Here are some of Daniel’s latest and greatest pieces of artwork…

Snowman:

Curious George:

Fairy:

Arthur:

I’m in a total blogging slump. I’ve had nothing to say for the entire month of February. So sad I’m sure. J My camera broke last month and I swear I don’t know how to blog without a picture. It’s part of my extremely visual nature. We’ve got to get a camera pronto! We’ve missed such good pictures opportunities- like our Brad Paisley concert last Friday. It was awesome! See…

It’s really him, I promise. This is what he looks like through a camera phone. And we were only 2 rows back!!! We had 14^th row seats, which we were super excited about and when we got there, we saw that the stage jutted out right beside where we were sitting. We had the best seats ever, it was great!

Miranda Lambert opened for him and she was really good too. Super spunky. Here she is:

It’s really her, I promise.

We also took a picture of ourselves… out… without children… at a concert…

It’s really us, I promise.

Yep, my next step after pressing post here is to go find a camera.

Then maybe I will have more to blog about.

Or not.

So, apparently our month of January thought it needed bookends.  We started the month with a big bang- my car being totaled.  Now we have ended the month with a big bang- Dan hitting a steel bumper while driving down the Interstate and damaging his car. 

It’s so unbelievable to me that I guess it’s believable!  Dan was driving down a busy Interstate earlier this week and the car in front of him swerved into the next lane giving him no time to react and nowhere to go.  He hit what he said looked like the bumper to a fire truck head on.  He slammed his breaks and thankfully no cars were behind him or it could have really been a nasty wreck.

The bumper jammed under the car and somehow dislodged itself and left the car drivable.  He drove home with no problems and really no visible scars to the car.    We were really blessed once again that no one was hurt.

We took the car in to have it checked out and there was quite a bit of damage underneath the vehicle that needs to be repaired.  It’s almost not worth the amount it will cost to fix it, but we just bought a new car!  Thank God for good insurance and deductibles.

I hope the crazy accidents of 2010 are over and done with in January!  I don’t think I can take much more excitement in that area.

I’m ready to close the book on January and look forward to February!

L!!!

We have been working on the L sound with Luke.  He usually says a Y sound instead of L.  He does this to several letters and frankly I think it’s super cute since he’s 3!  He was working so hard on his L sound the other night, so I did a small video of him.

Untitled from simplycindy on Vimeo.

This is a complete swipe from Dan’s blog.  We finally have a new car (new to us anyway!) and I liked his post about it.

God Is Not a Used Car Buyer

January 20, 2010 / Dan

I recently posted why I think God is not an underhanded used car salesperson (UCS). Today, I will turn the tables and reflect about how God is not like a used car buyer.

Since Cindy was rear-ended, we have been in the market for a car. On Monday, we found one and bought it. It is a 2006, with  a moderate amount of miles, but it is a gorgeous SUV:
 

We searched near and far for this car. We were very picky. It had to be a good looking car. It couldn’t have too many miles on it. It couldn’t have any dents or mechanical problems. It couldn’t cost too much.

I am thankful that God does not seek us like we sought our new car. If God worked like that, then God surely would have nothing to do with me. I am not the shiniest, best running car on the lot. If I ran a mile right now, I would be panting for air. I have made plenty of mistakes that have caused dents and scuffs  along the way. These things reduce the value of a car to me, but they do not reduce my value to God. God loves us no matter our condition; scratches, dents, and all. Even though I know that I am not worthy, God paid a great cost for me and for us all. I am thankful that God does not operate like a used car buyer.

Luke has a little bit of an obsession.

It might have started around Halloween…

…and gotten stronger after a trip to Grandma and Grandpa’s where he watched a bit of this:

My boy loves Batman.

He is in love with his Batcave.

And was thrilled when his brother gave him Batman slippers that he had outgrown.

He already has quite the collection of toys for his Batcave thanks to Christmas and his birthday.

And he never wants to take this shirt off.  He’s just a bit obsessed….

but that’s okay.

My D3 is a piece of work (as are the rest of us, but…).

