F.I.S.H. (Day Two) .. Take a Deep Breath

F.I.S.H. went great yesterday.

We had a well-behaved school of sharks and stingrays (all the children were divided into two main groups) and they were alert (perhaps not upon arrival .. but we got there), responsive (I'm getting a pulse) and attentive (I'm assuming this .. since I have a slight attention deficit .. I didn't really pay attention).

All the "heavy stuff" (rehearsals, bible study, memorization relays, etc.) takes place by noon.

We could certainly use more time to practice the music (this musical has to be learned by Friday? .. who's brilliant idea was that???), but that's about as much as you can expect from a group who has been watching the clock since eleven, waiting for lunchtime to arrive.

The kids are just as bad (I was referring to the adult leaders above).

They have been sitting and singing then standing and singing then sitting and singing again all morning long. Coming "back for more" after twelve o'clock would be "cruel and unusual punishment" (much like being subjected to William Shatner's rendition of Rocketman at the 1978 Science Fiction Awards).

So, each afternoon there is some type of fun activity planned.

Yesterdays outing was to the Milan skating rink (nothing says good clean Christian fun quite like the limbo and chicken dance).

Today, we are going to the FunZone (don't say anything .. it's actually AutoZone .. there was some type of scheduling snafu so we're dropping the children off at the automotive supply store and letting them play with the AM/FM CD receivers that are on display for two and a half hours).

Tomorrow .. it's the toy department at Fred's Dollar Store.

"In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children." - Genesis 3:16b

I'll Have the F.I.S.H.

This morning at nine o'clock we kick-off our 2009 Fun In the Son Hapnin' (FISH) at FBC Humboldt.

It is a music (let's practice our scales) and activities (we are going swimming) camp for boys and girls, grades 1-6, where they will prepare a children's musical during the week (July 6-10, 9 AM to 3 PM) to perform on Sunday (July 12, 6:00 PM).

We started this "choir camp" last year with a "let's see if this thing flies" (flying FISH?) attitude and the response was good (you'll take this child off my hands for the entire day? .. hand me the forms). So, when we started a list of summer plans for '09, FISH .. came floating to the top.

This year's musical is Sermon on the Mound which uses a baseball theme (perhaps the team should be the Marlins??) to teach about the armor of God and I believe the children are going to love it (even if they don't .. that's what we're doing).

Please pray for the boys and girls who will be involved in this week's camp (the workers .. I should have asked Betty Bass and Gill Fletcher to help .. need your prayers, as well). They need to know ..

God loves them and has a wonderful porpoise for their lives.

"He shall have dominion also from sea to sea."

- Psalm 72:8a

Blog Update? I'll Post-It Later

It's Sunday. So, no entry today.

Don't worry .. I'll be back tomorrow.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things."

- Matthew 6:34a

RED, White and Blue

Happy Birthday, America!

"Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people." - Exodus 33:13

Hot Dog!

According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, July 3 marks the beginning of the forty (it runs through August 11 .. do the math) hottest, most sultry days of the summer months.

These "dog days of summer" get their name from Sirius (I'm serious), the "Dog Star" which is the brightest star in the heavens .. besides the Sun.

This dates back to the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans and according to Brady's Clavis Calendarism, these days were believed to be quite evil. A time "when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad ('I had to shoot my dog the other day.' .. 'Was he mad?' .. 'He wasn't too happy about it.'), and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies."

Just to add my "two cents" .. you sweat a lot, too.

In recent years the term "Dog Days" has also been used when referring to the stock market where summer is typically a slower time (great .. now I have to live at least ten more years than I planned just to recoup what I've lost). Stocks that perform poorly (what I did during most of the departmental recitals during my college days) and have little potential (two words that reoccurred frequently from the voice professors who attended those departmental recitals) are often called .. "dogs."

Today's blog entry is a departure from the norm: Informative with very little humor (as opposed to the usual: Non-informative .. with very little humor).

Still, some of you will be back tomorrow .. doggone it.

"As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly." - Proverbs 26:11

I Can't Handle the Pressure

I am now on day three of one of the must horrific sinus headaches I believe I have ever had. My face hurts. My neck hurts. Even my hair hurts.

I have been popping pills (Allegra-D) to help relieve the pressure (it finally got to me), but so far that has not been very effective. Like a small, sick .. if I had a dollar every time someone said I was sick .. child, I just want to be held (Hugs not Drugs).

Of course, there can be side effects when taking any type of medication (warning: may cause nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, blurred vision, vomiting and liver damage .. no problem, doc .. I love all that stuff) and this "med" (what the pros call it) is no exception.

The decongestant (that's what the 'D' means .. I am well acquainted with this letter, but strictly in the academic sense) can cause sleeplessness (ding, ding .. we have a winner!!) and irritability (wipe that smirk off your face or I'll slap it off for you .. Mrs. Wilson).

Allegra-D should be called a "recreational drug" because about an hour after taking it I could easily go mountain climbing (of course I usually just settle for the walls .. and ceiling).

So, here I sit.

I've had no sleep to speak of and my head is still pounding. I wish someone would take a ball-peen hammer and put me out of my misery.

Great news.

Cheryl just volunteered.

"It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt."

- Genesis 31:29a

Kev's Klip of the Week

Thanks jb for posting this on Facebook. When I saw it last night I immediately knew it had to be my mid-week movie moment: Mozart.

"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound."

- Psalm 89:15a