A special Letter!

I opened my mail box late last night after coming back from Siempre Para Los Niño’s Christmas party in Mexico. http://www.siemprekids.org/
The wind was blowing, a little snow on the ground and 22 degrees. The first letter was the cable bill and the second and last was a letter addressed to Santa. OOOOOOOOOOOOOO the mail man had placed the letter in my box by mistake. Some kid, from somewhere in the world was wishing for gift, a doll, a dog or a dad or mom to come home and I could not answer their hearts desire. What was I going to do?
I looked at the return address—Riverside—I know where that is and it was from a Leta in Riverside. My Granddaughter! She was asking for things that were already on the sleigh, the reindeers are ready to fly and Santa’s was on his way! She signed the end of the letter- Love Leta. Yes Leta, dreams do come true and letters sent in love mealt the heart!
Papa Santa (Not the real one!)

ooma

Its a weird name but it works great. I got one for my Christmas present a few days ago. Yes it great to get those gifts a week before Christmas. Wish I would had received it 6 months ago! Christmas in June would be great!
Every time I opened my phone bill for my home phone-- I saw those taxes and the taxes on the taxes. Fees for the fees !!! What a great idea for a phone company! So I hooked up the ooma to my computer and now I have free home phone with no taxes and fees. A great idea for me! Just a DSL line ( not taxes or fees with a dry-loop line) and I have service.
Just one bad thing--if the power goes out at home--no ---"PHONE HOME".

Dreaming of running in the snow

Here is a picture of our dog Bella dreaming and planning her day in the snow. We have 5" of nice dry powder today. Only thing missing in the picture is a couple of gray squirrels. Bella loves to eat squirrels.






Anyone like to have a polar bear BBQ??

A Poly Grip Thanksgiving

We served over 3400 meals on Thanksgiving day! What a great time helping those in need. This morning in the office I received a call from one of the households that received a dinner. She told me that the meal was great and she said “THANK YOU, THANK YOU, and THANK YOU! She told me how the two ladies were great but she had not heard back from them. She told them she needed some poly grip for her teeth and she was thinking they were going to come back with some to help her out. I told her that we were only serving dinners that day and I didn’t think they would be back with the poly grip. I told her I was sorry for the mistake. I guess next year we better get a case of the stuff as back-up!
Good thing our turkey was cooked so good and it melted in her mouth and she didn’t need her teeth!

Snow

First snow of the year today! I will have to shovel 3” off the walkway when I get home. Good thing it’s 3” and not 3ft. Have to get ready for that much snow. The dog was not to happy this morning. He said “YOU WANT ME TO GO OUT THERE IN THAT? As he ran back up the stairs and hid in the bedroom. He also has to get ready for 3ft of snow. I am looking forward to it! Bella is also looking forward to run and get lost in the white snow ( he is white also) that is when he gets his head in the right mood! I guess winter is here and I am in the right mood!

Picture from the past

Its called a trust fall. John placed his trust in Brian,Becki, Brad and three others you cannot see. They did not let him fall to the ground.
John was telling me he saw Brian the other day. Its great to hear about people you have not seen for a couple of years.

We need to trust the Lord in everything! Have a great day
Ken

Day at the Lake

Spending time at Lake hemet with tricia and the Dog. Nice clean air, hiking around the lake and a little four-wheeling up in the hills around the lake.

Laundry day

A picture from a friend in Africa doing her laundry the old way! Still done today in the world with the kids and cows in tow. AND "YOU" complain about dusting the coffee table! HA

5th Grade

My daughter Amber started the 5th grade yesterday. She is 26 year old and going to the fifth grade. She must get it from the Minnick side of the family (my wife’s side). She is teaching 5th grade this year at a school called Rainbow Ridge. I wish her the best of luck!

Do you remember your 5th grade teacher? Mine was Mrs. Baker. She was 160 years old. She was mean! She made us do all our work—no excesses! But that was ok, because at recess she taught us football, baseball and soccer. Not just how to play the game but the plays and strategies of all the games. And we played them all with this 160 year old lady telling us to go long!
The I formation, broken I formation, the sweep, the bootleg, wing formation, blitz, around the horn, in hitting the ball--keep your eye on the ball at all times, in catching the ball--Bend your knees and back comfortably. Place your feet a little wider than shoulder width apart. Put your weight on the inside balls of your feet so you can push off in either direction easily. Place your arms out in front of your body but comfortable and not too far away. Extend your hands naturally and the most import part of that “catch the ball”.

Amber went from Kindergarten to 5th grade in one year. She got that from the McDaniel side of the family. (MY side of the family!) Way to go Amber!!! (She taught kindergarten last year).
Another thing Mrs. Baker taught us. Cheer for everyone, no matter if you are winning or losing! Its playing the game that matters the most.