Here are a few Daniel tidbits from this past week:

• When we picked him up from school one day last week he said, “I was too invigorated at school today…”
• Was insistent on wearing his plaid tie with his striped shirt to church Sunday. And he did. And I actually got over it.
• Listens to Alvin & the Chipmunks the Squeakquel CD all the time.
• Scored a 117 on the Oral Reading part of a reading test. He only had to score a 20.
• Fills me full of Star Wars facts. All day. Every day.
• Learned triple digit addition with carrying while waiting for dinner the other night.
• Has fits if he’s not in first place in Mario Kart.
• Made all A’s on his report card again.
• Wondered why there were no 3D glasses with his Scooby Doo 3D board game.
• Always says underpants instead of underwear. He thinks it’s hilarious. He’s such a boy.
• Moved the mattress over and slept on the slats of his bunk bed the other night.
• Gives out hard hugs and kisses and snuggles.

He keeps life fun around here!

We’re still dealing with car drama around here. Totaled cars, rental cars, lost titles L, trying to figure out a car payment etc….. While it’s a major inconvenience I am trying to remind myself of all of my blessings. The poor people of Haiti would love to switch situations with me right now.

The situation in Haiti is so sad, but thank goodness for those that are giving aid to that country. The United Methodist Committee on Relief, or UMCOR, is a disaster relief agency that is immediately dispatched to troubled areas throughout the world whenever tragedy strikes. They are in Haiti now and a wonderful part of the Methodist Church. You may give to UMCOR by clicking their logo below.

On a much lighter note I took the boys to the park yesterday because it was finally warmer than 32! They had a blast. The poor guys have been cooped up inside for far too long. I was so proud of Luke. He actually navigated the park by himself and went down the spiral slide no less than 20 times. Bless his heart he has always been scared of the big play equipment at the playground, but not anymore. Ha!

The rest of my week would probably bring tears of boredom to your eyes, so I’ll end with a yummy recipe that we had this week. I make it every now and then and it’s so easy and yummy.

Easy Chicken & Dumplings
3-4 Chicken breasts
2 cans Cream of Chicken soup
Flour tortillas (around 5 large or 10 small- I just eyeball it)
Salt/Pepper

Boil chicken and shred. Put the chicken back into the water and add cream of chicken soup, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil.
Tear up tortillas into pot and boil for 45 minutes – 1 hour.
Add a stick of butter a few minutes before done.

I was all ready to post a sarcastic post about my week where my car was totaled, my camera broke, my beloved radio broke, and a pipe at our house burst….

That was until we had devotion this morning before school and my coworker read the best prayer. I’m printing it out and putting it on my finger-smudged refrigerator to remind me to look at my life a little more gratefully…. Because my house is an awful lot like the one described here!

Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes;
  we have plenty of food to eat.

Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry;
      we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.

And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds;
      they were so warm and comfortable last night.
      I know that many have no bed.

My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom,
      complete with all the splattered mirrors,
      soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory;
      they are so convenient.

Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator
      that needs cleaning.
     It has served us faithfully for many years.
     It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers
      for two or three meals.

Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely
       must be cleaned today;
      It has baked so many things over the years.

The whole family is grateful for that tall grass
      that we all enjoy the yard.
     My kids are healthy and able to run and play.

Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says
      You have richly blessed my family.
      I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl
      when the alarm rings,
     Thank you, Lord, that I can hear.
      There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light
      as long as possible,
     Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising,
     Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise.
     There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic,
     when socks are lost, toast is burned and tempers are short,
     my children are so loud,
     Thank you, Lord, for my family.
      There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like
      the pictures in magazines
     and the menu is at times not balanced,
     There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous,
     Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work.
     There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day
     and wish my circumstances were not so modest,
     Thank you, Lord, for life.

Luke has been quite into the New Year.  He’s been telling people “Happy New Year” and to me it sounds like “Happy New You!”  He even renamed Poppyseed Chicken “Happy New Year Chicken”  Anyway, here’s our video of New Year wishes!