summer-shake-up-2003-at.html" target="_blank">Day 2</a>. </p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-44664257311792915112023-07-18T16:31:00.002-04:002023-07-19T15:07:45.549-04:00Day 2 of Kids Summer Shake Up 2023 at Parma Heights Baptist <p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYGfKI8_jKtLGl2z5v7zZZXGiPdvAqyLQjpBpZ0o9cyU70fMZU5bksMoyzMo-5jYzYsSHkWg3wLr_pX0aGXcCuSLkkZPCjksgv7K643a6iA4p7itCOvGOvT_7u97GjnjmVB2r4CJOVuwYhQti-WuLKses6CzHzKUBRK3WTwFr0xEn9Z4krptbiqD3j4g/s2592/Tue%20-%20Opening%20Rally.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYGfKI8_jKtLGl2z5v7zZZXGiPdvAqyLQjpBpZ0o9cyU70fMZU5bksMoyzMo-5jYzYsSHkWg3wLr_pX0aGXcCuSLkkZPCjksgv7K643a6iA4p7itCOvGOvT_7u97GjnjmVB2r4CJOVuwYhQti-WuLKses6CzHzKUBRK3WTwFr0xEn9Z4krptbiqD3j4g/s320/Tue%20-%20Opening%20Rally.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opening Rally with kids sitting with leaders by grade</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Every day starts with some singing with all the grades and their leaders in the pavilion. They also review the verse of the week all together. Our first activity today was the obstacle course which the kids loved! It not only included different obstacles to do, but also a fun water balloon fight against another group. If the kids didn't get wet enough with that, there was also a slip-n-slide they could enjoy. Here are just few pictures of some of the obstacles:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiip1w0rXKFJ3CACsGJuhXzwBiqClnx61AhQskhfOAjk6ZTPVwW-88tSlbHoe3x6vtqTkjoDjkGt7K0DrRKxX3XlyfJ5wE4o0m7VKAuQrFjHRqQHLESq6RUd15idzxMYJlxZ0OM6fWim9lvMihRr5VzmPWpMOgh0gY3xpgXP0SvbnJQsl_DqgQf-Fud8HY/s2592/Tue%20-%20obstacle%20course%20tunnel%201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiip1w0rXKFJ3CACsGJuhXzwBiqClnx61AhQskhfOAjk6ZTPVwW-88tSlbHoe3x6vtqTkjoDjkGt7K0DrRKxX3XlyfJ5wE4o0m7VKAuQrFjHRqQHLESq6RUd15idzxMYJlxZ0OM6fWim9lvMihRr5VzmPWpMOgh0gY3xpgXP0SvbnJQsl_DqgQf-Fud8HY/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20obstacle%20course%20tunnel%201.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tunnel</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWu2FUYKv1SsNUzcL5LqsDXj_OmjRSnAZrgoNvD0YqAolynbCyminF3aLdWfrQPzzjRVaJDpY2ZSDI6AMu9pu9gIEhRa4ghuw4kMawwj-FrQjoLpY6PLZQ82PB6uqAXVQNA0KHbhGGrH8-4toEP44A4eaXUBkcg-xA-i_NHWDpgISNyuZJNOCZ3TZ_os/s2592/Tue%20-%20obstacle%20course.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWu2FUYKv1SsNUzcL5LqsDXj_OmjRSnAZrgoNvD0YqAolynbCyminF3aLdWfrQPzzjRVaJDpY2ZSDI6AMu9pu9gIEhRa4ghuw4kMawwj-FrQjoLpY6PLZQ82PB6uqAXVQNA0KHbhGGrH8-4toEP44A4eaXUBkcg-xA-i_NHWDpgISNyuZJNOCZ3TZ_os/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20obstacle%20course.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hurdles, tunnel, hay bale climb</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjce-NokzhZlbKoSwbWFFMe9HSHp9gO6dnJYSiuwcoat4w_uwD8_ODdpHwVBg0n7z28OrafeuVMYlKv7xbB_dqcpCNrWnGjflD9ef-ukwygB2pq9C9le83McgpD6xL_YKv7R_5nisKIfb_41B5qpFfoscCJRMD9EtuDNJKD3jNScIvY35U804vcN4lk6M/s2592/Tue%20-%20water%20balloon%20fight%20on%20obstacle%20course.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjce-NokzhZlbKoSwbWFFMe9HSHp9gO6dnJYSiuwcoat4w_uwD8_ODdpHwVBg0n7z28OrafeuVMYlKv7xbB_dqcpCNrWnGjflD9ef-ukwygB2pq9C9le83McgpD6xL_YKv7R_5nisKIfb_41B5qpFfoscCJRMD9EtuDNJKD3jNScIvY35U804vcN4lk6M/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20water%20balloon%20fight%20on%20obstacle%20course.