August 14th...

This is one date that I hate very much. This was the date that marked the beginning of my changed life. Never again on this earth would my Mom live with NO cancer and who would have known that only 5 short months later she wouldn't even be with me any longer.

I'm trying really hard to not dwell on all of this because it seems foolish. My Mom is in Heaven and I have a wonderful loving family here with me, why be sad? But it doesn't work...I still get sad, I still miss her a LOT, and there are still even parts of me that long for her to be back. Just to be with her one more time.

I went back and reread the blog post I did last year at this time and it seems crazy to me even how much life has changed in this one year. The past 6 months life has been incredible. I love it! I have that same joy that I had when my Mom was alive. Okay, maybe not exactly the same because that hole is still somewhat there. How could it ever fully go away, but my heart HAS been restored to an extent and I'm so thankful to God that He has blessed me with some family that does love me unconditionally. It's like my Mom can't be here for me, but God's allowed someone else to come and fill that spot and I know my Mom would be so happy.

If any of you are interested in reading the other blog post I'll post the link to where I blogged at. It explains more of what I went through on this day. The pain and heartache and why I hate the 14th of August so much. Old blog post

Please be praying for me that I can look to the Lord tomorrow as I go through this day. That I'd look at all the blessings God has given me instead of the tremendous loss.

I miss you Mom and I'll never forget you! I'll love you forever! ;(

LUKE IS ONE!

Today is my baby brother's first birthday! :) I know I don't usually post too much on siblings birthdays but it being his first I thought I'd at least update you all with a few photos. :) Luke has been such a blessing to everyone in the family. What a little bundle of joy he is. It's hard to believe he is one, but at the same time it seems like it's been FOREVER since we were at the hospital with him being born. I guess just so much has happened since then! :) I'm so thankful to God though he gave me Luke to be my brother. I just love him so much! Love you Luke!

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

KITTENS!!

Well it's a rainy day today and I really have so much to get done but I wanted to get this blog post in before I leave on my trip. :) Last week while at Addie's house (the neighbor I help) I noticed there were 6 kittens! They all looked so cute so after I was done working, some of us kids went back over to play with them and get some pictures!! Immediately Gabrielle, Isaac and I clamed which ones were ours. :) There were actually two sets of kittens. The white ones and then the tiger looking ones and the grey one. (We claimed those ones) I had the smallest tiger looking one and her name was Whiskers, and Isaac named his Buttons and then I don't know if Gab named hers. She got the ugly looking one because his eyes were all glued shut sort of. :( She doctored him up though and I think he's looking more normal! I'm glad I got the pictures when I did though because Addie's daughter took home the 3 white ones since the Mom wasn't around. They were so so cute! I got a few pictures though, so hope you enjoy! I'm not even an animal person and especially a CAT person, but these kittens were adorable!!!!

(Does it look like I'm squishing her?)(Isaac and Buttons)
(Gabrielle and Mr. Gross Eyes)(This is Whiskers...she was SO cute and relaxed, the only kitten to lay on it's back)

(Yours truly...Whiskers!)

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So anyway....tonight is my last night here for awhile. I leave for MO tomorrow and will be there until Tuesday. Then from there I will fly to OK to visit my friends! :) Bethany will be turning 20 so I get to go and celebrate with her! She's having a beach party so that should be TONS of fun!!!! :) I'm having fun just preparing for it! ;)

It sure will seem weird being gone from everyone. But I think they are ready for the break! I am looking forward to seeing my sisters and friends though too! :) I'm sure I'll have lots to blog about when I get back home.

Family Vacation!!!!

Okay, don't be too mad at me! It's been forever since I blogged but what can I say? I have a life now! ;) I really should try to update more because we do a lot and there are tons of pics I could post but haven't, so I'm sorry!This trip we just went on was definitely worth blogging though! :) Awhile ago Jess and Jamie had the idea for us to take a family trip to the sand dunes in Michigan and camp. I'll be honest the thought of going to MI to camp and hike did not sound fun to me, but I wasn't going to tell them that! ;) Plus with all the comments about not doing things with the family I had to just be a trooper with this one. :DAs soon as we got there though my opinion of the whole trip changed SOOO much! The sand dunes were AMAZING! :) We first got there and set up our tents and got some things organized then it was time to check out the BIIIIGGG hill! ;) It was like right next to our camp site so that was nice but boy was that a climb! The hill was huge and since we were all just getting over colds it wasn't the easist climb! But like Aunti Dar's cell phone thing...once we made the climb it was worth the view! How gorgeous! :) We were way way over the tree line and could see Lake Michigan from where we were at and just everything! I was pretty much in awe at first at all that God had created...truly amazing! :)

Due to no cell phone service down at the campsite I had to make some calls while at the top of the hill too! :) Txted some pictures to people and then called my sister to tell her about it! :) What can I say...I was excited, okay? :)Since it was later by the time we got up there we only hiked a little bit but it was sooo fun! It was like we were playing in a huge sandbox. We took off our flip flops and just ran barefoot! The only downfall was having sand EVERYWHERE...not the best feeling! :D 

(Okay, I look REALLY weird, but like I said...sand EVERYWHERE)

So we went back down that huge hill and had dinner, chili on fritos! Jamie had the idea to make them and they were soo yummy! It was a cool idea also, just pour the chili right in the bag of fritos. They also made these really neat "pudgie pies" (not sure if I am spelling that right) I didn't have one the first night but got braver the second night. They put lemon pie filling and marshmellows in them as a dessert...yuuummm! So good! :)

(This little critter was a a frequent visitor, but at the time of the picture he was getting into our neighbor's trash! ;)

The second day was the best! We got an early start, kind of, and hiked back up the HUGE hill and hiked over to the beach!!! We decided to leave our flip flops at the tent and go barefoot the whole way which was smart, except for the walk home. At first the water was soo cold but by the time we got so numb it felt pretty good! :) Gabrielle and I were determined to swim out to the water marker thingy and we thought for sure it'd be pretty deep out there, but as we started to swim it got deeper and deeper than shallow, so it fooled us! :D It was quite cold though! :)

The kids had fun burying eachother in the sand and making Sand Mermen. :) I think it was a fun day for everyone! :) The guys brought the frisbee too, so I saw that flying around a lot and lots of rock skipping. When it was time to go home the sand was VERY hot so we knew we wouldn't make it going home that way! We ended up taking some wooded kind of path and then the roads so although it wasn't hot on our feet it still didn't feel the best and it was one long walk! :) We must have got a lot more leg muscle after this trip. :D I can't say it enough though, it was SO SO SO much fun!

That night the sunset was SOO pretty so a few of us hiked back up and sat on top of one of the dunes and watched the sunset over the lake. I figured it's the perfect spot for a proposal one day! :D So the only bad thing from that day was the sunburns...we didn't REALIZE we were getting as much sun as we were and well...we are paying for it now. :( Poor Jess has the reddest legs I've ever seen and many of us had some red faces. My back was the main thing that hurt but thanks to God it is feeling better today!

(Isaac picked these flowers for me, RIGHT after we talked about proposals...isn't he SO sweet?)

On our way home we stopped in St. Joseph's Harbor. What a change in weather though because we were in like pants and sweatshirts, it was chilly! It was totally worth the 5 dollars though to see the light house down there! ;) We also got to do some shopping which is always fun! :) Thanks for the WONDERFUL trip, it was great!Also, it was just nice to spend time away from everything with family where there really aren't too many distractions. :)