thanks.....

YMCA (Leland, Ashley, Tyler & Bryan)

November has come and just about gone and I have yet to blog. I would be an ungrateful daughter if I did not have at least one post of gratitude. I am so thankful to my Father in Heaven for all of my many blessings. To name just a few, David, Tyler, Leland, Ashley, Bryan, Angie, Lauren, Nick, Little David, Carter, Jeremy, my parents, David's parents, the gospel, my home, this land of America, jobs, health, friends and loved ones, the Temple.........I have been trying to pray giving thanks daily and not asking for anything. A bit challenging but I have come to feel so much more gratitude for so many things that I sometimes just take for granted. I owe all my thanks to Father. I am truly blessed.

Birthdays.....

Last night we celebrated 3 birthdays!!! September is a busy month at the Daniel home. Lauren, Tyler and Angie all are born in September. We we all here to spend some time together and share some very yummy food and an excellent dessert. Tyler requested Costa Vida Pork and the fixings so that is what we had, along with the yummiest Lalee Cake you could ask for. She made a 4 layer cake that was devils food chocolate with peanut butter cup mouse for the filling along with rolled wafer cookies and shaved chocolate on top. What more could you ask for I ask? We had a wonderful time and we are all still smiling.

Lauren, Tyler & Angie
(Tyler was making sure he blew out the candles first) 

and he did!!!!!

                                  

Ancestors.....

     Wednesday evening David & I along with our 3 married children and their spouses went to the Temple and did some family sealings.  It was such a wonderful experience.  Bryan and a friend of his watched all 3 of our grandchildren so their parents could go with us, this was Bryan's contribution to our Family Temple Night.  I wept tears of joy while there. I have been working on getting these family members taken care of for a very long time.  Some have been waiting since the 1700's, (I have not been working on them since then).  I love going to the Temple and I love it even more when I can share it with those I love the most. The feelings that I felt are so precious to me, I am thankful to my Father in Heaven for the blessing of Eternal Families.

60 years.....

This past August the 4th my wonderful parents celebrated 60 short years of marriage.  Wow!!!!! What a wonderful example they are for us all.  My siblings and I threw them a party and it was so great.  I have wanted to blog about it for awhile but was waiting on pictures to put with it. We sent out 250 invitations a goodly number of the 250 came the night of the event. There were only 2 their grandchildren not able to be with us.  We had all kinds of yummy food to eat and my daughterAshley our resident pastry chef made the most yummy of cakes for the event. 

I believe we all had a wonderful time as did my parents.

Valerie and I surprised our folks by singing for them a song that is very dear to

 our family members hearts.

The song is one our daddy would sing to us children before he would leave to go railroading during the summers when we were young. He was an Engineer for the Southern/Pacific RailRoad. He has requested Valerie and I sing it at his funeral when that day comes, it will be hard to do, but we will do it. He had tears in his eyes as we sang for them. I have been so blessed to have the parents I do.



Dad & Mom



Dad, Mom, Sharon, Robyn, Pam, Lawanna, Janet, Leland & Valerie
(we are here in our birth order)



Valerie & I singing Daddy's favorite song.
"She was the Baby Daughter of A Railroad Engineer"



Bakery.....

My home has some wonderful stuff going on, Ashley is preparing for a wedding tomorrow, she is making cake.  I love to watch her as she creates, she gets into "her creative zone" as I call it and she is fun to watch, she even lets me help sometimes. I really should post a picture once in awhile of the cakes and all that she makes, they are so tempting and very yummy.  Her bakery "Lalee Cakes" can be found at Laleecakes.blogspot.com, you will not be sorry. 

days.....

I have passed the half way point of my class! Yeah for me! I am learning a lot and I am not too sure if I would do an on-line class again. So many mixed feelings about it. Only 2 chapters left and then my final to tackle. Wish me luck.

On a much brighter note, David & I are preparing for our stakes up coming Youth Trek, we have been called as a Pa & Ma for this.  We are both working out a little harder so we will be physically as well as spiritually ready for it.  I now must work on getting our clothes ready for it also.  We participated in one about 81/2 years ago so we have a good idea of what is in store for us, we just need to make sure to have warm clothing with us. I am so thrilled for the task set in front of us.

conference.....