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water balloon fight</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnz3A1FGcsZsPWKxAqQwrpeStLRg4u3If8b9lShWBJpdBBSTEXnym4FwGjiQkU5UgPIdjFpaJOKTKWHs2QNe20VltkC5QnibzMFOy65mlricWzoWqTfFPKUC6ipsioYKq7MpX2PnlPJk1delqlMLYV37VgJN0MKw84Au8ZTxVfthA7hbYY4_OvOL1tBJE/s2592/Tue%20-%20obstacle%20course%20jumps.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnz3A1FGcsZsPWKxAqQwrpeStLRg4u3If8b9lShWBJpdBBSTEXnym4FwGjiQkU5UgPIdjFpaJOKTKWHs2QNe20VltkC5QnibzMFOy65mlricWzoWqTfFPKUC6ipsioYKq7MpX2PnlPJk1delqlMLYV37VgJN0MKw84Au8ZTxVfthA7hbYY4_OvOL1tBJE/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20obstacle%20course%20jumps.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking jumps together</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7MwnmDc6gQ4gQCG24kxrmaQucXuPjXfSA61jHmCWsqrZWQToRPOrBpA0AQbfW_ZpHJrRN9NrwURl3Rp3IX3W694CU8Nk2fX6VwGhrCDgmxOqpWW4HXG3qaq7q1gdiMfkSb8dljMfLTAbPag43N2bhN91nEeT-bKRaCnbLibEle3F0pxv3hckvrEHaDA/s2592/Tue%20-%20obstacle%20course,%20balls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7MwnmDc6gQ4gQCG24kxrmaQucXuPjXfSA61jHmCWsqrZWQToRPOrBpA0AQbfW_ZpHJrRN9NrwURl3Rp3IX3W694CU8Nk2fX6VwGhrCDgmxOqpWW4HXG3qaq7q1gdiMfkSb8dljMfLTAbPag43N2bhN91nEeT-bKRaCnbLibEle3F0pxv3hckvrEHaDA/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20obstacle%20course,%20balls.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bouncy Ball Ride</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8kpqlvyP66O1PX59BQGq6K3n8WwvODSJLFP_Mn9dV1IrwVLObleivGKk2f6LvdKd8jl5aT8D9NI3b2CWudV0weD7_X53XwV5fl-iNcftHABGPbeCOMIwwVW2AlQxKlnlovmCrjSoaN55hWCsvj9XYJr7wRng6bvWDOHbiicSURjJgrqq7JouWdKJLTQ/s2592/Tue%20-%20obstacle%20course%20slipnslide%201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8kpqlvyP66O1PX59BQGq6K3n8WwvODSJLFP_Mn9dV1IrwVLObleivGKk2f6LvdKd8jl5aT8D9NI3b2CWudV0weD7_X53XwV5fl-iNcftHABGPbeCOMIwwVW2AlQxKlnlovmCrjSoaN55hWCsvj9XYJr7wRng6bvWDOHbiicSURjJgrqq7JouWdKJLTQ/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20obstacle%20course%20slipnslide%201.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slip-n-Slide Threesome</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk5ry6JoE6_iOtaY2B-cUr0gmwL68RiIY5xsDS20IlNF2ek5akcZ-Dn7k1y6tIIUGUkNnhShnRN-JbALeC3hfK-z4ZTEPx3oQTxBXtMTcJW8-0MZCq58ORfCpm3BhLoKg6ZIH_67gT9jA9l_li1fZlduY7LysXMr7olHbZBO_O5lq-PgfFs5qvWao5NU/s2592/Tue%20-%20obstacle%20course%20slipnslide%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk5ry6JoE6_iOtaY2B-cUr0gmwL68RiIY5xsDS20IlNF2ek5akcZ-Dn7k1y6tIIUGUkNnhShnRN-JbALeC3hfK-z4ZTEPx3oQTxBXtMTcJW8-0MZCq58ORfCpm3BhLoKg6ZIH_67gT9jA9l_li1fZlduY7LysXMr7olHbZBO_O5lq-PgfFs5qvWao5NU/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20obstacle%20course%20slipnslide%202.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most went 1 at a time on slip-n-slide<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5y3wB5cQ6IA36iUcVPDVcHKvFvHm9vWBFSd5WjBVL3J-wcOrUAjd99Zw0--VUeEU4PMYtco-cMkGymmjdFbGTslYpc_8WiyF-DKJ4H-Kz3Pj8wJGFXUdpoJxLXKqK_IzGZr4OMZbJevX4z2zYmxDFxofkylF7EPrlgcFZamT4XEDP7iBegF6RNNxG9mw/s2592/Tue%20-%20returning%20to%20pavilion%20for%20skits.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5y3wB5cQ6IA36iUcVPDVcHKvFvHm9vWBFSd5WjBVL3J-wcOrUAjd99Zw0--VUeEU4PMYtco-cMkGymmjdFbGTslYpc_8WiyF-DKJ4H-Kz3Pj8wJGFXUdpoJxLXKqK_IzGZr4OMZbJevX4z2zYmxDFxofkylF7EPrlgcFZamT4XEDP7iBegF6RNNxG9mw/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20returning%20to%20pavilion%20for%20skits.