This last week I had a party at my house to make those flowers for your hair that Anne has been doing. They turned out awesome! They are much bigger than Anne's creations, because they are for adults, but I had so much fun, and so did the girls! The dumb thing about the whole event was the invitations I gave out to people at work and to a couple others... I wrote the wrong address on them!! So only 3 people from work came because they called me to find out where it was. The others either had plans or couldn't find the place. So I may have to do it again. Here's some pics of what I created. (thanks Anne for the idea! I won't sell them, I like them too much!)

Dan leaves on Friday for two weeks. He'll be in SLC, for training. I went to a ceremony with all his army guys. They all stood in the middle of a large gym and stood attention to the commander of their group. He called Specialist Garvin to the front of the group and told him that he was a good soldier and that he was an example to all the other soldiers. He described Dan's good skills and I was surprised to see Dan smiling proudly. The commander then asked me to come forward and he named Dan a sergeant. He gave me a pin to pin on Dan and some velcro pieces representing a sergeant to replace his specialist pieces. Then Dan's sergeant told us to kiss. That was a little awkward, in front of all of the soldiers... but I guess he had to listen.

So, now he goes for training, and this week he takes all of his finals early so he can leave by the 5th.
I'm really going to miss him. I'm glad I'll be able to call him this time. Last summer he was gone for 2 weeks to Honduras and I couldn't even call him!

I'm taking a week off from work, taking an overhaul on my house searching for warm clothes... and driving down to Moab for the annual Thanksgiving camping trip with Dan's family. I can't wait, but I'm also very bord because Dan is at work and I'm tryng to pack for both of us. I keep thinking about Kirsten and Brian and how hard it is to live apart from the one you love the most..

Dan says he thinks he will have to go to Iraq next year... and wants me to start getting used to the idea. I wonder what I will do when he is gone? Will I stay strong and remain close to him? Will he be ok? I hope that I can soak up all the time I get with him so I will not regret anything. I may have to move closer to family while he is gone, or be closer to his parents, I will go crazy!!!

We'll see what happens..

I woke this morning with sadness then, I was gladdened because it was only a dream. The dreamt that I called Anne and asked her what her plans were for the weekend (I wanted to visit Springville). Anne said she was going to Dad's funeral, as she told me about his death, I could feel the echo in my mind, the confusion and rejection... I just kept saying No.. No. No. How could it be? The dream moved forward, the family gathered in a room, I remember searching for anyone that was there when Dad died. Someone said that Aunt Chris was there.. helping to calm him. I searched for her, but then the family began to talk quietly together, someone mentioned singing his favorite song. (In real life, I don't know what that song is...) but we sang one that sounded sad but the sadness didn't match the words at all. It was about a puppy dog that wouldn't use a newspaper for the same things as a human would. It had many verses, such as peeing on the paper or rolling it around for a home. It was supposed to be funny, but when we sang it together, all of the siblings and extended family, my memories of dad flooded into my mind. I realized I would never be able to see my dad again here on earth. I pictured myself cupping my hands over his warm whiskery cheeks and looking at his soft brown eyes, then I began to miss him oh so much. I began to feel the pain that comes when someone close to you passes away. The tears were hot on my cheeks as I wandered around the room looking for a memento of the day that my dad passed. I just had to remember the date... Then I woke up. I know it's just a dream but it makes me want to call my mom and dad and ask them how they are doing. I makes me want to tell them that I love them one last time. Just once a day, or week, or month one last time.. I LOVE YOU. I guess we never know when those we love won't be there anymore. I think about all the bad feelings that flow between loved ones, then I want to try harder to apologize and soak up the good times, because before we know it, we've taken for granted having them there whenever we need them.

TO BRIAN

Here are some pictures I found of Qatar that I thought were neat.

BRIAN! I know your not going on vacation and your going to miss your family a lot;, but since your getting your man meter up and everything, you should try to remember the feminine side and take pictures while you are on your trip. We all hope you are safe while your in Qatar. We love you so much, and think of you often. I know it sounds crazy but I really feel a deep love for you and all that you've done for me. You have shown me what it is to have a happy home life and what family is all about. I hope you always remember how much we care about you. Please be safe. And have a good time. We love you lots.

