Why this blog...

I am the mother of the three most talented, intelligent and beautiful children ever to live on this earth. I am also privileged to be married to the most wonderful man! He has added three additional talented, intelligent and beautiful children to our family! I have a job that I mostly love, a wonderful education, a beautiful home, marvelous family, and I have the privilege of belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have been greatly blessed in my life, but I sometimes forget that. So, I decided to create this blog as a way to remind myself of all the many blessings and miracles that surround me. (I'm also terrible at keeping a journal- so this will be something for my kids to enjoy as well.)

I hope you enjoy what you read. I would love to hear what you think!

Deanne

Sunday, September 22, 2013

It's Life! And It's Great! (Well, great-ish!)

(and I will finish the road trip posts in the near future...)

I caught the bug. The horrible whatever it is that the kids have been spewing on me during class since the first day of school... the non-joy of being a teacher. (yes, even the big high school students don't all know how to cover their mouths when sneezing, coughing, breathing when sick... and PLEASE do not touch my computer... )

Anyway, even though I was so ill, I was able to attend Abby's farewell talk in Sacrament meeting.


She positively glowed as she spoke about sharing the Gospel of Christ and her testimony of the truth!
Abby will be a great missionary!! And we are truly blessed to be able to be a small part of her life!

In other ways, life is a struggle right now- Luke's health among other things... I hope he does NOT get this bug I have on top of everything else! Hopefully the insurance will approve the new drug regiment prescribed by the doctor- and soon! It is a bit experimental, but it sounds so right!

In the meantime, this quote from my niece Shayla's blog is something I need to remember:
"It is the plain and very sobering truth that before great moments, certainly before great spiritual moments, there can come adversity, opposition, and darkness. Life has some of those moments for us, occasionally they come just as we are approaching an important decision or a significant step in our life." ~Jeffrey R. Holland

And the blessing Luke administered to me today... more special than words can describe! I am so thankful to have a husband who is worthy to give me a blessing from my Heavenly Father when needed- and that Luke loves me so very much!

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Road Trip: Day 9

Tuesday, July 23: Badlands


Best view while stuck in a construction zone! 20 minutes looking at this was not so bad.

Of course, I also got to look at this.... :)!


Can anyone say Mister Roger's Neighborhood?!


Not a bad view at all! More construction in North Dakota...















I had heard of the Badlands, may even have driven past the edge- but I never knew how beautiful they are until now... and the pics do not do them justice.










Plus, as KOA's go, the Badlands KOA is the best!!!



We loved our 'tent village', and this KOA even will serve breakfast and dinner!

And it had a phone booth for my 'Man of Still'!!!


Sunday, September 1, 2013

Signs I Married a Disney Prince!

After 'much' Internet research on the matter (ie: this blogpost entitled Signs you are dating a Disney prince - and go to the link if you like Disney. They have great pics!!!),  I have come to realize that I really did marry my very own Disney prince- and yes, he is charming- just stop by one night while he is flossing his teeth!

Sign 1: He will probably be charming. That just goes without saying. Sometimes, he’ll even be named “Charming.” Or maybe just Eric.

See! Luke is charming. And he may not be named 'Eric'- but his name has four letters! Just like 'Eric'!!!

Sign 2: Said bloke will show up out of nowhere at just the right point in the song you are listening to/singing. And maybe he’ll show up again out of nowhere at just the right point to wake you from a magical spell.

Yes, Luke showed up out of nowhere the minute I signed up for eHarmony! And he keeps waking me every morning from those magical dreams... 

Sign 3: He’ll have a thing for wearing tights/male leggings (either name for them is correct).

Yes, he does- at least from the end of August until the beginning of May each year. Leastwise, he wears these things called long johns- those are the same as leggings, right?

Sign 4: You might be dating a Disney Prince if his preferred mode of dance is a smooth, romantic spin, as evidenced here: (here the original blog has clips of Belle, Cinderella, and Aurora all doing the smooth, romantic spin with their prince- so fun!

Smooth, romantic spin is the only dance Luke currently knows... and what a prince! He even wants to take dancing lessons!!!

Sign 5: He might be a bit of a show-off. But come on: what’s the point of being a DISNEY PRINCE if you don’t get to flaunt it every now and then to all the non-princes.


Yes, that's my prince on the unicycle!!!












Sign 6: His hair is better than yours. You might have Ariel-level bangs and Rapunzel-quality shine, but come on, just look at Prince Eric. LOOK AT HIM.

I'm not sure if Luke even owns a comb... but he doesn't need one. His hair is so great and so cooperative that a brush through with his fingers always suffices.

Sign 7: If you’re still not sure if you’re dating a Disney Prince, inspect the teeth. They are sure to be astonishingly nice, white, and sparkling.

Have I mentioned Luke's flossing habits?! And don't even get me started on the brushing... Let's just say that I have plenty of nightly reading time while waiting on the tooth care ritual. But I am NOT complaining... LOVE his smile!

Sign 8: Disney Princes also have a real knack for accessories. Check out this cape + jaunty cap combination.


No, it's not a cape or cap... it's Ear Warmers! Luke wore another pair of this delightful accessory on our first official date (and it was the end of April, 60+ degrees...)! No wonder I fell in love with this prince!

Sign 9: As far as romantic logistics, Disney Princes are pretty idealistic about the concept of “the ONE.” Step aside, everyone else!

Well, Luke did decide I was the One- eventually. But I love his dad the most! After Luke had been out with me and was talking about some others he was planning to date, his father asked: "If you've already found gold, why are you mining for silver?" Yep, I definitely love his dad!!!

Sign 10: He might be a frog. This sign is less helpful when one considers all the frogs out there, but in the spirit of lists, we’re mentioning it.

Some may consider the pic above to depict a frog- but I know for certain there is a prince inside!!! And he is mine!

Sign 11: You might be dating a Disney Prince if he lives in a castle. (This one seems pretty obvious, but Belle didn’t exactly pick up on this one right away, despite all that book learning.)


Luke married me in a 'castle'. Took me to be sealed to him, in fact. for time and for all eternity! Enough said!

Sign 12: And finally, if you are truly and really dating a Disney Prince, he can probably do this:(pic of Flynn Rider's 'smolder' here)

That's my prince!!!