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading to pavilion after <br />obstacle course for skit </td></tr></tbody></table>After the first activity, we all return to the pavilion for a skit that somehow relates to the lesson of the day and is usually pretty funny. I really enjoy the skits. They are made up by the skit crew and they do not follow a script. They do a great job! Today's was that the grandpa got all tangled up in his sheet when sleeping and sort of looked like Lazarus when Jesus raised him from the dead. When groups move from place to place, the director leads with a flag raised that has the grade on it and each leader walks with their small group of kids holding up their group color flag. Below are a couple pictures of the skit:<div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR4u9iEehmAp7ccZsfS18p6t9WB1UtkkduhOPTWAwI9JhPxjFRb0uRdcJWjQr6F0-PH61SJU8O_bCNorp4T8vGNJw-oHrk5nl0e-Ir3kvetriOpIcab9o08ZVepEweUjaAK0xT5KHVGUiAynPppiVknJjFhTHqf5mHdtze1aAmRlv_YZ-vflSkYW36vE/s2592/Tue%20-%20skit%201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR4u9iEehmAp7ccZsfS18p6t9WB1UtkkduhOPTWAwI9JhPxjFRb0uRdcJWjQr6F0-PH61SJU8O_bCNorp4T8vGNJw-oHrk5nl0e-Ir3kvetriOpIcab9o08ZVepEweUjaAK0xT5KHVGUiAynPppiVknJjFhTHqf5mHdtze1aAmRlv_YZ-vflSkYW36vE/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20skit%201.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUHqdQ21ESMLDiPu0QQpsaKbYUp0AfPL2cqICSYUy6ti5jVVH8ypjSB76C_oOs3swLRugrV7p--g710lj4SEouB54WBsbhllIERIiurrHHRTORBb-TAsTkygmh2G_qc6dCjmHD5fhwpwtnX3Wf4jRPsDp3BNpXEiD4jfl6FoTAHSh0UwKK35G0bXnxr4/s2592/Tue%20-%20skit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUHqdQ21ESMLDiPu0QQpsaKbYUp0AfPL2cqICSYUy6ti5jVVH8ypjSB76C_oOs3swLRugrV7p--g710lj4SEouB54WBsbhllIERIiurrHHRTORBb-TAsTkygmh2G_qc6dCjmHD5fhwpwtnX3Wf4jRPsDp3BNpXEiD4jfl6FoTAHSh0UwKK35G0bXnxr4/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20skit.JPG" width="200" /></a><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqJUHDtR-CPDTbE7bxvL4ioK936WJr5yKCPsBuCt2F9hkOA0dVMqB1mtG-WQnfG5Yak8ZSeQ92twEXIj53VM6qeeRpp5PTOjU0ZpvyqdIj5bkl4X-5Dz83lAgJduBXH6-EaEnVjtmuzU8M-0loM2dhssrVnyqtEFtV63b3rZWltacZJNZIjj6GB9DRTo/s2592/Tue%20-%20skit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span>Following the skits each day, all grades split into their small groups for snacks and devotional time with their leaders. This is when the small group leader gets to tell the Bible story, present the gospel, give kids a chance to ask questions and pray together. They also give the children an opportunity to receive Jesus as their Savior if they would like to do that. Below is a picture of a group having their devotions. Today's verse was John 11:25-26 (ICB)--Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will have life even if he dies. And he who lives and believes in me will never die. Everyone is on the same schedule so all groups are quiet and having devotions all at the same time.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkndApelo7KFx-UACjA-2FE2tMN18xnbYQIMQeCSvyXR9L49Ce1aBAewXTR3F8rDWKs6vRST2jvs7nq-8ARdAvnnTkZ6I7PpAeI28RHCh5Le74Le_p4x8A4MiA7Ys-6S_1-XGoJzbRGBYW-RbwKDqo8MAcR_49oVbYenATYKPAEkaUHFAxHUuaHijR_8/s2592/Tue%20-%20devotions,%20pink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkndApelo7KFx-UACjA-2FE2tMN18xnbYQIMQeCSvyXR9L49Ce1aBAewXTR3F8rDWKs6vRST2jvs7nq-8ARdAvnnTkZ6I7PpAeI28RHCh5Le74Le_p4x8A4MiA7Ys-6S_1-XGoJzbRGBYW-RbwKDqo8MAcR_49oVbYenATYKPAEkaUHFAxHUuaHijR_8/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20devotions,%20pink.