It never seems to amaze me, I can go to my church meetings and hear something I know I have heard time and again, but it hits so profoundly that for just a moment I believe that I have heard it for the first time.  We had Stake Conference in our home stake today and so David and I were able to attend with our children, what a blessing it was. The talk that really spoke to me was given by an 11 year old girl, she spoke on how at any age we can and should be preparing ourselves spiritually to enter the Temple of our Lord. Wow, she really nailed it. I feel so blessed to have been in attendance today. How blessed we all our to have a Heavenly Father how loves and knows his children.

Catching Up.....

The last week of July we spent our usual family week at the cabin in Pinetop!   It was so fun. David & I were the first to get there, then Nick & Ashley arrived, followed by Leland, Lauren and Carter, along with Angie, Little David and Jeremy.  The next day Bryan & Tarra along with Ryan & Calie arrived. Tyler was not able to make it up until the weekend. (We were so glad when he arrived, it just is not complete until we are all there!)

The weather was perfect, it rained a little almost every day and a couple of days it our right poured. One of our most favorite things about being up there in July is all the rain.  We love to sit on the porch and watch the storm clouds roll in across the mountain and meadow then just open up and pour. The sound of thunder the smell of the forest after the rain is like Heaven!!! 

We took walks, went hiking, bike riding, shooting and spent time just catching up with each other.  

 I always take something to work on, this year I took along my needle turn appliqué that I am working on, I am making a "sun bonnet sue" quilt! When I am finished with it I want to put in my guest room. Ashley brought along a project also, thus the grandchildren and their beanies!

This year we went and spent a day with Nicks Mom and sister in law at the Homestead, we had a total blast while there.  Bryan even declared that Nick is like" Macgyver" in his own way!   A good time was had by all. We launched home made rockets, played on the rope swing had a yummy lunch and then waited for the storm to pass before heading home to Pinetop.

Time seems to go by too quickly while there, I find myself wishing I could slow it just a little so we can all enjoy being up in the mountains just a bit longer. I feel so blessed to be able to spend this uninterrupted time with my family.

Nick & Ashley on the porch

Carter

Jeremy sporting the beanie Auntie Lalee made for him

Little David

Tarra, Carter and Bryan on porch, must not forget Mddisen (our dog)

David, Jeremy and Little David

birds.....

I have been struggling with the birds in my garden.  I planted pumpkin seeds the middle of June early one morning, the next morning I went to water the garden only to find they had all been dug up and strewn about the garden, I replanted the next day the same thing. I was not happy, so I re-replanted again, only for it to happen yet again. The light went on in my head and I out smarted those birds!  I went into my sewing stash and found some bridal netting and cut myself a large square of it, then heading to my garden once again I planted my pumpkin seeds and then I covered the newly planted seeds with my netting. I out smarted the birds I now have pumpkin plants that are 4 inches high.  I am so thrilled, I am in hopes of having my own home grown pumpkins for Halloween this year. Wish me some luck please! I so love gardening.

Freedom.....

Freedom: many men and women have died so that I may live free! I do not ever want to take this freedom for granted, I think of my Dad and Dad in law and the fact that willingly served so we can live free. They both served in the Navy, (maybe this is one of the reasons David and I both love the sea), I love this land and the blessings that come from being born here. I am thinking we shall go find some fireworks to watch, I love to watch them go off, I sometimes feel like a kid watching them. I hope all have a wonderful Independence Day!!!!     God Bless America and Keep Her Free!!!!!!!!!

Temple.....

This had been a wonderful week, I was able to attend the Temple with my sweetheart on Tuesday morning, and by morning a mean really early in the morning as in 5:30 am. It was just what I needed as well as David. The answers that come while there are so powerful!  I never feel let down when I have gone to the House of my Lord seeking inspiration and guidance. I love it when David and I both receive the same promptings, I love it so.

Today I was able to go with my little girlie. What a great afternoon being able to attend the Temple with my daughter, what a wonderful experience. As I was thinking about going earlier this week it dawned on me for 29 and 1/2 years of attending the Temple the only time I have gone  with my own Mom was when a family member was going through.  I decided I did not want that  to be the case with my daughter and myself. So I asked her if she would like to go with me seeing as how she had the day off and she said sure.  I am hoping we can make this a regular occurrence.  I love going, it is hard to leave the peace and beauty of the Temple, but at least I feel rejuvenated from having attended today. I keep hearing the primary song go through my head:  I love to see the Temple......twice in one week feels so very right!

school.....

