Game Review: Hyper Dash

We've had Hyper Dash since Christmas. It's a lot of fun and a great workout (at least for the workout deprived one writing this review.) The game comes with five targets that are set in various locations. The targets can be placed close together or far apart, like around a lawn. The game also comes with an electronic plunger device that is used to strike the targets.

There are a number of different modes. We usually play standard Hyper Dash, in which each player takes their own turn running to the targets that the plunger randomly calls out. After the player completes his/her turn, their time is announced. At the end of each round, the plunger announces each player's time as well as the winning player. There are some other modes, including a team mode in which you take turns handing off the plunger to teammates. There are also a number of difficulty levels.

Hyper Dash is a great game, likely to be enjoyed by any kid or kid-at-heart. Priced around $20, Hyper Dash is a bargain, sure to provide some good family fun.

Daddy's Dashing!

22 Years Ago Today

I journaled a lot in middle and high school. I still have them. I'm not going to post anything too incredibly embarrassing, but I thought "So Many Years Ago Today" might be a fun series. So here goes.

Sun. Mar. 30, 1986
Hi, I went to Easter Sun Rise service. Then S.S. & Church. After church Dale Snavely, Anna, Margarette, & Maria ate dinner hear. Margarette is going with Jason Gonzalas. She's been going with him for 7 mos. After dinner I went 3-wheeling with Mike. Then he left & Toby showed up on his 3-wheeler, so I went 3-wheeling with him.

Texas won the women's NCAA championship today. My Aunt Blanche is in the hospital, Steph & Mom went to visit her. I got "16 Candles" on VCR. I've already seen it about 5 times. "Rock Me Amadeus" is the #1 song in the
country.

Notes:

• I was 15 years old.
• Anna and Margarette are my cousins. Our dads (Dal Gall and Brent Gall) are brothers. They both live in Arizona now. I haven't seen them for probably 18 years. I would love to catch up with them though. Maria is their mom. Dal and Maria are the Dal and Mar in Dal-Mar Catering.
• My most fun childhood memories revolve around Mike Engle. We absolutely had a blast together. I think of him often and laugh out loud to this day when certain memories are rekindled.
• Toby Mishler lives in Nappanee a few blocks away from me. We even have blood relatives now. My cousin's kids are his cousin's kids too.
• I still like 16 Candles.
• I still like Rock Me Amadeus.
  

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Matt Terui does a great job leading the music ministry at church. I especially appreciate how Matt sometimes pauses between songs to offer what I'll call a "thinking point." These thinking points provide insite to the lyrics and obviously give you a point to think about and more importantly a chance to listen to God. Today we sang, Chris Tomlin's Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone.) After the song, Matt had us consider what chains we had. Well I have to admit, I didn't totally understand singing "My chains are gone," then pondering what chains I have. I do know what God said to me though, "comfort." I'm too concerned with my own comfort. I want to watch the game, I want to take a nap, I want some peace and quiet, I want time to sit at the computer, I want Landen to take a long nap so I can finish this post (as I begin to hear crying come from upstairs.) I, I, I, I, I.

I need to think less of my comfort.

(Later)
Kristi and the girls are at Grandma Alice's. So I went and got Landen up. He's had a fever most of the day. Honestly, a lot of times I would have stuck him in front of the TV and got back to what I wanted to do. Well, it would have been a little bit hard to do that in the middle of this post. So, we sat on the couch for a while, cut paper for a while and played cars. Well, I would have totally missed out on a great time with my son had I stuck him in front of the TV. We got to playing with one of those cars that sort of winds up when you push it and it keeps going. Eventually our game turned into: Put your face by the floor. Let the other person aim the car for your nose.

We had a ball. I was blessed.

"Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways."
Proverbs 8:32 NIV

My Last 10 Google Searches

The last 10 things I searched for from my Google search bar (most recent first) are:

• speed test
• youtube maximum file size
• niv audio bible
• zoho viewer
• spice up your blog
• unduly
• coldest march
• cnn video doesn't play
• IMG_0681[1]-783445
• pullman, wa

Attention Span

I think Landen has a longer attention span than I do. He's been doing this for about 45 minutes.

Wakarusa Missionary Church Children's Resale

I had a great time working at the resale this morning.

There were a LOT of people there. It was very well organized. People were extremely cooperative and patient in an environment that was busy and definitely required some waiting.

Children's Resale Pictures

Brownie Points

I work at an elementary school, so I'm use to being outnumbered by females. But tonight was a little ridiculous. Kristi and I dropped the kids off at Grandma and Grandpa Holdeman's, then ate a nice dinner at Logan's. After dinner we went to the "preview sale" for the children's resale taking place at our church tomorrow. Now I'm not exagerating, there were about 150 female shoppers and one male shopper, me.

We arrived at about 7:40 and had to wait in this holding area with all the ladies until the doors opened at 8:00. I was seriously a little concerned about what sort of shopping stampede I was about to witness, but thankfully it was more orderly than I anticipated. As we shopped, I heard a couple of the ladies mention to Kristi how nice it was that I came along. Woohoo! Brownie points!