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Group having devotions</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><br /></div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSkhS4hZvNZ91czCuLheFio8EXHFVe-3WIke2pj120Ef4vuyq8jhpOdFe1_dkxEGvu7HOQS97yZDBhHaBI0NpARqmIpuodGW_jN7Pkz2fVbHegEAMJpK3E6pgBLjdrhj4jaBQ0W5_msVBujQrj34EzH6ZsMOOC1FXjeO2gUqb2eMXVDOJ6lPqvrpm0QQ/s2592/Tue%20-%20gospel%20presentation%20in%20small%20group.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSkhS4hZvNZ91czCuLheFio8EXHFVe-3WIke2pj120Ef4vuyq8jhpOdFe1_dkxEGvu7HOQS97yZDBhHaBI0NpARqmIpuodGW_jN7Pkz2fVbHegEAMJpK3E6pgBLjdrhj4jaBQ0W5_msVBujQrj34EzH6ZsMOOC1FXjeO2gUqb2eMXVDOJ6lPqvrpm0QQ/w320-h240/Tue%20-%20gospel%20presentation%20in%20small%20group.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharing the gospel in small group time</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Our second activity today was water games in the oval area right in front of the church. Each leader was across from their team. The kids had to run (through the sprayed water) to their team's bucket and throw in a water balloon. The first team to get ten in won and everyone on the team got to throw a water balloon at their leader (if they were willing, or at one of the workers running the games). Fortunately, we had warm weather! Even one of the girls who was still soaked from the slip-n-slide and was cold, chose to play anyhow after sitting in the sun to dry out some. Here are some pictures of our water relay:</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXk3BF4oXecW-IIw5oi5Ew2b5C8mn-WSAuGM5z1yA7p00RUUCcHnUy8lGJ9JFvGbXjSzi-cfxHWYUseZdftqs1EgYQbNw_P_z6nR4B2eXIBgL4vEC4_JBgujtzsS581CHpZNCTWGgeqbF4MvJ5E98x326JILsqpN7R-nHkUxC1vWC5Y3H1-juC4AJXQY/s2592/Tue%20-%20water%20relay%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXk3BF4oXecW-IIw5oi5Ew2b5C8mn-WSAuGM5z1yA7p00RUUCcHnUy8lGJ9JFvGbXjSzi-cfxHWYUseZdftqs1EgYQbNw_P_z6nR4B2eXIBgL4vEC4_JBgujtzsS581CHpZNCTWGgeqbF4MvJ5E98x326JILsqpN7R-nHkUxC1vWC5Y3H1-juC4AJXQY/w320-h240/Tue%20-%20water%20relay%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running through the water to reach her bucket</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGlv8lfFBmLx-cZ1nGv6KgSqAEtGFBR01IFampJjYtNMunBJuGn5n_1Vu-XtwnJxfsc0Q8Gu1q0l3JAWnibs4a_HpIhuzVMxAbxCbVyYpqpgZwFDJfHeTkEF9tvmC-gjm_f8tvUhjnOzjUa5QsMhhpGklQXTjvh6YY7bTTE7HIGZ_6WK2V-oG55TukmA/s2592/Tue%20-%20water%20games%20(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGlv8lfFBmLx-cZ1nGv6KgSqAEtGFBR01IFampJjYtNMunBJuGn5n_1Vu-XtwnJxfsc0Q8Gu1q0l3JAWnibs4a_HpIhuzVMxAbxCbVyYpqpgZwFDJfHeTkEF9tvmC-gjm_f8tvUhjnOzjUa5QsMhhpGklQXTjvh6YY7bTTE7HIGZ_6WK2V-oG55TukmA/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20water%20games%20(3).