May 3 – “Traffic Calming Ahead”

We were finally able to check out our surroundings yesterday.  The house we are staying in is right on a golf course.  It has a swimming pool (The house, not the golf course, although I think the golf course has one, too.  It looks like every house in the neighborhood has one).  The pool is completely covered with one of those house-shaped screen things to keep the bugs out.  By house-shaped I mean it is shaped like a house, roof and walls included.  A house made out of screens in the back yard.  All the rage around here.  All the neighbors have one.  Meanwhile, Christina and Chris made us some great pancakes and scrambled eggs for breakfast.  Way better than your normal free hotel grab and go breakfast.

 

Opening ceremony for the 2022 Homeschool World Series (That’s the official title.  Pretty cool, huh?) began at 9 a.m.  All 24 teams from all around the country were introduced.  While waiting around to get Chris’s photo of Jachin’s team for her, I met a Dad from the Michigan team.  They had one of the biggest contingents of fans.  Not a very good team, though.  They lost their pool games and were seeded into the division 3 bracket.  The guy was really nice.  He used to live in Waxahachie and wishes he still did.  He is closer to family up north, though.    The rest of the ceremony was pretty simple.  Probably the most impressive part (other than the opening prayer, of course) came when one of the players stepped up to the microphone and sang the national anthem.  Did a really good job, too.

 

We had time to come “home” for lunch after the ceremonies before Jachin’s first game.  Tacos … Taste of home. 

 

But it was back to the fields right away for the first game at 2.  We played a team from Richmond, Virginia.  The bad guys won that one 8-4 when a ferocious rally fell short in the last inning.  Next up (No rest for the weary.  It was a true doubleheader) was Springfield, Missouri.  Much better result.  The good guys won this one 7-3.  The victory gave us the right to play again today for a last chance to get into Division 1.  Problem is, to do that we have to win twice against the number one seeded team in the whole tournament – last year’s overall world champs.  Kind of intimidating, isn’t it?  So … two wins equals Division 1.  One more loss equals Division 2.  Either way, we are good to go for the actual tournament games that start on Thursday. 

 

Oh, I have to mention my new favorite traffic sign.  We saw it on the way to the fields.  “Traffic Calming Ahead.”  What strange imagery that conjures.  Actually, it is just some kind of Florida-speak for what in Texas we would quite simply say … “Bump.” 

 

Isaiah 54:17 says, “’No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the Lord.”

 

Father, please keep all these folks safe in this Florida heat and humidity, especially the ones from up North.  Amen.