Day 5 of Kids Summer Shake Up 2023 at Parma Heights Baptist

small group devotions

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!

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 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. (John 15:5 Int'l Children's Bible)

game in back parking lot

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.  

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.

It was a good week!

Day 4 of Kids Summer Shake Up 2023 at Parma Heights Baptist

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!

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:  Jesus answered, I am the Way.  And I am the truth, and the life.  The only way to the Father is through Me,--John 14:6  and 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. Matthew 7:13-14 (Int'l Children's Bible)

The kids got it rocking really well!

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.

That wraps up Thursday with only Friday left to go.  Donations for the Chain of Love orphanage in Brazil are coming in good.  

Day 3 of Kids Summer Shake Up 2023 at Parma Heights Baptist

The double white line is the finish line--
team on right had to start over

Other team had to start over too!

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!  

Sharks and Minnows

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.

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 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."  

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!

5th & 6th graders waiting with leaders to be picked up

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.  

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:  Day 1, Day 2.   

Day 2 of Kids Summer Shake Up 2023 at Parma Heights Baptist

Opening Rally with kids sitting with leaders by grade

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:

tunnel

hurdles, tunnel, hay bale climb

Water balloon fight

Taking jumps together

Bouncy Ball Ride

Slip-n-Slide Threesome

Most went 1 at a time on slip-n-slide

Heading to pavilion after
obstacle course for skit 

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:

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Day 1 of Kids Summer Shake UP 2023 at Parma Heights Baptist Church

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.  

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:

Pink Group getting started

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What Is Your Playground Personality?

Here is a little fun quiz that I thought appropriate since school is starting again. Both Gerard and I got the same result. Feel free to share your results in the comments or comment on any of the questions here.

At school, other kids: Teased you Respected you Feared you Ignored you What was your favorite after school activity? Math, computer, or chess club Any team sport Student council None, you went straight home (couldn't get home fast enough!)

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7 Things I Learned This Week-#85 (Flintstones, money, Furminator, kid tips, museum, zoo)

Anniversary Song and Notes

In comments to our Anniversary post, Sandee left us the anniversary song. She included cute little notes so I asked her how she did that and here's what she sent me: & # 9834 ; Now take out all the spaces and you have a note. I will try it: ♪ Yup, it works!

Thanks to Lin from Duck and Wheel with String, I got to see the Flintstones anniversary song which I never knew existed. Here it is:

Amazon Associates Program

I earned my first money blogging this month from the Amazon Associate program. A whopping 52 cents! If you are looking to purchase a book from Amazon, I'd appreciate it very much if you check out the Amazon ads on our blogs and click through from them if you see something you like. Hey, it's at least something. I don't actually get it yet. It has to reach a certain amount which I don't even remember what it is anymore. Fortunately, I have a job and do not have to rely on making money through blogging!

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4Things I Learned This Week--#72

Kids Bowl Free All Summer

At 1 Prince and 3 Princesses I learned about a free summer bowling program for kids. Certain bowling centers across the USA and Canada are offering two free games of bowling every day to kids all summer long! Just go to www.kidsbowlfree.com to sign them up!

Rainforest Favorite

When I asked my 5th grade boys Sunday School class what their favorite Rainforest animal was, I was surprised they said it was the poisonous frogs.  My favorite ones to watch are the otters.  I also find the python fascinating when he's on the move.

Grease Stains

At Apartment Therapy I learned a cool tip on how to remove grease stains: simply rub chalk onto greasy stains and the chalk powder will absorb the grease, making the stain easily removable by the laundry soap in the wash.

No Sales

I went to order some more author copies of my book and learned that none sold since the beginning of the year. It looks like Mountain Woman and me are the only ones who buy it. It's a bit depressing.

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Amazing 5-yr. Old Girl Demonstrates How To Dribble

I just saw this today and WOW! Pretty amazing!! This little girl can out dribble pros. I can't even dribble one ball without looking, and she just keeps them going and going.

(I usually don't post more than one thing on here per day, but today I did so make sure you look at the quiz below too.)