Friday evening at Lawnwood Stadium.

This is our first WESTWWOD football game for this year. It started out to be some challenging's. We are playing John Carol High School. 

The stadium was not full, but it was a normal turn out. They (John Carol) scored twice before we even got the game back. But we were working our way back. Until the third quarter. 

John Carol -21 and Westwood - 15. Then at that time, the younger students were running along the walkway. Not sure what was going on. Jeanne told me maybe there is a fight out in the parking lot. 

Then I heard one of the coaches' yells, GET DOWN. There might be shooter.  WOW, Jeanne and I both (hit the deck) down on the floor of our seats. Kept looking up to see what was going on. About 10 maybe 15 minutes later. Our Principal Alfonso was walking on the field with a megaphone. Saying folks the game has been called off. Since there is all this motion in the stadium. So, Jeanne and I started walking towards our car. We parked behind the stadium. That is where we park when we bring food to sell in the concession stand. One officer was walking towards us and told us to go out the front entrance. I asked him what he thinks happen? He told us, he thinks someone yelled gun and cause the panic. 

He let us walk in back to get our car. 

This morning (Monday) Principal Afonso was doing the announcements for the school. He does them each school day. 

He and the staff have made up new rules for the stadium. Ad least for our school. 

No more Elementary or Middle School students are allowed without parents being present. Plus, all high school students must wear their badge around their neck coming and going around the stadium. 

Hey, he said there might be some more rules coming during the next week or so. 

Just a note, no one got hurt or any other problems that we know of. 

I know we will be at the next game. I trust our Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord. 

If it's our time to go see HIM? I believe we are ready. 

Now this morning as was reading Romans chapters 3-4. 3:27-28

Can we boast, then that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is NOT based on your GOOD DEEDS. It is based on our FAITH. (28) So, we are made right with GOD through faith and not by obeying the law. 

 

I guess we have had this wheel borrow for about 4 or five years.

About 6 months ago, I broke the one handle, where the wheel is attacked. I Mickey Moused it. 

Okay what to do now? I was talking with my neighbor James. He was telling me that Home Depot sells new handles for them. I went online and they are $19.99 for one. that will be $42.99. Then replacing the bolts =$52.00. Okay this has done me well. If I buy a new one? Will it last as long as this one has? 

I went to Home Depot and bought the handles. Thinking I will reuse the bolts? Got home and tried the old bolts and nuts. To short. the old handle was 1/2" thinner. It might even be 3/4" different.

Ran back to Home Depot and got new bolts. 

Barrow itself had carriage bolts holding it together. Really all the blots were carriage bolts. 

One carriage bolt 2" is $.90. Then looking at crown bolts. $.43. Wow. I only got two carriage bolts for the barrow itself. I bought the crown bolts for the rest of my needs. 

You can see how much thicker the handle is. I just modified it a little. It still will work. 

I put it all back together the way it was built before. The brackets that hold the wheel in place were on top of the handles. I tried it out and the ends of the handles dragging on the ground. 

I switched the wheel around to the top of the handles. 

Works great. But as I was writing this blog. I was looking up things and found a brand-new wheelbarrow for $49.99 at Walmart. Maybe I should have just bought a new one? It's okay, it works, and I am okay with that. 

Oh, how did I break the handle? Well, I am moving out things that we have been storing in a rental shed for a while now. There are many boxes that weight a lot, I put a box in and snap. 

With these handles it should hold up much better. 

Well, this morning I started reading the Book of Romans. 

Something that popped out to me. 

Chapter 1:19-20

For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. (20) From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God Made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature, so they have no excuse what soever for not knowing God. 

Folks do you know Him? Please trust HIM. 

 

I am not sure when I picked this up. I know it was last year sometime.

Jeanne's sister Danielle texted her this picture on that day. Then Jeanne texted me and asked if I could go pick him up? Which I did right away. I really didn't want to miss out on him. He was hanging out along the road of Indian River Drive. That's Fort Pierce area. I found him right away. He was pretty heavy. I got him home and put him in the screen room in the back of the house. 

I have looked at what needs repaired and tried to figure out if I will need to replace the light itself? 

I went to Home Depot today and found everything I needed to make him work and look good too.

I really could find anything at Home Depot to use for the ring to hold the topper on the pole. 

Walmart came to my mind (thank you Lord) how about measuring cups? I was thinking a door lock hole saw, at Home Depot. But the measuring cups are perfect fit on the pole. 

I kept the handle on there to drill out all of the holes I need. 

