THE RESULT OF NETWORK NEWS

IT'S GOOD TO BLUBBER AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK

Click HERE to blubber like a baby. You have been warned.

A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALL MEN

What's going on...November 19th, 2008

I wish that I had something profound or remotely funny to write about...but I don't. So I decided to waste your time by simply writing about what's been going on. First of all, Julie put up our Christmas tree...LAST WEEK. I have learned over the years not to question her about this because Julie always has her reasons, about everything. It doesn't always make sense to me but that doesn't seem to matter. So I just let the whole Christmas decorating thing go. She is ordinarily a "day after Thanksgiving" decorator but this year she has gone into "we won't be here the day after Thanksgiving" mode (we are going down to Florida on vacation this week)so...up went the decorations....last week.
I am still working on the renovation of the kids bathroom upstairs. So far so good, it is just taking me an eternity. It is just about a complete gutting and redo. Not too much fun. I think one reason that it is taking so long is that our family schedule has been crazy, something just about every night. The other problem (and probably the biggest delay) is that I think to much about every step. Every nail, every screw, every piece of drywall, every tile; I try to make sure that it's right. You would not know that by looking at the finished product, but it's true. The good news is, the hard part is done. I should finish with just a couple of days more worth of work.
So what else? Oh, tomorrow we leave on vacation. Just about every Thanksgiving, we head down to south west Florida to spend a week with Jul's mom and dad at their place on Marco Island. It's always fun and very relaxing. The only rough part....is getting there. Traveling with three kids is truly a test of patience. I usually fail. We have had many adventures over the years and just when I think that I have seen every travel related incident, I am taught a lesson. I think this year, I'm just going to expect one. When you expect everything to go perfect, you're setting yourself up for a migraine. It may be a missed flight, explosive vomiting, a lost toy, a sudden ear infection, a one mile run to the connecting gate, or just about anything and everything else. This year, I'm just going to expect it, embrace it, and then take pictures of it. Anyway, it's good to get away with the family. I don't deserve the opportunity to spend a solid week with them. I am blessed.
So to whomever may read this, have a great Thanksgiving. I'll be sure to share with you stories of our vacation adventure when we return.

Remember:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus".

Don't just give thanks on Thursday, live with an attitude of gratitude. Be thankful even when the turkey is dry, when the cable goes out during the game, when you get stuck at the kid table, or even when your beautiful child is throwing up in the middle of the airport (I hope that one doesn't happen again).

Blog at you later,
"Soon to be warm in sunny Florida"-Dan

Taking a few moments to remember....

NOVEMBER???

November...I find it hard to say it let alone type it. Not that I have speech issues or that I am missing fingers but it's just hard to believe that it is November. I guess what is really messing me up is that I just heard a Christmas song on the radio and IT WAS 70 DEGREES TODAY?!? My mind just doesn't process that kind of imput. Usually, I love to set the clock back but this year, it just doesn't seem right. I'm not done with summer yet let alone fall. This year has just been messed up. With the heavy rains in the spring, then no rain for a couple months, "The Blackout" (not so much for me), and now it's November 3rd and 70 degrees. I'm actually not complaining. I love the warm weather. In fact, it's about to get a lot warmer for the Ponchot clan as we prepare to take our trip south for Thanksgiving (more on that later). Another wierd thing is that it looks like my annual "leaf war" won't be much of a fight this year. There is just not that many left after the wind thing and drought. I think the problem is that my internal clock, thermometer, barometer, or whatever you want to call it is off. The only thing that bothers me now is wondering what the winter will bring. Sixty degrees and sunny, or fifteen to twenty for weeks on end with about six feet of snow. November...it just doesn't seem right.

Your Cultural Enrichment For The Day

I highly recommend this show. It used to be on Saturday mornings on some public television station but now it is on rfdtv. Good times...good times.

INSIDE DAN'S HEAD

*I need to find somewhere to live where the weather is just like it is now all year round. 80's during the day, 50's at night.

*I just bought gas for $2.68 an gallon (I remember when it was well under a dollar a gallon...and I used to walk to school in 3' of snow, uphill each way).

*Facebook isn't as cool as it used to be.

*Television ticks me off. 1st, Bob Barker retires, America's Got talent is a scam(go Eli), and the only two dudes I like on the Amazing Race are gone.

*When did my kids get the supernatural ability to outlast me.

*The Bible astounds me.

*Pick up basketball starts this Sunday (I wonder who will get hurt first, probably me).

*Rock Band 2 is one month away.

*My kids are getting too big, too fast.

*My wife is the cooliest.

