Mystery Outing Goes On In Spite Of Stormy Weather

We had a special "Mystery Outing" for my Sunday School class yesterday that I went along on.  This is a fun event because the kids are not told ahead where they are going.  Normally we go to a park where we have a cookout, play some games, and then hike on hills and in between rocks in search of the "ice box" cave at Virginia Kendall Park.  This is the standard Kids Day Out day every year for those going into 6th grade in the fall.

Since it stormed and rained yesterday, it also became a real mystery outing for me.  The forecast was rain all afternoon and it started around 10 a.m.  That pretty much made it easy for those in charge to determine to use the rain plan instead.  What are they going to do that would especially fun for the kids for 5 hours? I was disappointed because I knew the kids would have really enjoyed hiking at Virginia Kendall; however, our summer interns who assist with children and youth ministry for the summer did a fantastic job on coming up with an alternate plan the kids really enjoyed.

As they arrived, they were invited to join in a game of "spoons" using popsicle sticks. Then they worked on creating a container to protect an egg from breaking when they dropped it from a balcony.  They came up with all kinds of different ideas.

We had hotdogs, munchies, fruit gummies, and veggies for lunch.  By the time we finished lunch, it stopped raining so we went in the van to a nearby park.  As we rode, we saw a group of 5 or 6 raccoons cross the road and go into the bushes--they were sooo cute!  (That was the highlight of the day for me!)  We went to West Creek  Park and the kids each got a list of things to try to find along the way as we walked on the path.  Then it started to drizzle again so we headed for the building where there is interactive exhibits about water.  There is also a big room with comfortable seating, large windows and a fireplace where we had a devotional on God's creation and why we were created.  It rained hard while we were in the building but finally let up.

The minister of children really was eager for the kids to be able to be outside so we started out once again.  This time, almost as soon as they left, it poured down rain again before all of our group even left the building.  They ran down to the other little pavilion to take cover.  By the time the ones left in the building borrowed some umbrellas to go rescue them, they were headed back the other way and got pretty wet.  They boys loved it!

Egg Drop Winners

Back to the church we went to do the egg drop. Two of the kids and one of the interns successfully dropped their egg hitting the target without it breaking.  We'll never know if Joshua's broke or not because he had it wrapped so tightly with painter's tape that he gave up trying to undo it.  My personal favorite was the one protected with playdough which was a winner (created by boys in picture on the right). 

First stir up the food coloring concoction

Then mix with bottle of glue

Then they made some slime using a whole bottle of glue, some water, Borax and food coloring. Some turned out very well and all the kids seemed to have fun making it.






 
The sun finally came out around 3:00 when we headed for Steak-n-Shake for milkshakes for everyone.  Two girls in our group never got their shakes until everyone else was finished so they finished theirs on the van heading back to the church.

It turned out to be a fun time after all!

Share this:

Ruckus Spoils a Peaceful View

Last Friday when we went to pick up our Indians tickets for the Monday afternoon game, we walked down to the 9th Street pier after eating our lunch from Subway at the Ralph J. Perk Park.  It was very hot but the view was so worth the walk!  Not too many people were around when we went. 

There was a girl reading a book and a black family--two parents with three small children who were sitting nearby watching the boats.  They were enjoying it until all of a sudden, I hear the mother yelling for the kids to get over to her right now!  When I turned around, the kids were climbing up some steps.  When they came over, the mother got up and smacked each one on the side of the head!  She hit the two bigger kids first and they sat down on the wall where they had all been sitting before but the little one was so afraid, she was screaming before she even got hit and was afraid to go any closer.  I didn't blame her.  Then the big father got up and swatted her and she fell down.  It was heart wrenching!  All I could think of was if they treat their children like that in public, what must they do at home?  I didn't know what to do but I felt if I kept watching, the parents may not be as aggressive.  No cops were anywhere in sight.  It was very upsetting to me.

As we left, I prayed for that family, asking God to protect those children and that the parents would wake up and get some help to stop abusing their children.  Do you think I should I have budded in and said something to the parents?  Should I have called 9-1-1 (which I did consider doing, but thought by the time anyone came, they may be gone)?  What do you think we should have done, if anything?



Share this:

7 Things We Learned in Week 2 of 2011 (childrn, shopping, children, cats, giveaways)

SD Memory Card

I found out that my new SDHC memory card that I bought with a Best Buy gift isn't compatible with my computer. I exchanged it for one that is (an SD 2GB) and glossy 4x6 paper to print pictures on.

Dollar Bank Giveaway

When I deposited a check, I saw that Dollar Bank is giving away $1,000 a week until March 28. All I did to enter was register the serial number of a $1 bill.

