Edit:

I just found this video... Mike Huckabee talks about how he was able to pass gas in Arkansas.

Tabernacles

I can still smell the campfire. As most of you know, our church just got back from our annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration down at HHSP. The friends were awesome, the s'mores were... lightly toasted, the weather was pretty good and so on.

Perhaps the most notable of all was the fact that the Son's team finally beat the Father's in the infamous Father vs. Son football game. I think the final score was 49-35. I didn't play much in it though, but it really was a team effort, not to sound cliche or anything like that.

Also notable among my vast athletic achievements was that my team won the volleyball championship thing. There were five or six teams playing with a two-loss elimination type of deal. We played one more game than everyone else and still won. Actually, in all honesty, my skills weren't as good as usual and it was boy Casey and girl Casey that won it for us.

I think it was Sunday night that we had youth night. It was during this night that they had the youth lead everything from teaching to worship to prayer and so on. I ended up being one of the one's teaching. I don't feel like I did a very good job, seeing as how I missed a few key points and was really nervous, but some people seemed to like it alright. That night we had the pizza party thing, of which I missed most of.

I should add that I pulled one of the funniest pranks ever on Caleb P. He still hasn't gotten me back yet, but I fully expect it. *darts eyes around room*

But yeah, the rest of tabs was pretty awesome, although I don't really remember specifically what happened each day as it all sort of runs together in the mind.

 

The Jonas Brothers

Alright, over the last few months many of my friends both at Lamb and HCA have suddenly become raving Jonas Brothers fans. I figured "dang, they must be pretty good." I was dead wrong. Pretty much my honest analysis of them is they sound like what Hanson would have sounded like if they let Disney get a hold of them.

In fact, they try to imitate the Hanson brothers so obviously that there were times when I found myself about to break out into some "Mmm Bop." However, their lyrics are so bad, cheesy, and dumb that I found myself changing every song after about twenty seconds. I mean, I don't know what is so weird about a whale being in a pool with their mother. Actually, it sounds pretty artistic now that I think of it.

Actually, I do have to credit them a little bit. In their "That's Just the Way we Roll" song, which features the whale, they do even mention Hanson by name, so at least they maybe aren't denying the fact that they are imitators.

Aside from singing virtually the same style of music, both Hanson and JB are made up of three brothers, both use their last name in the title, and both try to harmonize to their pop music. The only real difference is that Hanson was good at it and JB aren't.

*I should add that JB does have one pretty good song.

Mandisa

I was recently given Mandisa's latest cd for a gift. It was both good and dissappointing. My only real complaint is that she tries to get syncopated and peppy on many of the songs when her real strength is just letting it blow. She only has really one song in which she belts it out, and it is definitely the best one on the cd. Also, she has a cool new version of "Shackles" which most people probably won't like. However, I like it.

 

Mike Huckabee

I have become dissenchanted with Fred Thompson. He is still my second favorite candidate in this election. However, the more I think about it the more I am certain that he just doesn't have the experience necessary to lead our nation. He was a senator from Tennessee for a few years, but he failed to do virtually anything that would qualify him for the position of POTUS.

I say that to say that we all need to support Mike Huckabee. I've watched a bunch of his videos, read his speeches, checked out his record, and am increasingly certain that he is the best man for the job. Even Bill Clinton has recognized that he is the best speech maker out of all of the Republicans seeking the nomination.

Here's a good article I just read on the Governor: http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/10/perspectives_its_huckabee_or_h.php

Another cool thing is that Governor Huckabee used to be a baptist minister... and he plays bass in a band called Capitol Offense... awesome.

Anyways, have a good week!

I rather loathe false accusations. They are the pond scum of the proverbial relationship pool and the poison in the blood of a good friendship. That said, I can now continue with my post.

I am really excited for Luke and Shay. Their baby, judging from the pictures, is incredibly adorable. Actually, I think he bares a strong resemblance to Hammy from "Over the Hedge."





I find a slight resemblance at least.

On a more sad note, our time with Khale and Sarah is coming to a close. They are going to WY tomorrow to see the rest of the Lenharts and then are coming back here for a few days before leaving yet again. I have immensely enjoyed having them here for the summer. You know, getting to spend countless hours cooing and whatnot at my little baby niece. Trying foolishly to change that little baby niece when she regurgitates her fourth breakfast on her adorable little pink baby outfit with matching socks. Getting to talk with the wonderful Sisterbear face to face once more. So, I would just like to publicly say, thanks you Khale for bringing your wonderful family down here for the summer. I love you guys.