Never used a pattern on my own before...

I got a sewing machine for my birthday! It's a PFAFF. I did my first project...I made a scrub top to wear to work. It took two days of hard work, and challenging instructions, but I finally completed it! I wore it to work, and I was surprised at how many people loved it. I got a lot of comments about its style, girls were suggesting that I sell it... That would be cool, but it's not my pattern.. I just had a blast and can't wait to do another project.

Funeral Day

Today was Mandy's funeral. Jerimiah wes dickey was as composed as he could be. The funeral was sad, lots of people were trying hard to except that Mandy did all she wanted to do in life. She was 21 years old, and had a little boy of about 3 years. She let her uncle adopt her child, and got him used to his new family quite a while before she passed away. She was able to graduate highschool, raise a child and get married, accomplishing what life goals she felt important in the time limit that she had. In memory of mandy and in hopes for a good life for her son, and a good future for her husband Jeri.

Ties Too Many

I found the most helpful device on the planet, well it's helpful for one who likes to collect ties. It holds 76 ties and has hooks for belts. It rotates either direction, and lights up. It's so much more useful then trying to use hangers, the ties fall off and it's a continual battle. I got one for Daniel and too bad for him, he filled it completely with ties left over; but he still loves it.

A Day of Memory

Jerimiah, Dan's cousin just has his wedding last saturday, One week to the day, Mandy his new wife passed away... 9 am this morning.

Another Wedding Day

Its strange to think that my first anniversary is coming up here on October 13! WEIRD. I feel like I've been married forever and for only a few months all at once. I can't imagine trying to live without Daniel.

This past Saturday Dan's family met at Logan Regional Hospital to celebrate the wedding of a dear family friend and cousin. Dan's cousin married a girl who is now very sick and fighting for her life. The hospital couldn't let her come out of her medical room, but she was dressed in princess style pink gown with little diamonds all over it. She looked so beautiful. Dan's cousin looked happy and was full of thoughts for the family, often he said to the group, "Don't be scared, why are you all so solemn, this is a day to be happy."

I heard the nurses talking about the bride, "I'm surprised she has lasted this long.." was a comment that stuck in my mind. I know all things happen for a reason, I just hope that the couple will be comforted.

Dan and I left the wedding after congratulating the couple and drove to farmington. Five out of the nine siblings were at the Farmington Cemetery. We sang songs mom loved before she died, and prayed there in the rain on the grass. Becca prayed for everyone, asking heavenly father to watch over all of us. There wasn't a dry eye when we were through, and lots of hugs going around. After, we drove to Applebees and ate dinner together. Thank you everyone, It was the first time that I really got to feel the love that everyone felt for mom. I felt united as we sang on the grass, though some of the songs were ones I didn't know. I felt full of love and hope for our family as Becca prayed. Thankyou..

Dan's thoughts on Katrina. (I mean the kitchen.)

IDEAS FOR ANNE'S PAPER: "A complete reconstruction of the paper is essential for the convincing of these testosteronical beasts of building (Dan language for construction workers) " --Dan Garvin

Describe the scene: This is the seller right here. You need the most eloquent placement of adjectives to make the scene of the old pipe odor drench the readers senses as he feels the stress that seems to wash over everything along with the dim, yellow, half burned out light. But we must keep it on a 6 grade reeding level. They are men. They build stuff. It is good. Dick and Jane reed the newspaper though, so you can use some higher reeding techniques into the mix. That's the hard part about it. But the key point is, ENTERTAIN THE READER! After the second sentence he has already decided if this is the house. He just needs to work out the details. So make the first paragraph gripping and enveloping.
Picking five specific points of the scene (ex: the sink) and describe them in a manner that is entertaining and unique. (the sink: An imported high quality particle board counter top supported by water rotted two by fours embrace a vintage pee yellow rust stained single basin sink.) Go with this as your first paragraph. Other points of interest are, the lighthouses (not very good interior design theme( no offense)), smoke stained walls and ceilings
Tell the Story: My mom went on a trip to London and Dad decided it was an opportune time to tear the kitchen apart and "fix the place"
Make the House Seem Like it can be Fixed: Yes, this is a key point. This part needs to be written in a more "to the point" mode. The testosterone based life forms are trying to make money. They need a house that has potential. The house needs to be a gem that can be showed off. If the house is just not worth fixing up, they really will not choose that one. They are looking for an old Victorian house that needs fixing up so that they can show it off to people and get more sales. You need to make your house sell to them. Make it sound like it could be beautiful!! Not just some rectangular, mediocre, lame, room that is torn apart. Yes it might be the ugliest one. I have no doubt about that. But can it be the best looking room after they are done? Or just a bit less mediocre?

