Columbus Zoo Trip

Took the kids to the Zoo on Sunday. The kids mostly wanted to ride on the boat and the train. I guess boys will be boys!



Have a Blessed Day.

Week of July 25th

Hope everyone is doing well. This week just flew by for me! To be honest, it has been a pretty lazy week for me! Other than work, I have really been a complete bum! Did not work any on the the retaining wall this week (up until today, that is...). Been staying really busy at work which makes the work days just go by really fast. Didn't even have time to eat my lunch on some days. Found out in the middle of the week that one of my fellow associates will be leaving. This just means that the workload will continue to be heavy. This also means that the upcoming weeks will most likely go fast as well.

Its hard to believe we are going into the last week of July. Six more months until Christmas!

Yesterday after leaving work I got a phone call from Jen. She seemed a bit upset on the phone. She informed me that she got a letter in the mail from the Heath Police Department. When she opened it up, she discovered it was a speeding ticket! She got caught doing 51 in a 35 mph zone. The fine is $100, OUCH! The city of Heath just put in cameras about 5 months ago at a number of intersections throughout the city. The van was photographed and there is a nice video of her speeding. The kicker though is the ticket is for me because the van is in my name! I can honestly say that my first speeding ticket was thanks to my wife :) I think Jen was scared to tell me that the ticket was in my name. She was surprised when I told her not to worry about it!

I spent a good portion of the day working on the retaining wall. Jen took the kids to see her parents. This gave me a good opportunity to make progress. The only problem was that it has rained through out the day. I did not let that stop me. I worked pretty all day out in the rain. I was pretty soaked when I decided to call it quits. Did make some progress!



Have a Blessed Day!

99 Reasons to Celebrate!

Yesterday was my Grandpa's 99th birthday party!

Got the kids ready in the morning after doing some yard work. This was my first long journey with me and the kids. Let me preface this with I am glad the car radio speakers work well! The journey to Troy was not so bad. However, the ride back was much more, shall we say...Trying! Jen told me to take the video player, but like a fool, opted not to take it. Should of listened to the wife! Got into Troy a little after 12:30. After we arrived the kids went inside and said hi to there Great-Grandpa. It was certainly a special moment. Around 2pm in the afternoon everyone went to the Gazebo to have the birthday celebration for Grandpa and Barrett (my cousin son - Ken). Had a great time at the party.



By the way I think my Grandpa looks wonderful and maneuvers quite well for being 99 years old! What do you think?

While the adults were socializing, the kids decided to go fishing. Andrew started off with the junior 'Batman' fishing rod without a hook and graduated to the adult fishing rod with a real hook. Thank you Ken for taking one for the 'team'!

Here is a video of the kids fishing yesterday.



The kids had an absolute blast!

Thanks Ken for working with Andrew and the kids. All Andrew talked about today was going fishing. The smile on his face after catching the fish was priceless!

Have a Blessed Day!

Thursday - Wall Update

Did not get to work on the wall yesterday. Jen had to work and I thought it was suppose to rain/storm. So much for the rain. Just like this past Saturday, the forecast was wrong. Don't know why I put so much faith in tv meteorologists. Should of just gone to the internet and checked the radar myself. Anyhow, I got back to working on the wall this evening. I was able to make some progress. Check out the video.



I hope to work on it some more tomorrow night and Sunday. I don't think I will be work much on Saturday. Taking the kids to celebrate my Grandpa's 99th Birthday over in Troy, Ohio. This is not a typo ... 99 years young. Looking forward to seeing him along with the rest of the Raynes clan. Going to take my video camera to capture the birthday celebration.

Have a Blessed Day!

Tuesday - Wall Update

Another evening of progress. I was able to get the other side of the retaining wall prepped with aggregate and got about 4 blocks laid and leveled. Have about another 3 or 4 more base block to lay, then the fun will begin! Don't think I will be able to do much tomorrow evening. Forecast is calling for thunderstorms. Did not get any video for tonight. Try to get something posted tomorrow or Thursday.

My neighbor, Robert (Bob) Dixon's calling hours are tomorrow and the funeral is on Thursday. Please continue to pray for Joane and the family. I am sure these next two days will be extremely difficult for the family. Bob was only 62 years old!

Have a Blessed Day!

The Wall - Update

Got another layer of block installed this evening. I was also able to successfully cut and position a block into a 4 inch area. Actually impressed that I did not waste any material cutting the block. Sure gets dusty cutting masonry.

Here is a video update on my progress.



Have a Blessed Day!

My Neighbor - Bob

My neighbor Bob passed away in his sleep this morning. I was outside working on my patio when I heard the sirens and saw the ambulances pull in the front of Bob and Joanne's house. Minutes later I heard a bunch of screaming and then uncontrollable crying. I knew right then and there something terrible happen. At that moment I fell my knees and started praying for the family. About an hour or so later I talked to some of the relatives who were visiting. They informed me what had happen. I just spoke to Bob a couple of nights ago! His wife, Joanne has been very ill for the last year, to be honest I thought it was her that passed away. I was sort of shocked to hear it was Bob. Please pray for Joanne (Bob's wife) and the family. They are completely in shock right now. Jen and I went over this evening and brought them cookies. We are planning on taking some dinner over to them later this week.

Have a Blessed Day!