Holy cow... It's been... YEARS!!

It's been a long time, I'm sorry. Life had been busy. We finally got our house!! And another puppy!! Her name is Funk and she is a stink!! I got my nail tech license and I'm working at Girl Candy Nail Boutique and I love it!! Jared is still with Heritage and loves it. We are just finishing up our Foster Care classes do wet can get our license to host foster children. We are pretty excited, nervous, anxious all off thee above. We couldn't be happier with the way things are going. Iwill catch you up more later with pictures. Love you all J,D,B,and T

Busy, Busy, Busy

I didn't realize it has been almost 5 months since I have written, but I guess if you follow me on Facebook, you're pretty up to speed on everything. Well, the last time I wrote we had gone to Montana for a graduation, we have been back 2 times since. One was for a family reunion at Aunt Sherri's in Helena and Ron, Myrna, Marla, Carol came from Washington and a bunch of cousins came that live in the area or not too far. That was lots of fun. Then Jared and I drove up at the end of September for a benefit for Uncle Dave.It was also a great trip. We got word last week that there is a spot that is growing on his lung and he will start getting treatment for it soon. I deep down hope he can come out of this. I love my family so much and it is so hard to be away knowing they are going through a hard time. The end of August, beginning of September we FINALLY started our HOUSE!!! I can't begin to tell you how excited we are to at least be starting. It has been a fun learning experience. We love everyone of our neighbors and are excited to be able to be neighbors. We are hoping to be done July of 2015!! Woo Hoo!!!

Our lot before anything was done to it

Lot after it had been scraped

Us and our neighbors plotting out our house

Our hole has been dug and ready for footings.

Sub contractors pouring our foundation!! Woo Hoo

We have a foundation!! It's starting to look like a house!! At the beginning of October we had family pictures done with Jared's family... it was fun and we love all the pictures... this one is our favorite though...

(Left to Right) Layla (we call her "Sassy Sue" gee I wonder why?) Paislee, Kennady, Maliya, Uncle, Quincee, Meggan, Peyton.(Back Row L to R) Cambrie, Auntie, Brooklyn, Chesnie October 20th Jared's sister K and her husband T went to the SLC Temple to be Sealed for Eternity. It was a very spiritual experience and are grateful they allowed us to be apart of it.

Needless to say we have had lots going on. we are excited to get into our house, after all that is what we have been dreaming about for 3 years!! Hope all is well with everyone!! We love you all Love, J, D, and Bandit

WoW TiMe FlIeS

Here it is the end of June already- what a summer we have had so far. We went to Montana the end of May beginning of June for our niece Alex's High School graduation, and to spend some time up there before we start our house- while we were up there we were blessed with niece # 13 Quincee. Jared's brother and his wife added a 5th little princess to their family!! We are super excited!! On a different note, Bandit he has been apart of our family for 2 years now and boy is he a joy to have around!! I can be in a foul mood and just seeing him turns mu day around. Our house is coming along, we are waiting to be called in to pick out lot and house plan... it's taking FOREVER!!!But I know it will be worth it in the long run. Hope everyone has a great 4th of July and stays safe. Love to all, J,D, and B

Out with the OLD and in with the NEW

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 2013 was one heck a roller coaster ride for us- I am grateful for all the things that we accomplished and got to experience- some were worth it and others I wouldn't have wished on my worst enemy, but it is what it is and we are better and stronger for them. I would have to say that I am VERY excited for 2014... we are starting the year COMPLETELY DEBT FREE!!! That was one of our goals and it feels so good!! We should be starting our house this spring and we are SO excited for that!! I don't know if I am more excited about the actual house or the fact that my parents are already talking about coming and spending our first Christmas with us in our home!! That means the world to me!! I miss my family so much- 99.9% of the time- the other .1% I'm talking to one of them so the loneliness isn't that bad. We are still doing RFL this year, but on a way smaller scale then the last few, as we will be busy with the house. No fireworks stand this year, I don't know if I should be excited about that or exactly how to feel. It was because of that we got to go to SEATTLE and to the SEAHAWKS game- and all the things we got to do there- we WILL be going back and we WILL be going to CLINK to watch the HAWKS!!! 2014 will be focused on our house and getting that done as fast as we can- We love you all and hope that 2014 will be great for you!!! Love, ~D

New Feelings...