New TV

I don't know if you've ever seen a guy try to play nentendo on a tiny tv, but if you do, the comment each time is, "It's so small, I can't even see what I'm doing..." Well, I didn't really believe it was too small until you see the difference. Anne do you remember how big the INSIGNIA we bought was when we had our apartment? Check out the photos. DAN was so excited! It was funny to see him rearranging our living room to make it all fit. It will be nice when we actually have some movies to watch on it. For now I just get to see alot of xbox games. I would like to try rockband on it tho. It's really a Epson Projector, it gets really clear picture when we've got the room in theater mode, it's 1080p. We'll have to bring it to watch family videos at our next family reunion. Does anyone know when that is?

Dan's 26th Birthday!!!

Dan's 26th Birthday was this last friday. Birthdays are hard. What do you plan to have fun? What fun things can we do? I thought it over and we decided to have a picnic and go hiking. Well, the morning went by, Dan woke up and while eating breakfast opened a few of the presents I got him, I laptop board to put his laptop on, pringles, and a sculpture of a man drumming. He thought that was pretty cool. He rushed to school, and I went to visit his mom. She bought him some new shoes.. (I'll post a picture..) So the day went quickly, i made some special baked beans, (Dan's Grandmother's recipe) and we all went to Logan canyon to hike the wind caves and eat. It was dark by the time we got there so we decided to stay and picnic instead of hike. Dan's mom brought other salads she had made, two peach pies and cake... and sandwich stuff. She looked at me and said, "Did you bring the bread?" I shook my head, and told her I talked to Dan's little sis on the phone and she told me not to bring any... Without bread, no sunlight left everyone felt kinda bummed, we didn't really know whether to change our plans and go home to get the rest of our food or just to stay there and only eat salads without sandwiches (the main course). We stayed. we ate all the salads, and the baked beans. To my surprise everyone commented on the beans atleast twice, saying how good they were. It is such an easy recipe, I was glad they loved them.

We ate and had pie, then went to Dan's parents house and had cake and ice cream just an hour later. I felt so stuffed, I could hardly walk. I don't know if I've ever had peach pie before, but it tasted really fresh, and sweet. Dan wanted to work on his car all day, but without the right parts, he couldn't. I got lucky, I had work off and got to hang out with him the whole time. I have to post all the neat pictures, the staircase we found in the canyon was really neat... I wish I could have gotten a better shot of those, Becca you would love them! They are so old, covered in moss and cracked, but still beautiful. Check it out! Now Dan is 26! I wonder what I'll feel like at 26... I'll be 22 soon, and I still feel like I'm 18.

Ps. What are some good anniversary Ideas... Anyone?

CARS, and BOY

I called Anne last night, she told me I had to post a new blog! I'm behind the times I guess. Well Lately my life is just work and home. I took the semester off to decide on my major and figure out how to finish all of the requirements to continue with school. So I put all of my time into my job. It's hard, and challenging. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells with the nurse in charge of my shift... she's definitely an insecure rotten egg... the sad thing is I'm not afraid to stand up to her, but she doesn't really allow me to talk with her about any issues we have with her.. ug.

A few ladies have passed away since I've started, I miss having them around, but they better be happier where they are now then where they were!

Ok, So I've realised I don't really talk about Dan much. I thought I would make a blog describing his likes, and so forth so you guys that live far can get to know him better (considering the fact that I live with him, and will become more like him someday).

Dan works at Paragon Medical, as a machinist. He helps makes medical devices for all of the hospitals in the world. LOL; He likes the outdoors alot; I remember when I first started dating him, his mom asked me if I liked camping. She said "good" when I said yes because Dan's family goes camping every year for thanksgiving. Dan's favorite part about that event is the pie. Everyone in the family makes and brings tons of pies, atleast 3 pies for each person. Dan will eat as much pie as he can get his hands on! Pie for dinner, breakfast, lunch, you name it.