I have been back in the work force; as in working away from my home, for 6 full months now, so comes my next step! Ta........Da..... I am going to be starting a class the first week of July. Can I say that I have never gone to summer school and I am not too sure what I think of it, but here I go. Wish me luck! Please?

ride.....

Oh, what a beautiful morning, I just had to go for a ride.  For Christmas David gave me a mountain bike, I have not ridden near enough.  For the past few weeks I have been out riding for at least a half hour or so, daily, anyway this morning it was beautiful out side, it really made for a great ride.  I just need to not lose heart as the heat of summer comes upon us here in the southwest.

Summer.....

It is June and I want to take a road trip so badly.  I love getting in the car and just enjoying the ride, I just love it when David drives.  We have a family trip planned for later this summer, but I keep trying to find a day or two for just the two of us to hit the road.
Ashley and Nick are all moved in, I think they are settling in nicely.  I love having them here, I know  it is not easy to move back but, they will be able to finish school and that is so important.
Bryan started his new job at Sherwin Williams and is loving it, along with his new job he has his new mode of transportation, he just purchased his R6 this past week and boy is he Happy!!!!!!
For the Memorial Day weekend we went motorcycling out in the desert East of our home then we all came back to our place and had a wonderfully fun cookout. One of the many loves of summer for me, family, friends, cookouts, all the yummy foods of summer; corn on the cob, watermelon, fruits of all kinds and just being able to be a bit more laid back.

bread.....

those who know me, know that I love to bake bread. I have a new recipe, it supposed to turn out like "artisan breads do" so today I am trying this recipe, I will have to report back on it. Wish me luck!

lights.....

ONE

TWO

THREE

  David has been working in our backyard for the past month, digging, digging, running line, digging some more and then running wire, pouring cement oh the list goes on. He could not of done it all with out the help of the boys of our family and a nephew who have been so good to come and help. I do what I can but, really I am not too good at hauling 80 lb. bags of cement, I do on the other hand make a mean lemonade and I do make sure to feed said help.  Slowly but surely our  yard is coming together. We now have lights, thats right not one, not two but three lights and come Saturday the "hot tub" will no longer be on our patio, it will be on its very on pad of cement!  Yeah for more room on the patio. I am so thrilled, this is an understatement to say the least.

birthday boys.....

Tarra & Bryan in Payson

Friday was David & Bryan's birthday!! So cool that they share birthdays, (I tried in vain to convince my OB to do my c-section on the 14th or 16th but oh no it was on the 15th).  Any way we had so much fun, David took the day off, Bryan was available and his girlfriend had a half day at school and so she took it off for our adventure.  We first went out to breakfast to Black Bear, oh so yummy, if you have not eaten there you should give yourself a treat and try it out.  We then came back to the house to get ourselves ready for the next part of our adventure. We took the Trail-duster out for a maiden outing to the mountains since the rebuild.  It was so fun, we had the top off and so with the wind in our hair and the sun shinning bright off we went to Payson. The weather was perfect for the trip, tho' it was a bit warm by the time we returned to the valley, we still had a blast for sure!

garden.....

My garden is now planted and I have some shoots already coming up.  I am so excited about this.  I love planting and working in my garden, it brings me so much peace, just working the soil with my hands.  I love it when I am harvesting all the yummy veggies, they taste so much better than what I purchase from the store. I will have to post a picture or two, but first I need to take a picture or two. Heres to growing a bountiful garden!

Spring Break.....

Bryan feeding the ducks at the Phoenix Zoo

I have had several friends ask what my plans are for Spring Break this year?  I have had to think for a minute then reply, now that all of my children have graduated it is just another week at this point! Oh, how sad is that?  For the last 24 years I have so loved Spring Break, we have taken some fun family vacations during Spring Break and had many a cousin and friends sleep overs, movie nights, pizza parties, too many zoo trips to mention.  In 1999 for Spring Break we even moved into our home!  I guess some of these past activities are over for the David & Lawanna home, but certainly not all of them.  We can still have pizza parties, movie nights and we can still go to the zoo.  When my grandchildren are a little older I will even have them all here for sleep overs. Somethings change but they don't all have to.  Happy Spring Break to all, ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!

yogurt.....