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Hoj8NC1qJG5mmFy0WDZiWyWwazb_tsmivk5yWsvcagLdRJEBCt9rILMksQQgqL6gO-v9tUuYiPpUyMraKdCKlk6akjyitetmBlodu2iVV-cbcf7E989Qx2rEtWWrzkxklELt2Y1MgIHPTeua9fwdUey1kdAvKEkVkUUlD_ALkp_MDy1XKGUR5tfgfxw/s2592/Tue%20-%20water%20games%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Hoj8NC1qJG5mmFy0WDZiWyWwazb_tsmivk5yWsvcagLdRJEBCt9rILMksQQgqL6gO-v9tUuYiPpUyMraKdCKlk6akjyitetmBlodu2iVV-cbcf7E989Qx2rEtWWrzkxklELt2Y1MgIHPTeua9fwdUey1kdAvKEkVkUUlD_ALkp_MDy1XKGUR5tfgfxw/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20water%20games%20(2).JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team buckets with leaders</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_r9E8_X8ZiQDr0MBNhUGg73nchfsN7zC009VcRLkT-3MSa9CmljXm_Ko6lYeOAn86p19SL3ixnXFG295WWA-847ClfrKBAfkHIGWoBsMVHRTd4mEHJOr-1ZeK0w19jNeyd2ORDV1n8rwUQ6uMPlL7F86CL00gR8rESB1X1YWC7gODKDeEVKtx_X57HNo/s2592/Tue%20-%20getting%20her%20leader%20w%20water%20balloon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_r9E8_X8ZiQDr0MBNhUGg73nchfsN7zC009VcRLkT-3MSa9CmljXm_Ko6lYeOAn86p19SL3ixnXFG295WWA-847ClfrKBAfkHIGWoBsMVHRTd4mEHJOr-1ZeK0w19jNeyd2ORDV1n8rwUQ6uMPlL7F86CL00gR8rESB1X1YWC7gODKDeEVKtx_X57HNo/w200-h150/Tue%20-%20getting%20her%20leader%20w%20water%20balloon.JPG" width="200" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting her Leader with water balloon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div></div>We had a smooth day and the kids seemed to enjoy it a lot! It's a fun week and I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Many of the children even remembered to bring some money for the orphanage in Brazil!<br /><br /><br />Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-55768047113742715912023-07-17T15:33:00.001-04:002023-07-18T08:00:26.102-04:00Day 1 of Kids Summer Shake UP 2023 at Parma Heights Baptist Church<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WM3pYd2SxILsQKyZlO1hi4eBgr3r4XBsdzjwuAP5WurlHkUe24ZOXOQcxX5A9CbfIh12ReHzIz3bPp_-2cl9Mi8AZ7s37fYe4aj_lIVHcgIjw1uDrfUyVwG2G7t17Z1LjFBTRz_1RcyWBmQEwqu0EMLS5qsx_4VFjm7n6zLYcQD7Rz3fl49x-pyyjfY/s2592/Mon-%20capture%20the%20Squirrel.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WM3pYd2SxILsQKyZlO1hi4eBgr3r4XBsdzjwuAP5WurlHkUe24ZOXOQcxX5A9CbfIh12ReHzIz3bPp_-2cl9Mi8AZ7s37fYe4aj_lIVHcgIjw1uDrfUyVwG2G7t17Z1LjFBTRz_1RcyWBmQEwqu0EMLS5qsx_4VFjm7n6zLYcQD7Rz3fl49x-pyyjfY/w200-h150/Mon-%20capture%20the%20Squirrel.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI37aFVO9KeMhtLZHDqmJhYqxTuioLp4uR3_mTWXrjB-Wp__8E1VbHZWfufQ4UyRHUEaQCUuqu1aRzLLiTd_608KeNIGtHpyE8Cqt28BBhTtUt97CuNAeE2VZWLBq6cjcnn8vjNsgyThSHkfaYt2T93qrsI8VPla9xsx22Up5ToPE4CENt4ulsYpkmXrg/s2592/Mon-%20capture%20the%20Squirrel%20(2).JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI37aFVO9KeMhtLZHDqmJhYqxTuioLp4uR3_mTWXrjB-Wp__8E1VbHZWfufQ4UyRHUEaQCUuqu1aRzLLiTd_608KeNIGtHpyE8Cqt28BBhTtUt97CuNAeE2VZWLBq6cjcnn8vjNsgyThSHkfaYt2T93qrsI8VPla9xsx22Up5ToPE4CENt4ulsYpkmXrg/w200-h150/Mon-%20capture%20the%20Squirrel%20(2).JPG" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p>This year I am helping in grades 5 & 6 as a runner (aka gopher). The first day we had about 33 in this group and split them up into 7 smaller groups with 4-7 kids in each. Some groups had one leader and others more than one that stayed with their small group the entire morning. After the opening rally in the pavilion, our first activity was capture the squirrel (similar to capture the flag). The kids got to run around in the woods which most of them seemed to like. One girl slipped and got her shorts all muddy so I took her inside to call her mom to bring another pair. She missed the skit, but got back to her group in time for the snacks and