Dan loves cars. He thinks about them, dreams about them, drives them, washes them, talks to them, names them... now i'm even dreaming about them. He takes any chance he can to explain parts in the car and how they work whenever we are together for long car rides or eating a meal. I laugh when he says, "do you hear that sound that car making? what do you think is wrong with it?" What's even weirder is that I'm actually learning enough to answer him. I like learning about it, but I don't like spending all day working on cars. Dan just got rid of his yellow charger and bought a much cheaper Subaru wrx. It's bright blue and he's doing everything he can to up it's performance. So far he's gotten on ebay about every night for the passed 3 months for parts, and has gotten : A new turbo, intercooler, breaks, up pipe, down pipe system, catback exhaust, shocks (two way adjustable coil overs), fuel pump (250cc), fuel injectors (750cc), boost control solenoid, cold air intake and tons of other gadgets to get the car to run faster and better and faster and better. For his birthday this Sept I bought him new wheels, (no kids, I guess we can spend money on hobbies :) he wants to paint little tiny parts of the car pink... that's funny, he painted his break calipers pink... (check it online if you wonder what I mean.. I posted a picture of ones that are blue, picture in your mind HOT PINK.)

Dan also is a major tease, but only when he knows you pretty well. He likes to observe situations before becoming apart of it. He loves joking with his younger brother Joel, and takes pride in the relationship he has with him. He calls his mom "UHH" and she answers to it. (I guess that's mom in Guarani.. a language from his mission to Paraguay...or it's just his way of ) He doesn't really ever want a dog (they chew his things up including his $120 calculator last semester..just 2 days before his calculus final), but he wouldn't mind having a friendly cat to cuddle with. He likes audiobooks, and we have taken to renting every one we can find at the Library. We have almost the whole Wheel of Time Series, (except for Path of Daggers) if anyone knows where I can find it, let me know!

well...Maybe if you have questions you want to ask, I can post more. I don't really know what you would want to know.

PS. I've got a lot of time on my hands, and I'm wondering if any of you have some advice on hobbies I could do, or projects that are fun. If you have anything that you do that is exciting to you, or things you see on the internet, let me know! thanks!

Daniel has 2 younger sisters and 2 younger brothers. His youngest brother is 18 years old, and had some trouble with the law this last couple of years. He never really got along with his family, and for an escape ran off with friends that he thought he fit in with. His friends got him into a lot of trouble and he started doing things that were making him more and more unhappy. I met Daniel and his family when things were the worst for Kyle. I tried to talk with him, and be his friend. He was nice to me, and tried to talk to me everytime I would go to Dan's house. I felt like I could connect with him, and his family tried harder to get him involved in family time. He started to see that his friends were not good for him, and started to do a little better.. for a while. Most of his family had given up on him, and couldn't really talk with him without getting frustrated. His outlook on life was dark, and depressing. It made it hard.
Last year around May the police came over to Dan's house and searched kyle's room. Kyle's brother Joel shared rooms with him, he came home to his room torn apart and the place ripped up. Later he learned that the police had taken Kyle out of school and into custody. The few weeks were scary for kyle. He got home, and had to go to court with his parents. Kyle had gotten into some bad sites of the internet, along with getting caught with drugs by school property. He was sentenced to over a year in a juvenile detention center. Kyle missed our wedding, His friend Barbara came from Germany to visit, he was still in the center... He has been in since last May, and Now on July 2nd he gets to come home.
His parents are excited, and They allowed a few of us to go visit him last week. He has grown up alot, he seems more mature, less centered on his own well-being. he cares about others more. I'm excited to see how he will change the dynamics in Dan's parents house. I hope he does well, and changes his life around. WELCOME HOME KYLE.
This July 4th is a big event for Daniel's family. Everyone gets together and goes to the parades and watches fireworks... the last event Dan and I went together, I loved being with him and his family. I was pretty bummed all week because I didn't ask to have the 4th off. I got a phone call last night, a girl asked if she could work my July 4th! I was so excited. I remember asking heavenly father if I could find a way to let it work out, if I had to work, then I would try to make it to Brigham City and see the family at about 11pm... after everything was over. I'm just excited that I can go!
I called Laura today, she told me she was going to be in town of the 6th of July. I'm excited, I get to see her new baby and Damian! I love her family... I wish I could take more time to go to SLC and visit her! Sounds like things are going good though. Glad she's doing well.