*October is almost over, so is this post.

A BRIGHT IDEA?

I think that I just had a good idea. Lately, we have been buying mass amounts of milk. I thought that the kids were feeding every cat in the neighborhood or watering the lawn with but it turns out that they are actually drinking it. It is really getting out of hand. I thought about buying a cow but I have vowed never to have any more pets....but would a cow be a pet....or like a contributing member of the family....oh well, that would be stupid. What would the neighbors think about a cow in the back yard? Okay, so the cow is out. I have a much better plan any way. I noticed that a gallon of vitamin D milk is the same price as 2%(we do the 2% already). So what if I bought a gallon of vitamin D milk, pour half into an empty jug, and then fill both jugs with water. Ta da!!! 2%. I think I'm on to something. It's like buy one get on free!!! I wonder if that would work with with anything else? Orange juice? Maybe toilet paper. Just unroll one, separate the two layers and...Ta Da!!! Two rolls!! Hmmmm?

JESUS IS MY FRIEND

I NEED YOUR SUPPORT

This was sent to me this morning. I had no idea. Finally someone that you can get "behind"!!

Good Times At D-Group

I have never had such a good time at a mall as I did last night. Last night, our D- group met at Kenwood Town Center for a mall-wide scavenger hunt. Now normally I am not much on scavenger hunt type things but this one was great. Jared and Rhonda put it all together and they did a great job. Basically, we met in front of the Cheesecake Factory and split off guys vs. gals. Jared went over the rules and handed out the details and tasks. It was awesome! I won't go into great detail but the hunt even included how and where we bought our dinner. There were probably fifty or so things to get, see, or do. The only problem that the guys had was getting George Wise to quit window shopping and actually do the scavenger hunt. He cracks me up. Anyway, I love being part of our D-group. These people mean so much to me and my family.
Good times.....good times.

MY POOL

Is Green...I'm ticked.

HEADED SOUTH...THEN SOUTH EAST

Where has the summer gone. Yes, it has been good but truth be told, summer is winding down. Now I know that a comment like that may strike terror into the minds of children every where but not at our house. Everyone is getting psyched up for a good 'ol family vacation (at least that's what my calender says). This year, we are doing something that we have not done for some time. We are going to the "Redneck Riviera" (aka North Myrtle Beach). Sounds like fun eh? It should be. The whole family loves the beach and our plan is to simply to enjoy the sand, surf, and sun. Family time is always good. A man once told me that the things kids remember most from their childhood are family vacations and Christmas. I guess I would agree to that at some extent although I remember less and less about my childhood (and everything else) as the years go by. Things tend to run together for me, but I digress. The fact of the matter is that Thursday, we are loading into the family truckster and heading in the general direction of S. Carolina. I say general direction because we are taking a side trip to our old homestead in Elizabethton, Tennessee. We are actually making a stop in Gatlinburg first to watch them pull taffy (very Yankee thing to do) and cut out those black silhouette things you dress up and put out in your yard. But our stopping at Gatlinburg is not just entertainment related, we are also doing something very educational for the boys while there (don't tell them, it's a surprise). We're taking them to Cooter's Place. Kind of like a history lesson without the book. We will only be in Gatlinburg for one day so we thought that we would just hit the highlights. Friday, we will drive on to Elizabethton (Julie and I used to live there). It will be fun to take a walk down memory lane but our real reason for the side trip (at least mine) is to eat at all of our (at least my) favorite restaurants. I plan on hitting them all. First and foremost, I'm going to PAL's Sudden Service for a "Sauce Burger". It's one of the finest eateries in the country. Strictly high class. I also plan on going to Pizza Inn and as many other places that I can fit in. As you can see, this leg of the trip is my favorite. After that, (if I'm not too sick) "Redneck Riviera" here we come.

BIBLE LESSONS...IN THE FLESH (or lack thereof)

