Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all! It really had been a great Christmas season for us. We have had lots of opportunity to feel the Christmas Spirit, weather it be while we were decorating our tree, making goodies, shopping, visiting Temple Square, making Christmas easier for other families has to be my favorite. The spirit is soo strong when you're giving for a good reason and knowing it's going to be appreciated. I'm grateful for the opportunities that Jared and I have to feel the spirit.This is a beautiful time of year, I hope all of you haven't got caught up in the hub bub of the holiday, and that you had the opportunity to feel the spirit. We hope you all have a great Christmas and a wonderful 2011!

Is there REALLY a reason to be THANKFUL??

As Thanksgiving is drawing closer, I hear and read what people are Thankful for, and wonder why I am not feeling that way about the things that I have. Should I be Thankful for the things that I have, when the one thing I want I can't have.I have a home, clothes on my back, food on my table a wonderful and loving husband and a supportive family, friends,my health, a car, a job, I live in a country that I can practice the religion of my choice, I have the freedom to choose what I want to do,and much more. I pretty much have everything any girl could ever ask for, but one thing... a child. I remember growing up and my sister and I would be playing in our room with my little yellow haired Cabbage Patch doll, and she was my daughter, I fed her, changed her did her hair( as much as you could style a head full of yellow yarn). Was that my chance? Is that all I am going to get? I see people all around me with their arms full of these adorable babies and I so want that to be Jared and I. Everyone says to "be patient" "give it time" "someday Danielle it will be your turn" I love the kind words people say to me to help me feel better, but it still hurts. I was talking (IM-ing) to a friend who has been struggling with this same infertility problems as Jared and I have, after talking to her, I got an over whelming feeling that I was being selfish for not being grateful for what I have. The pas week at school, my Kindergartner's have been working in what they are grateful for and it is as simple as... Christmas, their beds, their grandpa and grandma, brothers and sisters. They are 5 and can find many things to be Thankful for and here I am 29+ and I can't be grateful for anything that I have, because I don't have what I want... to me that sounds like a spoiled brat. Well, I am very grateful for my home, clothes on my back, food on my table a wonderful and loving husband and a supportive family, friends,my health, a car, a job, I live in a country that I can practice the religion of my choice, I have the freedom to choose what I want to do,and much more. And someday I will get what I want, it may not be in this lifetime, but someday I will.

If Life Were Easy...

Just a little blup of how I am feeling... you really find out who your true friends are when you are going through trials and every ounce of faith that you can come up with is being tried. Thank you to all my friends and family who have been there for me and offering me advice and a hug. I LOVE YOU ALL!!! XOXOXOXOXO

My HEART is OVER FLOWING

My heart is over flowing with gratitude for my HEAVENLY FATHER for all that he has blessed me with...

BuSy SuMmEr!!!

I has been a busy summer. We have been going and going since June and it's not looking like it will be slowing down any until after Labor Day when we come back from Montana and the first home game for the Montana Grizzlies. We are super excited to go because all of my family will be there.

We were able to spend some time in Glacier National Park in June and that was amazing. Here are a few of the pictures...

GLACIER PARK-THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE EVER!!

Last week Jared and I went up to Glacier National Park- it was AMAZING!!! Everything about it was just perfect, the weather, the animals, absolutely everything. This is just on of the many waterfalls that we saw. I will post more when I get a some more time.

Rain Rain go away...

Here it is the end of May and surprise surprise it's RAINING!!! I am so tired of the rain and the wind and the cold. I am ready to be outside and go on walks and go golfing with my husband and BBQing with my friends, and yeah!! But no I am stuck in my house with the windows closed (the only one that is open is the bedroom cause Jared likes to sleep in a freezer). I keep hoping that someday Jared will feel the same way and we can get out of this place, that's not looking very promising. I am sorry that this post is kinda raunchy, but I have to vent, (Jared is tired of hearing it) I am hoping by posting this Mother Nature will read this and feel bad for us in Cache Valley and change her mind about keeping winter here for 9 months.

It's been a while...

I just noticed that it has been a while since I blogged. a lot has happened in the last month. Girls Scout Cookies are done, we are on the tail end of Girl Scouts for the year ( I can hear the angels singing) We made our plans for our summer trip. We are going to Glacier Park. I haven't been there in 17 years, and I am so excited to show Jared the places that I use to go when I was younger. We have enjoyed the warmish weather that we have been having, we got to invite some friends over and BBQ yummy hamburgers and all the fixin's, Gary seemed to enjoy it. Other then that we are just waiting for summer to come. Hope everyone's having a good spring.

My new found love

I painted this one for my dad for Father's Day

I painted this one for Jared
I started taking an oil painting class the beginning of February and these are the 2 paintings that I have done so far. When I go to painting, I am in a totally different world. I am very quiet and leave all my worries out in my car. I am so relaxed while I am painting and feeling so refreshed after each class. I never thought in a million years that I would be able to paint like this. I LOVE IT!!!

Decison making skills...

I am speechless at some peoples decision making skills. They make poor decisions and then wonder why they have consequences. I was taught that there are consequences for every decision that you make, they could be positive or negative. As parents (most of you) what are we teaching our children? They see us make bad choices and receive the punishment for it, and try and take the easy way out, or pass the blame on to someone else. That isn't what we should be teaching them, we as parents, adults, should stand up and take the punishment even if we feel it is unfair. We teach the kid that LIFE ISN'T FAIR" and to deal with it. Maybe we should practice what we preach...

Gluten Free Diet... What?