Laura, you kicked me off! I can't view your blog now... Not invited I guess. Can you fix that?

This week has been a long one. I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a little like I want to be a kid again. I want to play all day and go home and ask my mom whats for dinner instead of going home trying to make dinner. I guess I've been thinking about past times with family and friends and really being reminded of life and the joys that I had.

I get these thoughts, random shadows of memories.. today I remembered that I had my hair cut short when I was a Junior in highschool because I wanted to donate it to locks of love, and I haven't really had it long until now. It's getting passed my shoulders and that's a biggie for me.

I remembered that Anne and I stayed at Kirsten's house in Bozeman one summer, before we met Saba and Emily, and we didn't really know anyone. We met this one girl, she was naughty. Anne and I played with her for about a week, I remember we hid another girls shoe up in the house rafters, and the little girl's dad came out looking for it. I remember sticking around so I could tell him where we hid it because I wasn't able to stick up for the girl when we stole the shoe in the first place. (Hazy memory... do you remember that Anne?)

I think about highschool memories and wonder where life has gone. What is happening with the time we are given? I know it doesn't seem like much to you, but I've been married for 9 months tomorrow. Kirsten, over 10 years! Becca, over 7 right? Even Anne, you've been married for 2 years right? I just can't believe how time flies, how I want it to slow down because at times I enjoy it too much, and even when I don't enjoy it, I just want to to stop so I can rest and take a few breaths.

I love all of you, I love looking at your blogs and wondering how your lives are going. I think about everyone often... I have dreams about you, (my family) my mind continues to think of Ben and Nathaniel, because I don't hear much of them. Hope your all doing well.

I am now officially a member of the "Certified Nursing Assistants" at Sunshine Terrace. I was in their housekeeping department for over a year and decided I wanted to move on to a different department with more pay and more responsibility. I'm finishing my final testing this week, and do the state test at the end of the month. Then my pay goes up about $2 or so. That will be good. I'm excited to start this new job.

For those of you that want to know what it's like:

2pm I go to work, make rounds (visit each of the residents rooms and see if they need to use the restroom or have to have a diaper changed).

3pm Answer call lights and little favors needed done

4pm Get people up for dinner until 5:30

6pm Help feed dinner to those who can't feed themselves. make conversation with those that need a distraction from a boring life. :)

7pm dinner is still going... takes a while

8pm get everyone ready for bed, brush teeth and tuck them in.

9-11pm answer final call lights before going home and getting to sit down for a few minutes.

It's interesting being able to see so many that that can't do things for themselves. Those things we take for granted like brushing our teeth, getting out of bed, or going to the bathroom. it's surprising the smiles that you can put on someone's face when you encourage them to take 20 small steps through the hall before them have sit and rest. I think of getting old and what I can do to keep my mind in the present instead of the past. Often it's someone's birthday, and you ask, "How old are you Mildred?" and she says 10 years old, and you have to smile and say, "wow, your growing up." then you ask the other nurses how old she is and laugh when she's 105 years old. I hope that I can be a friendly person to be around, one who says thankyou and keeps a smile on even when life is going down hill. So many show me a good example and I want to learn from them that I serve. I really am glad to experience this kind of job. I enjoy it so far, Even those stinky diapers and giving showers is not so bad when you get to experience so many other good things. Lis

Trip To New Mexico

Dan is In Honduras!  So I decided to go somewhere for distraction... and a little bit of fun!  Anne and I went to NEW MEXICO to see Kirsten, Brian, MaKenzie, Madison, and Macy.  We brought sunny clothes in hopes to soak up the sun, and found it rainy when we arrived.  Nice.  Rainy and gray.  But we had a party and played anyway.  We went to the El Paso zoo on our first day.  We saw lots of animals, at one part of the part we saw a monkey with a new baby monkey hanging on to it, and another part was the bird observatory, and the bird in the picture kept standing so close to us, we took pictures and as we started to walk away, it chased MaKenzie and Madison!  They didn't want to go back after that.  It took us a while to calm them down.  We saw the elephants and played at the gift shop.  I'm sure the other girls will want to blog about the party we had... It was an 80's Nepolian Dynamite party!  They'll probably post pictures soon.  I didn't bring a camera... so they may have to give me the shots they get.  Hope everyone is having a sun filled summer so far.  Love you all!