devotional. Today's lesson was Jesus is the bread of life and the feeding of the 5,000. </p><p><span></span>Our second activity was crafts where small groups worked together to build a city scape using cardboard rolls, boxes, crepe paper, bottles, and some other miscellaneous items. The kids really got into this and worked well together. Here are some of the things they created:</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpco3bOHIrn6O41Xh-ZCS-u872OwF7ZiAMDH1Q6shepuql7eXWfxflTX0YTLLSPV-px0NT7Q0MHkAamwFJ4i5f_mzYaiDe08QkTrvM1mKOF17ZTXozCeyjHEKlJ9HdEtbksqzfKR7d0tBV1aTEliBdSaGaAraOAelJj4DhKx1DV3GUibxjKj9wPdTTNI/s2592/Mon-%20Crafts.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpco3bOHIrn6O41Xh-ZCS-u872OwF7ZiAMDH1Q6shepuql7eXWfxflTX0YTLLSPV-px0NT7Q0MHkAamwFJ4i5f_mzYaiDe08QkTrvM1mKOF17ZTXozCeyjHEKlJ9HdEtbksqzfKR7d0tBV1aTEliBdSaGaAraOAelJj4DhKx1DV3GUibxjKj9wPdTTNI/w320-h240/Mon-%20Crafts.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Group getting started</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWmPExIPvIqHnaduMZkPIES81HsA5MCofnortFHaJjlIa8U0wzygXOObZAJxOB7n0y5YSkzjl6uvP85rZyDZEagLpNiyPQ4ZWNJDpgrfnArQXPCkmAkAsS8qbA-4BQTxoE-6SVGhvnQmNSJ4It5G0GmafmGmNlgDSyj4jyNObLgDmlsogbOM1h_lOGCY/s2592/Mon-%20crafts,%20waterfall%20city%20scape.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWmPExIPvIqHnaduMZkPIES81HsA5MCofnortFHaJjlIa8U0wzygXOObZAJxOB7n0y5YSkzjl6uvP85rZyDZEagLpNiyPQ4ZWNJDpgrfnArQXPCkmAkAsS8qbA-4BQTxoE-6SVGhvnQmNSJ4It5G0GmafmGmNlgDSyj4jyNObLgDmlsogbOM1h_lOGCY/s320/Mon-%20crafts,%20waterfall%20city%20scape.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Group - Waterfall</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMk0gjTkgguoLqWUXPC_4KVeP2utJMO3z3bRM1_GEXO3vgIjiXsN4HgDPh2r7Di3VtpHwv5O-bqayv-bL_CQmHC0lxWmBcRX6jNtHTrY-DRg5f3Ms7RQVEpjU6cWGys8ceSFlTYjTjkaaAenifpEhPe_7bDHs_x40SyUUkhIWNc1NciIaf1EMBSg2Y_1A/s2592/Mon-%20crafts-highest%20tower%20city%20scape.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMk0gjTkgguoLqWUXPC_4KVeP2utJMO3z3bRM1_GEXO3vgIjiXsN4HgDPh2r7Di3VtpHwv5O-bqayv-bL_CQmHC0lxWmBcRX6jNtHTrY-DRg5f3Ms7RQVEpjU6cWGys8ceSFlTYjTjkaaAenifpEhPe_7bDHs_x40SyUUkhIWNc1NciIaf1EMBSg2Y_1A/s320/Mon-%20crafts-highest%20tower%20city%20scape.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tan Group - Highest Tower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWDZGCrWkjYO_jhC6ymOyHz2GFBPwOlTy0NpTxMLcnKPJTbJPGqLPCUB8G2aWoFra6RD3Ibeeth1x8I1eQ-x14tmQQ4p8vq_UYbOqHm613UsVdWdnugtpHPrFinwXbE4t_hr5VcHQgAa6NReYTq9Nf2NQSBRVt09WLE_sujMliVhNCIg1k0ssq34hbDk4/s320/Mon-%20crafts,%20Tavani's%20orange%20group%20city%20scape.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange Group Still Working</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qqHfDmygqB9aw0HeymIlUXavmR_at7Q9P5x5P9lhFwI2BCZgtGdXZRJC9XeizRPI2gVMxlCcHtWAHKqIWMECCxM3UPBnTezElYvcZa3K1zQXelV47iqdI9cn61elE2jjkMgW4atHHI-iTZMkkrLTNlhyYA5UlHECcvLCSPhPdIRHlJQRkP-C2XZ5hD8/s2592/Mon-%20crafts,%20Kraidich%20city%20scape.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qqHfDmygqB9aw0HeymIlUXavmR_at7Q9P5x5P9lhFwI2BCZgtGdXZRJC9XeizRPI2gVMxlCcHtWAHKqIWMECCxM3UPBnTezElYvcZa3K1zQXelV47iqdI9cn61elE2jjkMgW4atHHI-iTZMkkrLTNlhyYA5UlHECcvLCSPhPdIRHlJQRkP-C2XZ5hD8/s320/Mon-%20crafts,%20Kraidich%20city%20scape.