Turning Left!

two of my beautiful nieces who always make me smile!

Life is full of lots of little decisions that lead to little actions or other decisions that ultimately lead to life!

Some little things that have meant A LOT to me...

* Makayla's 'bear kisses'! 

* Brynndi's hysterical movies!

*errands with Char (and ice cream- Yum)!

*repeating Doctor lines with Jon!

*Eric and Alison's big announcement!

(yes, they are expecting... a PIANO!)

*A great guy for my daughter to date!

*A listening ear (thank you, Angela!)

And one all-encompassing great thing in my life: my Father in Heaven's love! I am so grateful to know that He is there when I need Him!

The Best New Year Ever!

We had what my daughter refers to as the "nerdiest Christmas ever!" And I loved every minute of it. In fact. I loved it so much that we continued on the next week to have a very nerdy New Year's Eve party with the best neighbors in the world! Really Tracy and Shauna are not just our neighbors- they are truly our family members with a different last name! (Love you guys!) And just to prove that this MUST be true, Tracy & Shauna tolerate, nay encourage our love of all things Doctor Who!!!

One of my favorite gifts

So to celebrate the new year, we all spent the evening eating great food (thanks again, Shauna. It was delicious!), enjoying amazing company, and laughing out loud to the second half of series six and the 2012 Christmas special of Doctor Who!

My contribution to the food: Grandma Opal's homemade glazed doughnuts. Yum!

New Year's Eve could not have been better! I can't wait to have more nights just like it!!

Jon's Doctor Who action figures 

In the meantime, I have my Jon to watch repeats with me!

Blessings and the Beginning of Answers, though vague

With the new year, I've been feeling like I am missing something in my life- something I should be doing but am not yet doing... yes, a vague statement- but then again, it's a vague feeling. So I tried some things (may explain more at a later date)- most did not work out but one might...

Then I read a letter from my wonderful nephew, Elder Jeremy Troff. He was inspired to write what he did in part for me! Isn't it great when you get a special message from our Heavenly father through someone who means so much to you?!

"It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, or where you think you are going, for God WILL stand by you and help you in any way He can. The conditions of that help are set by us! The God Almighty can command the earth to move, the storms to cease, and the winds to be still. Yet, His greatest creation of all He has given them the choice to choose if He can change them. I know that through Christ's atonement that we can be changed, we can be healed, He just stands and waits at our door!"

Thank you, Jeremy!

That's My Girl!

My baby girl just had yet another birthday!

How did she grow up so fast?! It's so great that Char's birthday is this time of the year (although the gestational diabetes during Christmas because she decided to be born 10 days late was not so fun!) Always having that one more special day between Christmas and New Year's is wonderful... 

I am so grateful to have Charly in my life! And having her grown up does make for some fantastic girl's only outings! Plus someone to talk to about all those girl type things (Jon is so glad too!)

Happy birthday, baby girl!

Best Things of Christmas 2011

Christmas was, as always filled with wonder, joy and fun!

Best gift that I ever got!

Eric was born exactly one week before Christmas, and he is definitely the best gift that I ever got (as one of my favorite Christmas carols proclaims!) Celebrating his birth will always be one of the best things about Christmas for me!

This is my Christ-mas tree... A few years ago, I decided that I wanted a tree filled with things that represented my Savior (not snowmen, santas, etc). The other things are fun, and many of my other ornaments have some of the most wonderful memories attached to them, but I really wanted to focus more on Christ. So, thanks in part to my sister who brought me olive wood nativity ornaments back from Jerusalem, I have been able to put together a truly Christ-filled tree. One day, I will have a large tree- but this small one is fine for now.

 I love nativities! Having a November birthday meant that my kids always got me just what I wanted, a new nativity (they still do)! This manger has a lot of significance to me. And I absolutely love this sign given to me by my sister-in-law. It's one of my favorite gifts this year and one that I needed more than she will ever know.

My nephew, Jeremy, left just before Christmas to serve a two year mission for the LDS church in Finland. As much as we will miss him, I am so grateful for his spirit this Christmas, and I am especially grateful for the 'twin brother' he has been to my daughter!