Finals!

Wow. I haven't changed my blog in forever. It's finals...and I barely have time to do anything! It's still Snowing here in Logan. Wish the summer would finally decide to come! Snow and tests. Man life is good. I get a new car this weekend. Dan is downsizing and I'm upgrading. My red car's brakes are not doing well. They've gone out twice in the last 2 months. Dan wants me to get a more reliable car... and well it's easy for me to agree. His yellow charger is going back to the store and we are both getting more affordable vehicles. I found a 2000 BMW for only 9,400! I'm excited. I may get it this weekend. Keeping our finger crossed! I better get to class!

Poor Daniel!

I had an awful night about a week ago. I was asleep.. Daniel got home from work and was probably just getting ready for bed. I woke up to the sound of him dressing, or undressing and all I could hear was this awful tearing, ripping, shreading sound. I felt miserable, my head was pounding and the sound was so LOUD. I don't remember what I said, but Dan told me to get up and go to the bathroom (I always have to go, seriously!) I crawled on my hands and knees over the blankets on the bed, glaring angrily through the darkness at him and his shreading sounds.

In my night time stupor: I pictured him wearing a shirt of duck tape and imagined him tearing it apart! I then lunged forward and tried to hit him! I drunkily missed him by a long shot... I don't know why or where it came from! Oh.. In the next few minutes Dan's good mood had deflated. I still didn't know what was going on. My mind was clogged and muddled. Finally I was awake enough to ask him what was wrong. I had the adacity to ask him what was wrong with him!! It was then that I realized that I was being a total jerk and didn't even realize it. I wanted to laugh when he told me the ripping sound was actually his old tshirt that was growing way too old to wear and he was ripping it off to be funny.

Poor Dan! I couldn't believe I acted like i did. (Like another person) Kinda reminds me of the time Anne punched me in the face in the middle of Sacrament meeting. (a whole other story). Well, I told him everytime I remembered the incident how sorry I was, that I didn't know what came over me. Lucky for me, he's quick to forgive. Weird story I know.. I can understand if you don't have any comments!

LIfe is GOOD

Spring Break ended with a bang! We drove to Boise, Daniel, Jeri (cousin), Joel (Dan's Brother) and I. We met up with Ibis and Keith (cousin's of Dan) and played all weekend. On our last day, we planned to leave in the afternoon. We woke up to Ibis telling everyone to get dressed quick, and then to our surprise she blindfolded us and drove us to the grocery store. I found Dan after we got out of the car and grabbed his hand (lucky me!)

We trailed into the grocery store (4 of us blindfolded and holding hands) while 4 others led us. Ibis convinced Dan's little brother Joel to put on a crockadile suit! He must have gotten alot of laughs from people doing their early morning errands.

Later we were driven to another location and led for about ten minutes into the middle of a park. There we took off our blindfolds and ate breakfast with the stuff we purchased at the grocery store. then tied our blindfolds on our legs connected to a partner... We raced around with 3 legs searching desperately for eggs and candy. It was alot of fun! People were laughing and stumbling all over the place!

In Boise we shopped until we dropped! I found an old vintage coat for $14 and Another one for just $3! Jeri bought about 7 pairs of pants and 12 shirts for $3 each! Crazy. The town is full of memorials, and cool art work. They have neat walk way that had what looked like lamps lined up... but as you walk passed them they are motioned sensored and make clinking and beats to form music to your footsteps! It was cool! They have a library there that makes me laugh... I guess they orded lettering for the library.. but the place sent them an extra exclamation point. The library decided to use it anyway.. We like to scream LIBRARY! everytime we pass it.

Life is Good.

IN MY DREAMS...