It struck me the other day that Baley Lenhart is rather handsome. *I told you I'd mention something about how handsome you were, Baley*

One year ago today (yesterday, actually), was the worst day of my life. It was the day of our accident. Looking back at the past year, I am amazed at everything God has done. Revelation 21:5 says that God "makes all things new." It's incredible how true that is. After our accident, I went through several months of being very deppressed. I've heard it said that I am the "eternal optimist". Well, at that time I wasn't.

However, through all of this something amazing happened. It all really began on our trip back down from Wisconsin. We had stopped at a gas station somewhere in Illinois when I walked over to some little gumball stand. There were yellow and green gumballs inside of it and a few two dollar bills folded up inside plastic containers here and there. As I put my quarter in to get a gumball, I prayed a very honest prayer that went something like "God, I hate myself right now. I need to know that you are still with me and that you haven't forgotten about me. If you will see me through this, please let a two dollar bill come out of this machine as a sign." It may sound kind of stupid looking back, but it's what I prayed. I still have the two dollar bill hanging up in my room to this day.

I say all that to say this: whatever it is you are going through, God will stay with you. You will make it out. The bible says God works all things together for good for those that love him (Rom. 8:28). Every time I hold my niece Lillian I thank God. She was conceived just a few days after our accident. Every time I see her, it is a reminder to me of just how good God is. We all need to trust him more with our lives.

I really don't know what else to say. I have been reading a lot lately. Right now I am reading the "Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy" by Mark W. Smith. I've read about half of it and can say that I highly recommend it. For those of you who don't know, the title is a satirical play off of Hillary Clinton when was talking about the "vast right-wing conspiracy that is alive in America" (or something similar to that). I'll do my best to keep you guys updated on what I am reading as I read it, which means I will have to make more posts in the future.

I also saw that new Bourne movie: The Bourne Ultimatum, which I thought was very good. Now, Mr. Bill O'reilly is of the opinion that the movie is incredibly anti-American. That isn't really true. The truth is that they have some rogue group in the CIA sneaking around and killing people. However, it is all top secret and the movie suggests that once the proper authorities new about it it was aborted. So yes, perhaps it does cast a slightly bad view on Americans for some uneducated Muslim in Saudi Arabia who has a bomb strapped to his chest, but the rest of us can just ignore it as typical Hollywood theatrics.

As for my coming week, HCA begins the 24th and I will be going to the fair with a bunch of my friends on Sunday. It promises to be a good week.

I love you and God bless,
Daniel

Well, it's been a while since I've posted, but I just thought I would take a moment and say that I am so darn excited that Dalton got a xanga. Check it out at: xanga.com/Country_BoyCanSurvive

Anyhow, it's been a long while since I've made a decent post on here. A whole lot has happened.

As everyone knows by now, I am an uncle as of two months ago. Actually, Lily turned 7 weeks old on 7.7.7... freaky. She is quite the cute bundle of "upchuck all over you" joy. She's been smiling a lot lately, a skill of which I am certain I can take no responsability for, because it is quite decided that I am perhaps her least favorite. I don't know who did the deciding, but I emphatically disagree with them.

Not only that, but my other sister (scrap the whole "in law" thing) Leah is also expecting a child. So, I will once more take up my God-given role as "God Uncle" (with special emphasis on the God... it just gives it a little more power... you know what I mean?).

I just remembered. LF bought a new church building on Friday and we are going to meet in it for the first time this weekend. It's pretty nice... I'm a fan at least, and that's got to count for something. I am going to do me best to get people interested in the idea of street hockey at the new building. Although as I typed that I just realized that there may be some type of liability involved peradventure someone were to get hurt. I don't know... maybe it would fall under the whole "assumed risk" clause...

Oh, the Rubels invited us over for the Fourth of July the other day. It was pretty fun. We played some mad baseball and I did pretty decent, I reckon. I won't tell you all how well I did though *cough* eight hits *cough* six runs *cough* because I really hate it when people brag on their skills or whatever.

I've been playing a lot of guitar lately. I rather enjoy it. I think the reason for my enjoyment is because unlike drums you can actually play songs... rather than just the rythem in which real songs are played... if that makes any sense.

I love most of you,
Daniel