I have enjoyed, I mean really enjoyed European Yogurt ever since Ashley and I went to Europe in 2009.
The yogurt made in Europe is not near as sweet as the yogurt here, and it has so much more flavor. Ashley and I had it every morning we were in France for breakfast. It was really a treat.
I love the yogurt just not the price I have to pay at the grocery store. So today I bought myself a yogurt maker, I had to order it online because I could not find a store that carries them in stock, so now I must wait.  I will have to report on how it all turns out when it gets here.  Wish me luck!!! I am so excited about this, can you tell?

birthday girl.....

Ashley at 2 months, she is adorable!

My baby girl had a birthday this week and I did not even get to see her on her day!!! This is the first time in 23years that I did not spend it with her, I am a feeling so bad about this fact.  I thought her dad & I could go over and take her and her honey out for a treat or something, (we are having a big family dinner with everyone this Sunday to celebrate), any way, when I called her, they, Ashley & Nick were at his folks for dinner and birthday cake. Man what is a Mom to do? I love my girlie and I will just have to learn that sharing is not just for the little ones to learn but also for the adults. I will say this that I do not like it one bit!

ASAP.....

A friend just sent this to me and I must share it!
ASAP = Always Say A Prayer!!! I love it!!!!
Not my longest post, but surely a powerful
thought!

Friends.....

Shaune, Susie, Jeff, Dawna, Me, Joelyn

The first part of February I had the chance to get together with the girls I grew up with, you know the ones you giggled with while at the dances hoping that one of the" cute or neat" guys would ask you to dance, the ones you whispered with as you were going into and through puberty, the ones who let you cry when your first love did not work out, the ones you could hardly wait to talk to after your first kiss, yes you know the ones! Any way, we try to get together at least once a year, and this time it had been over 2 years since seeing some of them and a bit longer since we had all been together, it was so fun and not near long enough for us to really catch up. Susie lives up in Utah, the rest of us are scattered around Arizona, I must state that Jeff is not considered one of the "girls" Susie was just trying to get as many of us together as possible.  Our lives have taken us each in a slightly different direction, Jeff and I are the only ones who have not been divorced, (man is that scary), we each have had our ups and downs, our sorrows and disappointments, but we are all survivors in my book.
Susie and I are grandmothers, Joelyn and Shaune are not too sure they ever will be, Dawna has hopes of being one, and well, Jeff will never be a grandmother!
Jeff and his wife were both with us, only she did not grow up with us.  Jeff and I have birthdays that are one day apart, our Mothers shared a hospital room can you believe that? We go back a very long way to say the least. Friends are so fun and girl friends are the best!

Crock Pot.....

I was visiting a web site the other day and I came upon a recipe for "Crock Pot Candy" so I am thinking to myself, there is no way that is going to work.  Me being, well, Me, I had to give it a shot, low and behold it turned out GREAT!!! Not only was it oh so easy to make, everyone I have shared it with has asked for the recipe and they all love it also. So I am sharing it here also, after all good things should be shared!


Crock Pot Candy

1-16 oz jar roasted, unsalted peanuts

1-16 oz jar roasted, salted peanuts

1- 12 oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips

1-bar (4 oz) german chocolate, broken into pieces

3 lbs (two 24 oz pakgs.) white almond bark, broken into pieces

Put ingredients into a 4 quart or larger crockpot in EXACT order as listed.  Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.  DO NOT REMOVE THE LID!

Turn off and allow to cool slightly. Mixture will not be melted but will be soft.  Mix thoroughly and drop by teaspoon size cookie dropper or a teaspoon onto wax paper.  Let cool thoroughly.  

Makes approximately 150 - 170 pieces.

note: I used mixed nuts right along with the peanuts and I also used a package of butterscotch chips and only 1/2 a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Enjoy!

may seem silly.....

This may seem silly to some but it makes me so happy to have a new hair cut, and today I actually had the time and had mine done, it had only been 3 months, way past over do.