Last night I had a terrible dream that Daniel told me he had to marry someone while he was married to me! He had a big wedding (again) but with this new blond girl... I was invited.. but ignored and wasn't allowed to sit with Daniel or his new wife. I felt like I was put on the back burner... the weird thing was that I knew Daniel still loved me... but he was now having to spend time with his new wife. He even had a parade for her and her family. I had to find something to wear to get his attention... but all I could find was a short skirt school girl outfit with no shoes to match!!! I woke up, and hugged him tight this morning. It's just me; I get to be his ONLY wife. How nice is that? I don't know how it would have been to live in times when men had many wives. I don't think I could do it!! Dan told me his dream... much better than mine. I was flirting with him in our parking lot. I guess he said he was really attracted to me (I must have looked stunning) "in his dreams!" Nice.

Daniel's humor again...

Just the other day I was talking to Anne on the phone about husbands... sometimes they don't offer to help much around the house. Both Anne and I are trying hard to "Help" our sweet husbands want to help us. Well... I carried on this same conversation with Dan's mom. She told me it's impossible to try to get men to do what you want. I told her that I've been able to get Dan to make the bed by encouraging him... well, I guess by telling him how glad I am after he DOES it. So... I talked to Daniel about this. He said that he was busy alot.. with work and school 24/7, it's hard to do anything else but homework or relax when he can. Well... when we got home from school, walking through 12 inches of snow... we had a couple hours before we both needed to go back to work. Dan put on a classic smile, and trudged through the house with his soaked shoes... then went straight to the bathroom, (I followed bugging him the whole way) he started going while I was standing there... then, he didn't flush while leaving the toilet seat up. To my surprise he started to leave the bathroom without washing his hands. Dan never does any of this... He is very ordered and clean... I finally understood what he was doing. Daniel... so cunning, was trying to show me that he is good, and does alot of things that I don't already notice. He does try to keep the house looking nice, and keeps the toilet flushed with lid down... he made me laugh when he was finished with his act. The crazy things he does sometimes.. This doesn't mean I won't keep trying! I have to remind him that he has magic drawers, maybe he'll do the laundry next week.. who knows?

P.s. my project at school changed to Cochlear implants. If you want to comment on this as well... Here's the background information on this:
Children are tested in the first few weeks after birth for hearing disabilities. If they are deaf, or hard of hearing they have the option of a hearing aid, or cochlear implant. The battling question is whether or not to place hearing aids on the child. Much of the deaf world feels that being deaf is a part of who they are. They take great pride in being deaf. The choice to put hearing aids must be done early, within the first month of life... when the branching of neurons in the brain takes place. (This also helps the child to learn with the aids rather than without them early, then trying to implement them later). SO the question is: Put hearing aids on, or leave them behind and allow the child to be Deaf, and join the deaf culture?

I Need HELP!

I'm working on a school project. The topic is simple. What do you do if you have a deaf child, and your a hearing parent? What would you do when it came time for them to go to school? Would you send them to a deaf school or a public school? What if you were deaf and you had hearing kids? How would you teach them to speak? Where would you send them for school? I need to know your opinions please! If you have children in your kids classes at school that are deaf, or you know anyone who is deaf or has a deaf child, let me know of their story. I need to figure out how to present information without slaughtering the topic! Thanks!!

I Never Knew...

Daniel is an army man. I didn't know much about the army except that it was a really scary thing, that young men join for lots of reasons... Dan went to boot camp right after high school.. well all I can say is that I see the effects of what they did to him. Just a few nights ago, I woke up to hear Dan coughing next to me. I wondered if he was ok, without thinking, I reached out putting my hand gently on his back. To my great surprise, the blankets flew back, Dan seemed to roll off the bed with so much speed, he almost hit the wall. I blinked. He was crouched at the bottom of the bed, staring at me. I stared back, I'm sure my 'stare' showed much more shock than his. When Dan started to breath, he was laughing. My tense muscles melted, and Dan crawled back into bed chuckling to himself. "What?" I asked him. He continued to chuckle as he told me his dream. Spiders everywhere, giant taranchulas climbing toward him and his brother Joel. Joel tried to spray one with insect Zapper, hoping to kill it. The spider started to fume, and die, but more came. Lots of them, then all of the sudden Dan felt one on his back! Woah... Thanks to me, I made his dream more real, and thus he leaped out of bed. I was beginning to think it was because of all of that boot camp training! Good times.