Celiac

I first heard about this rare disease in the book Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans. The only remedy is to not eat anything with gluten. I didn't know if it was a real disease or not because it was a fiction book; however, just this week the PLAIN DEALER did a big article about Gluten-free products that are tasty and mentioned that disease.

Children and Cancer

According to The National Children's Cancer Society, one in 330 children will develop cancer by age 20! Visit their website for information on how to help kids with cancer around the world: www.children-cancer.org

Read more »

Will You Participate In Operation Christmas Child--A Way To Show Kids Love

It's time to pack a shoe box to send to a child in a third world country through Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child!


We have done this for quite a few years. We went to WalMart today but I just wasn't in the mood to start buying things for my box today. I couldn't think of what to get for an older boy or girl that could fit in a shoebox. I'll have to go again when I'm in a better mood. I was bummed out because I couldn't find our AAA batteries we just bought this morning. Gerard put away the groceries and didn't see them. I know I put them in the small white bag with the AA batteries and a dog bone but couldn't find them anywhere. (Gerard found them under the bread pudding container on the counter when he went to eat. I felt better then.)

Read more »

4 Things I Learned This Week-Part 42

Easy Clogged Drain Solution

Drop three Alka Seltzer tablets into the clogged drain. Pour 1 cup of Heinz White Vinegar in. Wait a few minutes and run some hot water. It really works! Here's the post about it: Laundry Problems Solved--Clogged Drain and All!

Blogger Link List Gadget

I manually do my "Popular Post" list at the right side of my blog using the Blogger Link List but just found out today how to add new posts in order of the number of comments without actually having to copy and paste the links. By deleting one, you get an undo option which if you click on, will add it back to the top of the list. I found it to be much easier to adjust the order this way.

Children Soldiers, HIV Kids

At Grains of Sand I learned some alarming statistics about children who are soldiers in MANY countries and also about the prevalence of aides even in children, particularly in South Africa. Visit Epcat International here to find out how you can help.

Dogs and Poop

I think Abby may be eating our cats' poop sometimes. She threw up poop twice now and it smelled up the house. Any suggestions on how to keep her from doing this?

Click here for More Friday Fragments or to add yours.

Tweet This

Puppets Come To Life With Helping Hands

One unique activity Gerard and I are involved in at church is the puppet team. We use scripts that are on tape and Jim runs the sound and does the lighting. Different scenes are painted on sheets for background and the stage is made of a wood frame with sections on hinges for easy storage with material stapled to it.

We use a double stage with a front and back row. Puppeteers in the front kneel on old sofa cushions for foam rubber to protect their knees and the puppeteers in the back row can stand. This enable elderly people to still be able to do it.

The youngest member of our team is 5th grade. We have several 6th graders and then it jumps to an 18 yr. old, then people in their 30s, 50s, and 70s. A very wide range makes this a unique group. Pam, the children's minister at Parma Heights Baptist Church is our director who has been doing it for years and years. She is a visual thinker, well organized and easy to work with. She is very patient and always has a picnic for the puppet team at her house in the fall and a party at her house in January.

Here are the basic rules of our puppet team:
1) Always wear gloves when working the puppet.
2) Never let kids see a "dead" puppet (one that is laying around).
3) Do not let anyone know what puppet you have so that if someone goofs up, no one knows who it is and so that the audience will watch the whole production and not focus on one certain puppet.
4) Everyone helps set up and tear down.
5) Attendance at practices is mandatory (unless sickness or death).



Last Sunday we performed a Christmas presentation for the children in grades 1-6 during the 11:00 service. At the end an invitation was given to trust Jesus as their personal Savior and be forgiven. About 10-12 children prayed for forgiveness and accepted Jesus as their personal Savior! God has used this particular ministry to speak to children's hearts. Even some parents hang around to watch and are usually impressed by what an elaborate production it is.

A Fun Christmas Project To Give Children A Thrill

Many churches participate in what is called "Operation Christmas Child" sponsored by Samaritan's Purse. I have participated in this project by getting a shoe box and filling it with lots of little things for some child in a foreign country. You can mark your box as for a girl or boy and what age range: 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14. You also enclose a check for $7 to cover shipping (I'm surprised it's only $7--used to be $5). The idea is to pray for the child who will receive your gift and when Samaritan's Purse distributes the gifts, they will also share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the children. It's fun to fill up a shoe box with stuff. I was surprised at how much can actually fit into a shoe box the first time I did this.

THINGS NOT TO INCLUDE: Liquids or lotions, food, chocolate, vitamins, aerosol cans, old/used items, breakable items, war related items.

Check out their website for more information and how you can participate at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son, is President of Samaritan's purse and has a burden for helping hurting people around the world. I read his autobiography, "Rebel With a Cause" that I found to be both interesting and inspiring.

Collection week is November 17-24. I'll have to start shopping for my box pretty soon!