Wife's B-Day

My wife turns 51 today. WOW! We have been married for 30 years this Sept and we have known each other for 39 years. I have been blessed! Happy B-day Tricia and have a great day!

Christmas in July

Yes July has ended and some of the stores are gearing for the Christmas season. If you buy it today or in the weeks ahead they will ship it for you right before Christmas to anywhere in the U.S of A. for free! Other words we will take your money now and repay you in December. Wonder if they got that idea from the government.
Hear I am handing a little boy his Christmas gift in Mexico. Think I might go down in Aug with a Santa suit to Mexico and yell out Merry Christmas or i better say feliz navidad. I know what they will say "gringo". Only in America.

Email from Africa

Ken,
How are you doing? We are all well. I would like to inform you that things in our country they are so hiked up! Our economy here is not good; many people are dying with hunger and draught.

In Naivasha some people are eating baboon's meat and also dog’s meat. In west pokot some people are eating the death donkey's meat because there is no food at all. Please pray for our country, our leaders, don't forget to pray for me my wife and the kids.

Have a wonderful day and may the almighty father bless you and your family.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours in Christ
William.
WOW!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time: thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to Live."
William and his family are really living this out in their lives--no matter what! Pray for them and when you think you have problems---you really DON'T.

Family Beach Day

A day in San Diego at the beach

Hot water Heater

My son just moved into his new house and the hot water heater went out in the first few days of being in their home. The insurance on the house paid for a new one and all it OK and the water is hot. It took me back to a hot water heater that I think about often. The ones that were in the showers in Kenya. The picture below is one of them. I was thinking if Eric didn't get his fixed I would go out and get him one of these for this shower.

That's right you plug it into a wall socket, while you take a shower. One wrong move and look out! Hot water that is electrified. Makes you want to take a 2 min shower at the most!
If you ever go to Africa dont worry about the lions, baboons, the black mamba (snake), hippopatamus, wild buffalo just worry about taking a shower.
Have a great day
Ken

You Talents

You may not be able to catch chickens but each of you have a God given talent to use today. Go and use it today because tomorrow may never come.

The Marines

I recieved this email from Cathy David the other day. Her son Jeremy Davis has just joined the Marines and is in booth camp in San Diego and he will be going to Camp Pendleton for the rest of his trainning.
I would like to say I am proud of Jeremy and we will be praying for his exprience in booth camp. In 1954 my Dad Joined the Marines and went to Camp Pendleton. Its a real close world. Lets all pray for him in his time of service. Also lets start writing Jeremy. Old mail not email. And a big box of cookies when he gets out of booth camp. No cookies allowed in booth camp.

Hi all,

I got a 2 page letter tonight Again thank you for your support and prayers! Ignore the attchment thingy in the window.
Cathy

Recruit Davis, Jeremy I
1st Bn Bravo Co. Platoon 1033
39001 Midway
MCRD San Diego, CA 92140-1033

Oh, I am going with girlfriends on Sat. 7-18 down to San Diego to see the American Idol concert! Then on Sunday we are driving over to the Marine Depot. I know I won’t be able to see Jeremy but at least I can be by the gates and pray for him! I told him in a letter that I will be out there from noon to 1:00 PM!

7-8-09
Dear Mom, Dad and Aaron,

I finally got all your letters!! They are so motivational and just what I needed. I was down for a while until we received mail! Lately we’ve been drilling all the time with our M16 A2 rifles. They weigh 12 lbs.! and get really heavy after awhile because we have to hold them at 90 degrees. I think I am getting taller because we have to stand perfectly straight all the time. Today we actually got to use rubber bayonets and stab dummies! Then we got to use the pugil sticks and spar with others. It’s really fun and we wear full gear and helmets. I won my fight after like 10 seconds because I hit the guy w/ an upper cut to the throat, with the red end, which simulates the bayonet end.

We’ve hardly had any free time so it is hard to write letters. But now we get 1 hr. per day. So I will try to write more. It gets frustrating drilling all the time because we have “stupid” recruits in our platoon who screw up everything for us. The hardest part I think is standing up all day long and when we do get to sit,it is cross legged. I am starting to get used to getting up at 4:45 am every morning. The food here is great and I’m trying to live “meal to meal”. Also the church here is the best I’ve ever had!