I used small battery saw (Ryobi) to cut the handle off. 

I put a new light fixture for a table lamp. I did have to redo it a couple of times to make sure everything was looking good. I even took that small white ring, from the bottom of the fixture. That way it lays right on the light holder. Makes it tight and will not move, prayerfully. 

Oh, while at Home Depot got that neat looking bulb too. 

It fixed and I even cleaned him up a little. I used Dawn Soap and washed him down really good and rinsed him off too. Then I used the leave blower to dry him off before bringing him back into the screen room again. Now I will see what Jeanne thinks, when she gets home. 

Okay I read the book of Acts chapter 23-24. 

The verse that hit home was 23;11

That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem. you must preach the Good News in Rome. 

I will give a little background. Paul was in Jerusalem (Chapter 21:15-17) 

We all have a calling on our lives. Please seek His will and He will make it happen. 

 

 

On Friday afternoon I went over to look at Debbie's duct work.

Debbie was sitting in her recliner (downstairs) and noticed a few water droppings fell on her head. See looked up and saw water marks on her ceiling and noticed the water dripping down. I think this all happen on Thursday evening. She had one of her sons put sheet pans under the duct work. Trying to stop the water from coming thru the ceiling. 

I told Debbie I would be back on Tuesday morning. Monday was the first day of school for the students and I wanted to make sure my little girl is all set. Do the final walk around and make sure the classroom and kitchen are ready for them. I spent most of Monday helping out at the school. 

Afterwards I went to Home Depot to see what I need to repair Debbie's duct work. I bought about $150.00 worth of things. 

Okay it's Tuesday morning and I got up there. (7:40am) I brought a battery fan and boards to lay on and try to make it as easy as I could to do this job and help me not get to overheated. The temps outside are averaging 93 +. Then up in the attic is running 110 + 

You can see I got the boards in place and ready to pull the old fiberglass off and clean it up. 

Try to make it easier I got some rope and wrapped it around the duct work. Took a piece of lumber and use some leverage. It's all tied up and ready. Plus, this will help with the condensation that might be in the duct water to run down the line. 

Used a can of spray foam and then started wrapping the window and door sealer tape around the duct work. 

I noticed the condensation was starting up again. I went downstairs and talked with Dave (hubby) and Debbie. Telling them the tape I am using is not doing what I thought it would. Asking, do you really think after I get the tape on and put the insulation on the condensation will stop? Debbie told me that she believes it will. That she has been looking things up online about the problem. I told her that I have too. Thinking the tape would help stop some of it? Okay back upstairs I go. I finished the wrapping of the tape and called it a day. Boy I was sweating like crazy. I drank 4 bottles of water while up there. Plus, two cokes too.  

While I was working on running the tape along. My foot slipped and push thru the ceiling. 

I had my foot resting on the one raft and slipped off. I told Debbie what happened. 

I went home and took a shower and just chilled until I needed to pick up Jeanne at school. That was around 3pm. 

I asked Jeanne and drive to school this morning, and I followed her there and helped her get ready again for school. 

I left her around 7:20am. I got to Debbie home. She told me the day before that I can start as early has I want. She left the side door open for me and just come on in and get it going. 

I started at the bend, knowing that would be the hardest part to get the insulation around there and plus I used a lot of aluminum duct work tape to seal in all the edges.  

I sealed in the can foam too with that tape too. Trying to cut off any medal that was exposed to the heat. As I was winding down to get it done. I noticed that there was no condensation on the insulation. 

I am going to leave the boards in place. For the next guy that will be removing all the duct work and replacing it this fall. Even those guys have limits. She called a couple of her family members that do air conditioning work. They told her to wait until fall when it's cooler. 

That is why she called me to do the job. No one else wanted to go up there and do anything with it. 

So, she told me that she will have the duct work replaced this FALL. 

Just a note, two years ago, we had our duct work replaced. It was over 60 years old. But I do remember the guys that came out told us that they will be back in the fall or even wintertime. 

Which they did come out and replaced it all. 

Okay one more thing to do before I leave. I took the pieces of ceiling tile and put a couple of pieces of lumber up on top of the tile and screwed it in. This way the pieces will stay in place. Then I got some drywall putty and patched it. I did talk with Debbie before I did this and asked what she thought about me pieces it together. This is out in her garage. Afterwards I asked her to come and look. She told me it would be okay. 

Well, folks I am not sure how crazy this was for me to do this in the temps I was telling you before. But at the end Debbie was very happy and thanked me a couple of times for doing the job. I did get paid very good too. Just because it kicked my butt, and I am 72 years old and I should have more sense. 

