Country Princess

Well, since it's taking me forever to get together a post of my OK trip I figured I'd blog about this first! :) Kind of has to do with OK, so it'll work. My friend Bethany has been going through her registration papers for her goats and needed to name them all, well to my surprise she named one after me! How sweet huh? She named this little goat, "Country Princess" I guess she saw that my Mom called me that a few times so she liked the name and used it! :) Thought I'd post some pictures of her too though, since it's the first goat that Bethany is keeping that she's named after me!! :D Exciting, huh? :)

HaPpY BiRtHdAy MoM!

Today is no ordinary day...but it's my new Mom's birthday! Although it's only been 6 months since I've lived here, there are already so many qualities about Mom I love and look up to. Most importantly is her ability to love anyone and everyone. I wouldn't be here today if she didn't have the heart she does. How many people do you know take in 20 year olds? Also Mom is about the most organized person I know. Some of us kids about drive her crazy with our lack of organization.....not ME of course!! ;) :D (ya right!)

She rises very early and is the last to sleep at night just so she has everything caught up for the day, Whether it's dishes, laundry, or school stuff. Mom also has such a generous heart and is a servant to so many. The way she so diligently serves her family is such an example to me. I know it'll be hard shoes to fill when I have the chance to be a Mom to a family but I hope I can have the servants heart she has. I could go on and on and say how talented, creative, honest/blunt ;), forgiving, and fun person she is but almost all of you already know that all! So Happy Birthday Mom and thanks so much for choosing to be my Mom!!!!


...This passage SO describes Mom, but I'm adding things in parenthesis to further explain it and to apply to her!... ;)

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. (He has no lack of anything with her!) She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax (maybe more like cotton fabrics and grain..is flax a grain), and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. (We have a garden at Jaspers, so that's kinda far!) She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. (See...this is Mom completely! We don't have servants, but she gives food to the neighbors each day!) She considers a field and buys it (Or our neighbors house...lol), from her profits she plants a vineyard.(Guess what...the house she wants HAS a vineyard) She girds herself with strength and strengthens her arms.(She has to be strong to pick me up to tickle me!) She perceives that her merchandise is good and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. (I'm so glad she doesn't really have us in scarlet all the time but we do stay warm) She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. (Dad's pretty well known I guess!) ;) She makes linen garments and sells them; and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. (Mom you are so beautiful on the inside AND out!) Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates."
Proverbs 31:10-31 (with added stuff)

Love you!!!

Your Country Princess, Danielle ;)

Lincoln Park Zoo

Well since it's this late I'm not really going to write alot but just share some pictures with you all! When I flew back into Chicago my family was there to pick me up and had such a fun day planned for us! :) We went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. What a shock it was to go from 100 degree weather to 60 degree weather though!! Brrr!!! Not sure IL EVER gets hot!!! :D We had such a wonderful time though! I loved just spending time with my family and getting to see them all again! Love you guys!

(Chicago)

(Gabrielle and Isaac)

(Dad...love you!)

(Standing in line for the carousel...notice the sweatshirt?)

The Joy of Work

Well as most of you know I am back from OK now and I had a wonderful trip, but have no pictures to post right now. I'm waiting on pictures from Anna so I can do one nice looonnngg post! :) But in the meantime, I thought I'd share this with you! :) Today marks the beginning of something new for me!!!! YAY! :) I got a blister which will turn into a callous soon, right below my middle finger from WORKING!! :) I've had callouses many times but from other kinds of things like playing guitar or sometimes raking, but never from just general work. I've made comments lots of times before about Jordan's hands because he has them on both hands. I had asked how he got them, thinking there would be some sort of thing he had done and they all just say..."work!" So, I'm here to say today I got my first one from WORKING with Jordan! :) I at least know what it's from though, trimming, trimming, and more trimming! :) (Actually I didn't do that much at all, but I guess my hands aren't used to it) I had fun though and am happy that Jordan is patient enough to teach me how to help him with his jobs. And I'm thrilled I will have a callous!!!!! :) It's hard to see it in the picture, but that's the best I could get! :)

Thank you Jordan for giving me this opportunity!! :) Thanks for letting me help you also!

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" Colossians 3:23