Family night out..

I spent a night over at Daniel's family party in Brigham City. The family party is focused on writing a story for the year.. then reading your story to the family. This year Dan's family secretly told everyone to write about Dan's Aunt De Ann. De Ann had just gone through cancer and chemotherapy over the past year and is finally growing her hair back, and has energy enough to enjoy life. I don't know you guys remember her, but she was the fantastic cook at our wedding breakfast and reception.

The party was a blast! Full of laughter (as always) and to my surprise, tears. Everyone told about De Ann when she was little and how she was a huge influence... then some spoke of how they were proud of her for her optimism through the cancer. As the stories unfolded.. I had a harder time sitting there, listening. I kept thinking about when I found out about De Ann's cancer. I cried. I cried and prayed that her family wouldn't lose her. I was selfish that day... I didn't want anything to do with the family and the pain they would go through. I didn't want to see them, or talk to them. I didn't want to see De Ann lose her hair, or feel loss at the life she was missing while lying in bed. I selfishly wanted to stop dating Dan so I didn't have to see it.

You can imagine how hard it was for me to sit and listen to her daughters stories, how they got through the nightmare of their mother's cancer.. how they all stuck it out hoping for the best. I hated that I had to stop myself from thinking, "how is it that I can't have my mom, but you get to keep yours?" But then I knew inside, that De Ann has blessed all of us, even me.. the newest member of their family. I knew that I would have hated losing her too... even if I couldn't have my mom. I cried along with everyone else as they read. I cried because they cried.. I felt out of place. I wanted to tell everyone about my family and how lucky they were... but I think they knew it. They knew they were blessed. They knew it deeper that I knew it.

It was a hard night, and wonderful night. I don't know if it's possible for me to mourn for someone I don't remember, but I think I'm still going through the stages. Sure makes me feel strong to be able to get through it.

Eternity seems forever away... but it's Almost here

I've been reading my emails, and read one or two missionary emails... yes. I still have missionaries. Weird. One was from Elder Chun. He wrote about how much the Lord is working... how it's not HIS work, but the LORDS work. I thought about that. I thought about how the missionaries work so hard to get new members involved in the ward. I thought about when I was a ward missionary (when I started dating Daniel) and how hard it was to get people to come to church.. and when they did come, how much we focused on sitting with them, making meaningful conversation and introducing them to people. I have forgotten how hard it is to help people feel involved until it was my time to move into a new ward. I've been in this ward for 2 months, and have never been so welcomed in my life. Though everyone seems to notice you and introduce themselves, I have a hard time feeling like a fit in. If this is the case, I don't know how anyone "NEW" can do it. Then I thought of it... It's not the members that cause people to stay... it's the gospel. The Love of God when you listen to the hymns, or sing. It's the spirit that dwells in the sacrament room as we search our scriptures for what the Lord wants us to learn, or do.

I'm not a convert... I was born into the gospel. I know some of our family members aren't quite converts either. Daniel's family is half and half as well. I see families, beautiful little boys, girls, with their parents and I think about the love that seems to bind them with thick invisible threads... then my heart fills with warmth.. until I remember that some of those threads will be easily broken, no bindings to go on after this life. I think of my own family.. so small just the two of us. Looking at Daniel, I feel immense hope and joy. I love that I'm sealed to him forever. I love that I will have children with him that we will always be able to keep.

I know that you may be reading this, and think that it may be false, that if God loves us he will keep us together. I know without a doubt... I can feel the truth behind God's promises. He promises that we can be together, if we follow the road to get there. He gives us these commandments for our good. I wish I had the power (motivation) whatever it must be called to follow the rules that I must so I can return home. Home, that sweet place, someday.

Thanks for listening to my soap box. They say a story (thought in my case) isn't a good one unless it gets wet in the writing.

Reunion Fun!

This last reunion that we attended was wild.

It was the first one that hit us hard with a windy rain storm. All of our tents got out of control and started to blow away. I'm sure most of you remember it! (not easy to forget.) I thought it would be fun to post some pictures from the event! I caught some cute ones of the family... and well.. Of my sweet husband playing hide and seek with the kids. Enjoy!!