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Group - getting stuff attached to their base<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Our theme verse for the week is John 14:6 which says, <i>Jesus answered, I am the way. And I am the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.</i> (Int'l Children's Bible) An offering is collected each day which will all go to the Chain of Love orphanage in Brazil to provide bedding. We had a good start and I anticipate there will be some more tomorrow. I had an easy day as a runner with just one restroom trip and only one first aid trip. There are separate groups for kids finishing grades 1-4 but I don't have any pictures of them today since I wasn't in the pavilion. Hopefully I'll get a picture of the larger group tomorrow. This post would be too long to do the whole week, so I'm planning to do each day as a separate post. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There is still time to come, walk-ins are welcome. Check out this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jim.morrison.31924?__cft__[0]=AZX9xpfyIPgJyQVbJkLiQShdQmJ_i_DauCVUUTs_H40KuS7k37JdBji7A0YnUVd5_uddJt5slr_CMgcomQt9ydVkfyEPka68RYqtJe7Z4Qy15sp-5bGy-f3tafMy_PR3goLLqJUNbqKW3BLW5K141ud8fqKAqZPxFuAiyx0-h88Fvw&__tn__=-UC%2CP-R" target="_blank">short video</a> from today showing various age groups.</div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-16390219310639065662023-07-12T18:38:00.005-04:002023-07-13T13:20:46.201-04:00Two Wasted Stressful Days of Jury Duty!<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8zbOVZ2PiIX8hLwQaL2PCsTJRjbYwbdNwZb6prfBwSFcadIyKau4-XDs0rXXvWAoqkAE7rCgimpply2l4_crfQSRZlmcNefMSCz7dhpKMAXYBccEoTMui71Xmn3Dq6uThOqXggcTS5SLM6GzUd2bFXKk0X1EOiG5yVYRWyPoLCt-JC3LaU8OARu9q8M/s1600/CIMG3428.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8zbOVZ2PiIX8hLwQaL2PCsTJRjbYwbdNwZb6prfBwSFcadIyKau4-XDs0rXXvWAoqkAE7rCgimpply2l4_crfQSRZlmcNefMSCz7dhpKMAXYBccEoTMui71Xmn3Dq6uThOqXggcTS5SLM6GzUd2bFXKk0X1EOiG5yVYRWyPoLCt-JC3LaU8OARu9q8M/s320/CIMG3428.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrible Mail</td></tr></tbody></table><br />My husband got the notice in the mail about three weeks ago to report for jury duty downtown at the Court of Common Pleas. He of course did not want to go, so we prayed that God would arrange things so he would not have to report. He called Friday to see if he had to go on Monday, and we were delighted that he didn't; however, they said to call again on Monday to see if he had to go on Tuesday. This alone is anxiety producing and stressful! Unfortunately, it turned out that he did have to go. Since he is not familiar with downtown, we both went down on the bus together and I showed him the way. <p></p><p>We met up with a girl who was there on Monday so she showed him which elevators to use and how to get to the jury room area. All day was very boring since he never got called. He brought a book along to read (<a href="https://ourstack.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-writing-retreat-by-julia-bartz.html" target="_blank">The Writing Retreat</a>) and a lunch. He had almost two hours for lunch! A lady who lives a few streets away from us recognized him from walking our dog down her street quite often and offered him a ride down the next morning with her husband. We thought that was very nice of her! </p><p>I was stressed out too waiting for his call to give him directions to the bus stop. It was a beautiful day and I couldn't leave the house because he had our only cell phone that we share so I had to stay by our home phone. They finally let them go around 3:00 and he called me for directions to the bus stop because it was different from the one we got off at coming down. They gave him a bus pass to get home which was nice! I went to meet him at the bus stop with our dog, Roxy, but the bus got there earlier than I expected so met him part way. I felt bad I wasn't there to greet him when he got off.