Continuing later
Today was a hard one. We practiced joint manipulations. We learned 3 types of take downs. My sparing partner was 200 lbs. and I was easily able to take him down and make him tap out. (that’s my boy! )

We also did the obstacle course and it is fun except for the 30-4- ft. rope climb straight up and there is nothing to catch you. I almost made it all the way up!
On the 4th I got to watch fireworks from my rack which is the top bunk and faces the city.
I’ve made lots of friends and we are starting to function as a team! I hope you guys are doing well because I am in spite of all the aches and pains. Our bodies are being rebuilt! Thanks so much for the letters.
Love, Jeremy

Just Paint!

My wife and daughter are going to San Diego in the morning to spend time together doing the daughter-mother thing. The are going Horseback riding, spending time at the beach and going to the Wild animal park. They will be gone for 3 days.
I will be touching up the paint job I did on our sun room. Take out the trash and watch the dog bark at the gray squirrels in our front yard. I just paint! and wonder when I will get a day with my daughter- a father-daughter day working at her house painting!
Will send a picture of the room when its done! And not i am not for Hire! Just do it all free!
Have a great day!

VBS At Central Community

One day left to come on out and have a great time at VBS at central community. We start at 9:00 am to 1:30. At 12:00 noon we will hamburgers and hot dogs

Fathers

Happy Fathers Day!
There are Fathers in the world today that are doing some great things that the world will never know. My hat goes off for all of them.
I have a friend in Kenya Africa that has a little baby girl. He has promised her to be the best Dad that he can be. He lost his father in a brutal tribal warfare when he was a little kid. He grew up alone in the world with no family, no father, and no mother.
Because of the experiences of his life he has always wanted to help other kids that are facing the world as he faced it my years ago. He went out this year and brought home 3 kids that lived on the streets. He is feeding, clothing, sheltering and sending them to school. Now is he trying to be a Dad to all four of the kids. My heart goes out to him and to fathers that are reaching to kids all over this world. Way to go DAD’S!!! Picture above is of his family.

Keep him in your prayer. I received this email from him today.

Pastor, my day is great.
How are you over their? Economy here is very high. Many people are dying with hunger and drought in Northern Kenya at a place called Turkana District and in Marsabet! In Kipsongo slum many people are suffering with diseases e.g. Malaria, TB, and HIV. To get food is a big problem many things are hiken. Please pastor pray for our country and our leaders. May God bless you and the family,
I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours in Christ
William.

Memorial Day Weekend 2009

Here is John's video of the weekend and the house be built in two days. 2100 sq ft!!! Thanks for all your hard work and God bless you!

Anti-Gravity

Did you ever dream of walking on the moon? Ever wanted to fly and defy gravity? Now you can do it with the amazing Anti-gravity Jumping boots. Sure would be cool to see our Pastor John Denton run down the middle isle at church on Saturday nights. What a cool illustration. I know Pastor and I would break our necks if we use them as an illustration. Guess we just better stick with the jokes.
Have a bless day
Pastor Ken-- reaching for the moon! Hoping to defy gravity today!

I Shall not be moved

In his sermon this week pastor talks about an old sound he sang as a kid. Here is that song played by the Riverside City College Band. Pretty cool since the church is in Riverside.Have a great day and sing an old song today.

The duck song

An outside look

A Picture out my window this morning. Guess I will not use the patio furniture for a few months!

Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed.They’ll do the work I sent them to do,they’ll complete the assignment I gave them. Isaiah 55:10-11

The Passing of Will Denton

Please be praying for Pastor Eric and his family of the passing of his Father Will Denton on Feb. 17, 2009.

Dan

A friend from church died today. We shall all miss him. Please pray for his family

Invaders from Mars

It is a movie from 1953 that I hated when I was a kid! I still feel odd talking about it.
That path that led up to that hill and cliff was one of the scariest things I ever saw as a young kid. In the movie they would get to the end on the path and jump off into a sand dune and the martians would have you in their control.
I looked at the back of every neck for a while just checking to see if they were the right people or a fake created by the Invaders from Mars.
I wanted to see the movie again so I bought it yesterday online. So if in the weeks ahead if i ask to see the back of your neck you will know why!
If you would like to see the movie I will have my copy of it in a few days.

Role Model

A freind sent this to me

Don't look at the answers below until after the calculation. You'll be surprised who your Role Model is.
Enjoy, Ken


1) Pick your favorite number between 1-9.

2) Multiply by 3, then

3) Add 3, then Multiply by 3 (it's ok to use the calculator)

4) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number....

5) Add the digits together.Now scroll down.....With that number see who your ROLE MODEL is from the list below:


1. Ronald Regan

2. Nelson Mandela

3. Bill Gates

4. Gandhi

5. Bret Farve

6. Gen. Patreus

7. Hillary Clinton

8. Colon Powell

9. Ken McDaniel

10. Condeleeza RiceI know....I have that effect on people! Have a great day