I absolutely love  a new hair cut, I love having someone else do it for me, instead of me cutting it myself, which I have been known to do a time or two. I love the feel of it, the ends are not brittle, or dry, it has a bounce to it. I just love it. And now you know!

Grandbabies.....

    This evening David & I are having our little grandbabies over so the parents may have an evening out and not have to pay for babysitters! I am so looking forward to having them all here. I love being a grandma. I think one of the sweetest blessings in my life is being able to witness my children as they parent their children. I love it so.  I love that we all live right here and are close enough to do this. I am spoiled by this fact. I love that David & I have been able to raise our children here where we are from and near to their grandparents and all of the cousins and relatives. So very blessed.

Institute.....

David & I teach a weekly Institute class for our stake. I love it so much, at first we tried to split the lesson into 2 parts and each one of us would do a part weekly that slowly evolved into just one of us covering it each week and the other giving support. Last night was my week to teach, not a big deal really, I certainly am not new to the topic I was to cover. We are teaching out of the Book of Mormon, and I was teaching of the prophecies of Isaiah and the coming of the Messiah. Well I have been a bit under the weather, and my emotions have been right at the surface, needless to say as I spoke of the love our Heavenly Father has for us, his spiritual children and the birth and  sacrifice of our Savior, I could not contain my tears and they did flow. I love my Father in Heaven, I love my Savior, I am so eternally grateful to them for all that is done in my behalf, I can never repay them. I will try all the days of my life and I pray that it is enough.

Change.....

This year is a year of change for me. I am not too thrilled at times with change, but I have a feeling this is going to be good. About 26 years ago I started doing hair at assisted living facilities, and have been going to one particular one for 19 of the 26 years I have been doing this. Well as of this past Thursday I will no longer be going to assisted living facilities and doing hair. In the past when I even thought about giving it up I would be so sad, and I must say that I am not sad at all!
So, me, being me, I asked David what he thinks it means that I am not sad about it all, and he said, with all his wisdom "it was the right thing for me and the right time". He makes it all seem so simple, but he is right. I know that this is what is right for not only me but for "us".  So change happens and I will just go along with it.
I don't want any one to think that I have nothing going on, oh no, this is not so, I am an aide in my sister Robyn's 1st grade class room on Mondays, I do her childrens reading testing for her, then on Tuesdays I work for my brother in law in his office, on Wednesdays I go to the Temple and I have a scrap-booking class, Thursdays I will now be working for my brother in law at his office and on Friday I do hair! Wow! I suppose one could say that I manage to keep myself busy.
David keeps encouraging me to take classes, he doesn't care if I go after a degree, he just wants me to be happy and feel productive, (I have really been questioning my usefulness as my children have grown and left home).
I love my Man and now you know!!!!

Come and gone.....

Little "D" riding his bike from "Santa"

I know I say this every year, where did the time go? Man I feel like I just put up our tree and now I have taken it down again.  I love having all the decorations up and the feeling it brings, it is just that I am usually so busy that I do not really get to enjoy it all. Today as I took it all down I thought about all the happenings of the season and I believe it was a wonderful season to say the very least. It was a little different because of having one less child at home but it still was wonderful.  I believe that Bryan did not appreciate all the attention he was getting from his Dad and I on Christmas morning, tho' he was a good sport about it.
Little David received a training wheel bike from Santa for Christmas, he loves it. He calls it his "dirt bike". I received a bike for Christmas also, little "D" asked me who it came from and I told him that Grandpa gave it to me, he was quick to tell me: Grandma, Santa brings the bikes. So David is my Santa! (I already knew that)

Nieces & Nephews on Christmas Eve

Bryan on Christmas morning

I really don't set resolutions but I have some goals for the year.  I made a very challenging decision and that is that I am not going to be going to the Care Home any more to do hair. I have been doing this for 26 years and it has been a very hard decision to make.  I have been having some issues with my back, tho' this is not new it just has been giving me more problems lately. I am not too sure how I feel about this I just know it is the right thing for myself and my family.

I am thankful for the most precious gift and the example that has been set for me by our older brother, Jesus Christ. I want to be more like him, love more freely, speak gently and treat others as I would like to be treated.

Happy New Year!!! May 2011 bring much happiness and peace to all.