Matthew 5:37 "Simply let your yes be yes and your no, no; anything beyond this comes from the evil one". AMEN on that one. This past spring, I was approached by our church softball coach (great guy) and asked if I would play softball. I informed him that I had retired from softball mainly because of my wife does not like my frequent, sports related, visits to the E/R (lip stitches, head injuries, ankle sprains, etc. You know, Go Big or Go Home stuff). He was very understanding and asked if he could put me on the roster anyway, just in case they didn't have enough players to play. As I look back now, THAT was the perfect time for me to use the biblical principle in Matthew 5:37. I should have just said thanks, but no. Instead, I elected to gamble a little. I asked, "How many players do you have"? He informed me that it looked like he would have 15, 16, or17. Good odds. So being the idiot that I am, I told him that I would play if he had a situation in which they would have for forfeit for lack of players. He said great and I went on my merry way. Flash forward to yesterday. The family and I spent my day off at The Beach Waterpark. When we left at 4:30, I had a voice mail. I had gotten "the call". Due to 3 injuries, vacations, and work schedules; we need you to play. Being a man of my word, to the game I went. The game started with a prayer and I was so thankful that the guy who prayed asked God for no injuries. We were up first and I was shocked to hear that I was batting fourth. Fourth? I have not swung a bat in two years....I should be batting 9th. It gets worse. Incredibly, my first time up, I hit a bullet to right field....base hit. I actually got on two times in a row. I'm not sure which one it was but at some point early on, I found myself rounding third and heading for home plate(you're excited, I can tell). The throw home was coming so it was inevitable that I was going to have to slide on that parking lot they call an infield. Down I went and safe I was. After I got up, I looked down and saw this (only caked with dirt and rocks, click the picture, it looks better up close)

Bible lesson...in the flesh.

NATATORIAL IMPACT

33 teens+9 adults+60 hot dogs+6 cases of soda+assorted baked goods+pool+rock band+camp fire=SOME SERIOUSLY GOOD TIMES.

In case you have no idea what natatorial means, HERE is some help. Last Sunday night, our youth group went on the road to our house for a Natatorial themed gathering. What a great time of fun, food, and fellowship. It was good to mingle with the kids. I saw many new faces and it make me very excited about our upcoming season in the student ministry. Here are some pics.

MY BROTHER RUINED MY LIFE

Well before my mom freaks out about the title of this, I guess I should explain. Several weeks ago, my brother made a purchase. He bought the video game "Rock Band" for his gaming system. He went on and on about how much fun it was but I really didn't get the fuss. I had played guitar hero before and it was fine but nothing major. I actually find humor in the people who get all worked up about that game and consider themselves a real musician if they can play a Metallica song on a plastic guitar with five buttons. When you can play it on a real one, call me. Well, last Friday, I went over to my brothers house to meet up with them for the fireworks at Miami Meadows Park. We had some time to kill so we played his new game Rock Band. Needless to say, they ended up having to basically drag me to the fireworks. If you have no idea what I am talking about, click HERE for a demonstration of some dudes playing the game. Some might say that that playing some video game with your brother is no big deal but it gets worse. In playing that game at his house, he planted a seed...we now have the game at our house (belated birthday present from Julie). I am addicted. Playing the game myself is fun, but the best part is watching other people struggle with the instruments, especially the drums (Nathan is hilarious). The faces that they make are priceless. I will post a video of the Ponchot family rock band when I get a chance. Now don't get me wrong, we do not play this game all day, every day. The boys play a little during the day and we usually play a song or two together after dinner. The problem is at night. Most people go to bed at ten or eleven o'clock, not me. I start playing at about 11:00pm (everyone else is in bed any way) and then wander off to bed at about 1:00am (2:15am is my latest). I blame my brother...he ruined my life (well, maybe not my life but my sleeping schedule for sure). Rock-On.

GOOD TIMES

It has been a fun past couple of weeks. Last week, we took a group of teens to the North American Christian (Teen) Convention. What a great time. I really enjoy spending time with our teens. They are great and crack me up constantly. Although we also spent most of our time on the teen side of the convention, it was neat to go over to the main convention and catch up with people I hadn't seen in years. Mostly old college buddies but there was also a slew (I can't believe I just used that word) of others that I have met in different times and places. I was surprised how quickly the names came back to me and the stories started flying. One of the cooliest things about the convention was that it was here in Cincinnati. It was neat because most of our kids have spent very little time downtown. One of the highlights of our time there was a trip to the top of the Carew tower. We all had a big time. There is really something special about seeing the whole city at once from such a beautiful view. I am so blessed to have such a great bunch of teens to spend time with. Special thanks goes out to Didi Back (adult sponsor) who took vacation time to go with us. THANK YOU DIDI!!!

I also had a great 4th of July. The day started out as a bummer (we had to postpone our traditional family/extended family 4th of July picnic until Saturday because of rain) but turned out great in the end. Julie took the boys down to Loveland to walk in the parade for our church while I took Kaitlin to the parade to watch. After the parade, we went with another family to eat some wings. We were able to sit out on the patio and had a perfect view to watch the fireworks from the restaurant. The postponed family picnic turned out great. It was a fun, relaxing time.

Good times...good times.

ATTENTION ALL JR/SR HIGH STUDENTS

Ever get a song stuck in your head?