 We have a tradition of having a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas Eve, and this year was no exception. It is so nice to have a fancy dinner with the kids, spend the evening reading our favorite books and stories and then acting out the birth of the Savior of the world! I am so blessed that my kids can appreciate what Christmas is really all about! ( and you just gotta love 'Mary's' socks!)

And of course, spending time with family is the best thing about Christmas!

Merry Early Christmas!!

This year our family has a most wonderful Christmas present! My nephew, Jeremy, will be departing on his LDS mission to Finland next Wednesday! I am so excited for him and so proud of his decision to serve the Lord! However, we couldn't let him miss the family Christmas; so we are holding it one week early...

 So in that spirit, here is this year's Christmas letter:

Greetings to all our family and friends,

             

            This has been an exciting year for us, full of adventures, with the end of some familiar things and the start of many new!!

            Jonathan became an only child, in more ways than one. With Charly’s eighteenth birthday, Jon is now the only non-adult member of our family. He is also the only one of the children still living at home. He has done well with the adjustment, succeeding in school, spending time with friends, and still finding time to spend with Mom. Jon has also constructed a home theater system in our basement. It is so wonderful to be able to spend time relaxing and enjoying the fruits of his labors!

            Charly has grown up! Not only does she still enjoy her Irish step-dancing, but she has become a teacher of the adult classes. Charly absolutely loves to teach dance, and I am sure her students love having her teach! Charly has also moved out to attend UVU. She is just finishing her first semester, doing a fabulous job! And please stay tuned for a VERY exciting announcement regarding Charly’s talents the first part of next year!

            Eric returned from his successful LDS mission in California, graduated with his Associate’s degree from Snow College, and got married! Yes, I have another daughter!!! Alison and Eric are thriving in their new life together, and we are so thrilled to have them as part of our family. Alison just completed her degree from BYU, and Eric is starting his at the U of U. Their life is wonderful, as it should be!

            I bid a fond farewell to Riverton High School and now teach at Herriman High School. The change was a lot of work, but Herriman HS is a great school- And what an adventure for me!

            We hope that life is well with all of you. Have a great new year!

Love,

 Deanne, Eric & Alison, Charly, and Jonathan 

The Gift of the Gospel!

These are both photos of Charly and Jeremy. They are more than just cousins, more than just best friends... They have been doing so much together for so very long, and it is the best thing I could have ever wished for for my daughter! Jeremy's missionary farewell is next Sunday. He will be leaving to serve an LDS mission in Finland for the next two years- although we will miss him (especially my Char), I am so grateful to the example he has been and will continue to be for my children and for me!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has brought so many blessings to my life both big and small. Big: the lives of my children, nieces and nephews have all been enhanced thanks to their individual testimonies! Every one of them is a great example to me!! Small: two examples...

1. my printer works! Now you may ask what in the world I mean by that- but my printer was so very broken, wouldn't print photos at all! (and I have lots to print, already bought the ink and photo paper...) I cleaned what I could, searched the internet for solutions (tried a few), gave it a week in case it was the ink leaking or something- then basically thought about giving up, even pricing a new one- but honestly, a new printer won't be in the budget for some time to come... it may seem like a coincidence to many, but I know it was a small miracle that when I tried to print today (for the last time), it works! There is great power in prayer, even with the small, inconsequential-to-eternity kind of things!
2. Last night... So Charly spent the day downtown, riding Trax for transport. Now anyone who knows Char, knows that she gets lost pretty easily! I had been teasing her all week in anticipation of getting a phone call late last night asking for me to come and rescue her... So imagine my surprise when I really did get a phone call! Apparently due to an incident on Trax at an earlier stop, the driver forgot to enable the doors to open for the riders. Result: Charly could finally get out TWO STOPS PAST HER CAR! On the last train!!! And at a Trax stop literally in the middle of nowhere (no buildings, houses, etc. for at least a mile), a stop does not list the west co-ordinates on the internet site! I am so thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not only did it prompt me to call Charly again to clarify which stop she was waiting at, it literally directed me on where to drive to find the stop. I know that without the help, it would of taken me 20-30 minutes more to find my daughter. Having her wait in the dark and freezing night- well, I don't even want to think about the negative possible outcomes. 

I am so grateful for the Gospel in my life and all of the blessings I enjoy because of it!