I have been having really bad tummy aches and I talked to a friend and my Dr and they both suggested that I go 2 weeks with no Gluten. Do you know what that means to a girl that loves bread, cookies, pastries, that kind of stuff? It's pretty much HELL!! I have only done it for 2 days and I thought I was doing okay until I got to work today and with me I had everybody's Girl Scout Cookies. I put the box on the floor and started to work. Lunch time came and I ran to the local store to buy some " G-F" food. I came back with a bag of Spinach, a bag of carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, craisins, and some poppyseed dressing (not sure if that is G-F, but it's good). Lunch was yummy,and refreshing. As the afternoon wore on people came into my office to get their cookies, then all of the sudden I got the BIGGEST craving for some THIN MINTS!! I took a drink of my water, that didn't help. Sipped some of the Dr. Pepper that I have, that didn't help either. I tried talking to my friend Savannah about it and she was having the same craving. I kept eyeballing the box that all the cookies were in (trying to remember who ordered what so I could take theirs and replace it tomorrow)trying to talk myself out of it, but it didn't work. I walked over and took a box of THIN MINTS out of one of the orders and promptly opened it and hurried and put one of those fresh delicious cookies in my mouth, turned around and handed on to Savannah. We are both saying " this is the best cookie h\I have ever had" so what do we do? We have another. Lack of self control? It is going to be so hard to "re train" my body to not eat whatever I want when I want. But Girl Scout Cookies only come once a year and are sooooo delicious!! I am going to put up a valiant effort to get through this, I have been through worse... I think!!

Neice # 10 is almost here...

I am so excited for this next week to come. My sister is having my 10th beautiful niece. There is absolutely nothing better then being an AUNTIE. I love the fact that I can buy them WHATEVER I want and send them home, I can pretty much whatever I want with them and of course...send them home. But, for me that is the saddest part. Sending them home. my heart breaks every time I have to say goodbye to them. I have such a strong bond with all my nieces all in different ways. All of them are so special to me. I was told once (not by anyone worth mentioning) that the reason that I love my nieces so much is because I don't have kids of my own, and if I did have my own kids that I wouldn't love my nieces as much.That is so not who I am. I think they need a National Auntie Day!! I know I would send my Aunts a card or something. I can't wait to go home and hold this brand new baby girl that was sent here from Our Heavenly Father, and to look into her eyes and let her know that her Auntie loves her so much and would do anything in the world for her. I Love you: Alexandria, Heather, Chesnie, Cambrie, Elizabeth, Brooklyn, Meggan, Kennady, Paislee, Maryanna, and of course the nephews Justin and Peyton.

I LOVE BEING AN AUNTIE

Jared and I decided to go on a road trip this last weekend to Moroni and see his brother and his family!!! MY NIECES!!! We got there Friday night and Jared and Corey fixed the brakes on their van and I talked to Heidi and the girls. Saturday we got up and drove into Provo and Orem and went shopping. We had so much fun!! Jared and I have wanted to get the girls a "Build a Bear" for awhile now and there was one in the University Mall so we decided there is no better time like the present. We talked to Corey and Heidi and asked them if it would be ok and they said yes, so we each took a girl through the process... I had Cambrie, Jared took Chesnie and Corey and Heidi had Meggan and Paislee. They each picked out their very own bear and outfit. It was so fun to see the look on their faces as we were doing it. It is something that I will never forget. I have so much gratitude towards my Heavenly Father for giving me the oppertunity to be the best Auntie that I can be. I may not ever be able to have my own children, but being an Aunt comes in close second.!!!

I LOVE...

The things that I LOVE...my husband, Betty Booop, Hippos, my 9 nieces and 2 nephews, my family, orange drink from McDonalds, Dog-the bounty Hunter, Sage, Nattie, Girl Scouts, Scrapbooking, card making, painting, my sisters, my job, pretty much my whole life!! Thanks to the GREATEST MAN EVER...Jared!! I love you Huners!!

Everyone has a twin...

It's so hard to explain to people who this is. A LOT of people think it's Jared and have made the comment " That's a great picture of your husband" I respond (with a GREAT BIG grin) "Thanks" He really does look a little like Jared. I wonder what people think when I tell them who it is. Is it really bad to have a picture of Duane Lee on my phone and computer at work?

Yes!! I did it and will do it again.

I am so excited that I figured out how to put up pictures. I am so excited!!

Jared and Danielle Celebrating 8 WONDERFUL years together!!

Quality Time Together...

I am so excited for the weekend to be here. Jared and I have been "struggling" the past couple months and we talked about what we can do to make things better not only for ourselves, but for each other. We came up with a good list of things to work on independently and as a couple. The first thing on the list is "QTT". I am so excited, tomorrow we are packing a picnic lunch and going up to Hardware Ranch to see the Elk, and maybe a movie that evening. What a great way to spend time together. I love Jared and can't wait to spend ALL day tomorrow with him.

Hard Times...

Saturday the 16th we woke up to Jared's phone ringing, it was his dad calling to tell us that Jared's Grandpa Hugie passed away. He was 82 and lived a long fulfilling life. But, it is still hard to watch your family and the ones you love struggle through. His grandpa has a great testimony of the gospel and shared that with his family.I am glad that he isn't suffering anymore and that he can now remember who his wife and children are ( at the time of his death he didn't know anyone) I know that he is doing the work of the Lord and that he is watching over all of us. We Love and Miss you Grandpa Hugie!!! <3

i'm trying...

I'm trying to get this Blog thing down, easier said then done. I have been super busy with the holidays, and I got a promotion at work, so that has kept me busy and just life in general. We had a good Christmas, we stayed in Utah this year. It's always hard to be away from my family over the holidays, it doesn't ever seem to get easier. I struggle with it every year. I think it is because the "traditions" are so different then what I grew up with, I realize that, that is part of growing up, but it doesn't make it any easier. Things will get easier with time... I hope.