Today I read Acts 21-22 chapters. 

The verses that popped out to me were. 21:10 to 12 

 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ”

12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Folks how many times we hear God's Word but say MAYBE NOT FOR ME???? 

I look back at 2005. The Lord was telling me to go to Bahamas, Adventure Learning Centre. It took me about 3 weeks to get ready to go. But I did go, and it was great times and some bad times. I lived there for 9 years. I believed I worked and got burned out. The sad part was I really didn't want to come back to the states. Even in my will I wrote I will die here and leave everything I own to ALC. 

But plains got changed. I was burned out and I needed to walk away. Which I did and I did go back a few times to help out and just visited with family and friends. So, if God is telling you to do something. Please do it. 

Prayerfully these next months or so. Jeanne and I will be going back over to the Bahamas. To visit and just show her as much as I can. 

Oh, I do miss being there. It is so beautiful and peaceful. Plus, I am looking forward in seeing my friends. 

 

Last week on Aug. 7th I got a call telling me the new shed is coming in today.

These few pictures here are the ones I sent to Stephanie, (works at Smithbilt Sheds) The reason is I wanted to make sure the trees are going to clear the top and sides of the new shed? 

Mandel and Juan showed up with the new shed. I was asking Mandel if everything is, okay? He said no problem. So, they brought the shed in and ran along the fence line and got it to the front of the 16-foot gates. 

I had the gates open and ready for them. Meanwhile they got lined up and back it into the area I had flags to drop it. 

We measured both from the back of the shed to the fence line (15-feet) and then from the side of the shed to the back fence line (40-feet) It looked great. They did have to turn a little. To line up. 

Then Mandel (green shirt) was checking out level of the shed. Meanwhile Juan was digging holes for the anchors. 

They got it leveled and looking great. Center bubble. Juan got all the anchors in. I paid the balance of the bill. Said our goodbyes and they drove off. 

Okay now I called for an inspection. He was coming out on Aug. 13. Now I have been doing a job across the street. Repairing duct work. My phone ringer was off. The inspector called me twice. I didn't hear it. He came and left. I called him back and asked if he could come back the next day? I had to call the main office and make another appointment. The next day they will send another inspector out. 

He came out and passed the shed, BUT NOT THE ANCHORS. You can see what he wrote on the permit. 

I went back and checked out how they anchored it down. You can see they put 4 anchors on both sides. 

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Okay now what do I need to do? I called Scott (Smithbilt salesman) He told me that he will coming out and see what is wrong. Which he did and dropped off these plans at our front door. 

On Aug. 16th I went over to the main office for permits and talked with a young lady there and just asked her. What is the ruling on anchors? She didn't know. So, she went in back and got her boss. he came out and asked me to come on in and see what is going on? 

He was telling me that any building wider than 20 feet need anchor every 4-foot center. 

Okay my building is only 12 foot wide. Another guy (Micheal) came in and told me the same thing. Now I had to explain my building 12 FOOT WIDE. Oh, the problem is on the specs they don't have length. JUST WIDTH. So, Micheal asked for my phone and marked where the anchors are needed. 

I think I understand what they are saying. It's not just the width. BUT THE LENGHT TOO. 

So, the width is on all sides. 

If you look after they put the other anchors in there are already 8 anchors in the ground. afterwards there will be another 8 more anchors. WOW, 16 anchors to keep this build holding down. 

Okay yesterday I drove to the Smithbilt office here in Fort Pierce. Mandel was there and Scott was somewhere else today. I was telling Mandel what the inspector wants, I showed him his picture above. 

He called the main office in Auburndale, Florida. That is in the middle of the state. About 3 hours away. I talked with Stephanie, and she told me that they will fix the anchors. Great thank you. 

Then later yesterday I got this from her a text. She wrote I just got confirmation from Smithbilt industries that what the inspector is asking for is not necessary. 

Stephanie is requesting a letter to send over to your inspector to resolve the issue. 

Folks, I am not sure how this is all going to work out and NOT. My question is, Does Smithbilt know what Port Saint Lucie specs? 

I think the problem is They need to say on all plan's WIDTH ON ALL SIDES. OR WIDTH/LENGTH. 

    Okay enough about that. Today I read Acts 17-18. 

Chapter 18 verse 9-10

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, "Don't be afraid! Speak out! Don't be silent! For I am with you, and no one will harm you because many people here in this city belong to me" 

Folks we are on this earth to share God's Word and don't be afraid. Please trust HIM.