Book Review: His Little Princess

His Little Princess, obviously not geared toward guys, nevertheless is a great book for a guy to read to his daughters. The book, by Sheri Rose Shepherd, contains 50 letters from the King (God) written to His princess. The letters ooze with Biblical truth. They teach, encourage, motivate and open hearts. Each letter is followed by a brief passage from scripture that corresponds with the letter. On the opposite page, a prayer is provided. The prayers are thoughtfully written and give the reader a terrific example of how she can talk openly to God. The royal illustrations (more like decorations) are exquisitely done. I give His Little Princess my highest recommendation and am thankful I have been able to enjoy this book with my daughters. (And be personally reminded of the Biblical truths presented as well.)

Last week Kylee asked if she could read a page of His Little Princess to me. The words, those words, she was reading in her sweet little voice grabbed me like little else I have ever heard read aloud. When she finished the page I told her quite honestly that it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard read.

Here is an excerpt.

Do Not Tease

Dearest Princess,
Don't make fun of others by teasing them. A true princess cares how other people feel. Think of how sad or mad you feel when someone teases you! Remember, my love, you are representing me, your King, to lots of people who do not yet know me. So be careful not to be mean or unkind to anyone. Show them instead how much I care and how much I love them. If you will ask me, I can help you to see other people the way I do. When I open your eyes and let you see how every person is so very special to me, my love will begin to bubble up inside you until it overflows to everyone you meet!
Love,
Your King who lives in you

For Everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. Galatians 5:14 The Message

Lord, Change My Heart
Dear God, I am so sorry for the times when I have teased others and hurt their feelings. I want to act like your princess by treating everyone special. Help me love others the way that you love them. Help me to never tease anyone again. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Nappanee's New Taco Bell

Taco Bell Opened today! I know it's only fast food, but the new place is nice. So, at least it's nice fast food. I ordered a bean burrito Fresco Style. I love bean burritos, but taco bell's are a little bland. Fresco Style adds some flavor and some nutrional value at the same time. We ordered five bean tacos, the bean burrito, waters and our family of five dined for $9.80. The picture with the taco was free.

Blog Domain Name

The official blog address is iblogdoyou.com. I was a little surprised that it was available. Maybe because it's not as cool as I think? I'll admit, I'm not super in tune to what other people think is cool and what they don't. Regardless, I bought it for five years, so I'm sticking with it. Here's others I considered that were available.

• stevengall.com
• gallblog.com

Also, after I purchased iblogdoyou.com, I checked the availability of stevegallblogs.com. It was available and I kind of like that. A little bit of buyers remorse set in. iblogdoyou.com IS cool though, right?

Too Late

After posting just four times, Blogger locked my blog from updating and viewing. When I logged in Saturday afternoon I received this message:

"Blogger's spam-prevention robots have detected that your blog has characteristics of a spam blog. Since you're an actual person reading this, your blog is probably not a spam blog. Automated spam detection is inherently fuzzy, and we sincerely apologize for this false positive. You won't be able to publish posts to your blog until one of our humans reviews it and verifies that it is not a spam blog. Please fill out the form below to get a review. We'll take a look at your blog and unlock it in less than two business days."

By Tuesday evening I was tired of waiting, so I bought this domain for my blog. An hour later my original blog was unlocked - too late now.

4 Days

The sign on the Nappanee Taco Bell says that it is opening on Wednesday the 26th!

My Last 10 Google Searches - Part 1

Is this blog to young to start a series? Hope not. Derry's posts about searches that led people to his blog are interesting. For this series, I'll turn that around and list my last 10 Google searches. I'll call the series "My Last 10 Google Searches." I know, about as original as my blog title.

• chocolate milk nutrition info
• subway flatbread nutrition info
• sportsline
• Ed Young, Jr.
• Settlers of Catan
• grand prismatic google map
• archive
• cnn star survey
• Abigail Taylor
• quiz coach

Class Program

Kylee and Makenna's class had a program today. I was able to get coverage for my class and leave Bremen early enough to attend the program. The girls didn't know I would be there, so it was a nice surprise for them.

A Conversation

I had this conversation with the girls today:

Me: "Guess what.
"Girls: "What?"
Me: "I started my own blog.
"Girls: Excited expressions
Kylee: "What did you name it?"
Me: "Steve Gall . . . . . . it took me two hours to think of that name."
Kylee: "You could have named it 'Steve's World.'"

Cool is Not Cool

I check WNDU's 16 Day Outlook pretty much everyday in the winter and spring. It has shown an overall below-normal forecast for months now. So, I was sure that the second half of March would bring a pattern shift. Guess not. I finally gave up on waiting for warmer weather and broke out the dance mats on Tuesday. Kristi and I have played DDR three days in a row. The girls did get a little exercise outside today - chasing Kern Bough's dog around.