When someone you love passes away, you feel so many emotions- sad, hurt, scared, confused, peace, comfort, and the list could go on. Saturday morning after Maliya passed, I met with President Gatherum (he was our Bishop then got put in the Stake Presidency) at his office and he visited about what happened the day before and what I was feeling. He shared Alma 40:11-12 that helped a lot and another thing that he shared is " how special these babies are that have come to our family, and have been called back home so soon, and how special our family is to be given these perfect babies that don't have to endure the world we live in. And Danielle, how special are you and Jared that you can't even get you babies to get here..." I froze. Not one time in our infertility problems have I ever thought I was "special." I have always felt that I wasn't as good as the women that are having them. I hope this makes sense, I am still trying to wrap my head around this all, it's going to take time. Thanks for reading and all your love and support through these tough times. Love you all ~D

Maliya Jade

On the morning of Oct. 25, 2013, our beautiful little angel, Maliya Jade, left this earth to return into the loving arms of her Heavenly Father. Maliya was born on May 28, 2013, to Tanner Logan and Kelsea Blair Gunnell of Smithfield, Utah. We were so blessed to have been in her sweet presence for five short months. While her time here seemed short, she deeply touched everyone she came in contact with. One of those people was her big brother, Peyton Carter. He loved his baby sister more than anything. She loved to smile, laugh and bring happiness to those around her. When Maliya left this life, she received a loving welcome from her uncle Jason, cousin Andrew, and great-grandfathers Cecil Hugie and Willis Roper. She is survived by her loving parents and brother; grandparents Garry and Cindy Roper, and Val and Cindy Gunnell; great-grandparents Donna Roper, Lois Hugie, Ray and Carolyn Gilbert, Burke and Vernetta Gunnell, and many wonderful aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who loved her dearly. Graveside services for Maliya will be held at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 30, in the Smithfield City Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Nelson Funeral Home, 85 S. Main and from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Donations can be made in Maliya's name for the Gunnell family at any Wells Fargo bank. Condolences may be expressed online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hjnews/obituary.aspx?n=maliya-jade-gunnell&pid=167750984&#sthash.WfD98Ik1.FRukxT5E.dpuf

There aren't even words to describe the hurt Jared and I feel, but together we will get through this. You will forever be in our hearts little angel. Auntie and Uncle love you so much!!

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN...

I can't believe I haven't posted anything in 3 1/2 months...Sorry, needless to say we have been having fun. Let me take you back a couple months... July- what a whirlwind. We spent the month in a HOT HOT HOT tent selling FIREWORKS!! It paid off in the end, but it was still miserable at times. In the middle of the FIREWORKS adventure I got hired on a DFS (Direct Financial Services) in the collection department... I LOVE IT!! I would be at the FIREWORK tent from 8 am until 230 pm then go to training until 8 pm come back to the tent and be there until 12 am- ended up being really long days. Thank goodness Jared and his mom were there!! The FIREWORKS finally ended and I got done with training and I started to work from 7 am to 10 pm (we had unlimited over time) WOO HOO!! NOT!! I did that almost the entire month of August- I was exhausted, but the $$$ was good- it got us completely out of debt, which was one of our goals with the FIREWORKS- we decided that we wanted to take a trip... something we don't do and if we do we go to Montana, which we LOVE, but we wanted to do something new. We did go to Montana for the annual game, which was really low key with Uncle Dave being sick. Anyway, we googled places we haven't been and we couldn't decide and I wanted to do something for Jared, for all he does for me. So, if you know Jared at all you will know that this time of year he lives and breaths... FOOTBALL!! Definitely, not my favorite, but I support him when I can. So I looked up his favorite football team these days which is the Seattle Sea hawks (2 of his AGGIES play for them) and what do you know, they play the TITANS on our 12th Anniversary in Seattle!! It couldn't be better, right? SO I started checking prices and looking at things for us to do and TOLD Jared that we were going. It worked!! I booked the hotel and bought the tickets to the game!! I was so excited!! September couldn't have gone any slower... we were both so excited to go on our trip. As it got closer we planned out or route and where we would stop and etc... Fast forward... we are headed out of town!! Finally on our way!! 14 hrs later we pull into our hotel... let the FUN begin!! We did so much and had such a great time!! We got to meet up with cousins of mine that I haven't seen in 20+ years... that had to be the highlight of the trip. The game was AMAZING!! the entire trip was so fun!! (I will post pictures this week) I am grateful that we had the opportunity to go ans spend time with each other. I am also very grateful that I have a loving husband that I enjoy spending time with and going on adventures with... that what this life has been with him... one big ADVENTURE!! I LOVE YOU JARED!! Love, D~