Happy Independence Day!

We went to the Parma parade this morning, but it wasn't near as much fun as it used to be when we had
our dog with us!  She loved coming along to see all the people at get a lot of attention.  Four years ago Abby made friends real fast and barked along with the people while they were cheering and clapping and then the Parma Animal Shelter people came by in the parade and someone gave Gerard a whole big treat bag just for her and the people around us clapped for her and told her how she was such a nice dog. WOW she was a HAPPY GIRL!

I was disappointed in the high school marching bands because they didn't play any patriotic song, at least not when they went by us.  I thought that was quite odd.  I did enjoy seeing some dogs and horses in the parade, and the martial arts demonstration was cool too.  As they went along, a guy would hold a thin piece of wood and different kids would take turns breaking it by kicking it.

I also felt very good about handing out our Summer Shake Up fliers to moms and one dad before the parade actually got started.  Everyone was very receptive and seemed interested in letting their children come.  One mother said they could bring a group of 30 children!  I said, that's great!  Bring them, we'd love to have them!   You can register online at www.phbaptist.org.

I wanted to add some patriotic music to my video but didn't see that option on YouTube.  I know they used to have it before. 

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City Mission Organizes Stand-In for 3,000 Homeless Children in Cleveland

I attended this Stand-In yesterday along with other Clevelanders who supported The City Mission in their endeavor to raise awareness of homeless children in Cleveland and challenge people to make a difference. 

Homelessness is something I've always been concerned about.  There were people from 133 churches that participated in the Stand-In event.  It was an uplifting, peaceful gathering of people of different races worshiping and praying together.  Around the area, were the following signs showing nine different homeless scenarios.

  

This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.--I John 3:16-18 (NIV)

You can help with a donation to Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless ("NEOCH") for much www.NEOCH.ORG.
needed supplies to meet the needs of unsheltered homeless in Cleveland at

Also, check out how you can help through The City Mission.

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How To Play Pickleball (Or How Not to Play)

Since some of you who read my previous post on "10 Things That Make Me Happy" commented you did not know what Pickleball was, I thought you might enjoy a short video of my husband playing.  I included captions that give basic tips on how to play.  I am hoping that my husband will take some video of my play too because I'd really like to see what that looks like.

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the video.  Here are the rules:

1)  You only score when your side serves, must serve underhand, behind the base line, over the net and land in the blue area cross court.

2)  The no volley zone (also called the kitchen) is the 7 ft. deep space adjacent to the net on both sides.  Players cannot hit the ball on a fly while standing inside the kitchen, must wait for it to bounce in order to hit the ball while in the no volley zone.

3)  Servers switch sides with their partner after scoring points.

4)  At the very beginning of the game, after the initial server loses the serve, the other team gets to serve.  However, from then on, once the first server on a team fails to score, his partner gets to serve--like a second chance!  Once both partners fail to score, then they lose the serve and the other team gets to serve.

5)  On the serve and return of serve, players must let the ball bounce once on their side of the court before hitting it.

6)  Whichever team gets to 11 points first wins, but they have to win by 2 points.

7)  The receiving team must call a ball out of bounds if it misses the sideline or baseline.  If the ball hits the player or their paddle, it counts as in.

8)  If players cannot tell if the ball was out on their side or if one partner calls it out and other other partner calls it in, it's in.  In other words, if there is doubt, the call goes in favor of the team who hit the ball.

9)  Have fun!

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10 Things That Make Me Happy (Writer's Workshop)

These 10 things all make me happy:

Sunshine and temperatures in mid 70s to mid 80s

My Husband

Seeing animals (cats, dogs, squirrels, etc.)

A cat on my lap

When my Sunday School class goes well and kids seem to enjoy it

Playing pickleball . . . even happier when I win!

Some Pickleball Friends at Elmwood Park

Easy work day when things work as they should and I do not have to wait on anything

A really good book that I hate to put down

Watching a happy movie

Seeing people win on game shows

Stop by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop for more writing prompts and to visit other blogs.

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A Special Saturday Visitor

Who is laying on our chair?

After I finished watching a movie yesterday, I saw a big black cat lying on our chair on the porch and let Spunky Doodle see it too!  She watched it quietly from the window until it left.  I don't know ho long it was there, but was happy it chose our porch to rest on.  I thought about going outside to get a better shot, but didn't want to scare it off.  I hope it comes back again some time. 

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