</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>The next day was more of the same, just sitting around doing nothing, hoping he wouldn't get called and have to come back again. When the lady came out with the certificates, everyone cheered! As it turned out, he was free to go around 3:15 and did not have to go back. He hated not being able to walk his dog and be outside. It's always upsetting when you are forced to change up your routine and leave your comfort zone. <p></p>Even though he ended up having to go, God was still good to him by providing people to make things easier for him. Plus, he'll be getting a check for $50 which isn't bad for just sitting around for two days.Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4556878706697309931.post-18386291843640109172023-07-08T11:58:00.007-04:002023-07-08T12:01:12.797-04:00Got A Surprise Package<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoby_ttYkGxpF39p2_9-XjuM1W_omYxyU4zPVzjFhx9ELCT2_uHSjrRsA5PkWUb96te9HaUyqo2KXD4EQV3Oky5l8tttts5t-118EHqIVr3-IeirYnFDotRw0dH9R2Ap6gC7ZUAGbocS1MKsPICnq1Zx_8CNU4g9UqMeYaLMtKZLTwKyZdeTHfq7NS6_U/s1600/CIMG3426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoby_ttYkGxpF39p2_9-XjuM1W_omYxyU4zPVzjFhx9ELCT2_uHSjrRsA5PkWUb96te9HaUyqo2KXD4EQV3Oky5l8tttts5t-118EHqIVr3-IeirYnFDotRw0dH9R2Ap6gC7ZUAGbocS1MKsPICnq1Zx_8CNU4g9UqMeYaLMtKZLTwKyZdeTHfq7NS6_U/s320/CIMG3426.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />We got a package from Amazon but didn't order anything. The name on the box didn't even sound like a name. It was something like joke oooooo but with our address. Usually an Amazon delivery truck comes down our street every day so we didn't open it and decided to give it to the driver when the next one came by. It sat our dining room table for at least 3 days before my husband saw an Amazon truck come and went out with it. The driver told us we might as well just keep it because even if he took it back, they still wouldn't be able to deliver it to the right person since there was no way of knowing the right address. <p></p><p></p><p>We opened and inside was a toy I never heard of. It's a Got 2 Glow Fairy Pet Finder! There are some instructions on the back side of it but very small print and difficult to read through the plastic bag that it is in. Too bad it wasn't something we could have actually used! I'm going to give it to a little neighbor girl who walks by our house with her dad all the time. The funny thing is, they haven't been by in a while, probably due to the bad air quality days we had recently and the high temperatures. We'll keep a look out.</p><p>Have you ever heard or had any experience with this toy? I even looked at a YouTube video showing someone talking about it, but they didn't seem to quite know what to do with it either! </p>Karen and Gerardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234935499886839237noreply@blogger.com1