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, August 16, 2015

Last Hurrah of Summer!

It was back to work I went this past week... but I had an amazing weekend full of friends and family before heading back!


Claire's newest expression! Gotta love it!!

The kids and many of Luke's family were able to come over to celebrate this one turning 1!


 I think grand-pops enjoyed the day...


reading together on the floor- how precious!


I just love the look she is giving Luke!

Leslie's family even came from North Dakota- so good to see them!

Ashtyn (and the rest of us) finally met Nate!

yeah, not so impressed...

And we got creative celebrating Brynndi!




A very busy but FUN weekend of family! 

I miss them all already...

And a big CONGRATULATIONS to Jared on earning his master's degree!

I am so blessed to have so many in my life who love me!







Tuesday, July 21, 2015

The Joys of Life With No Vacations....

Luke continues to struggle greatly with his health... meaning no vacation days- but life has so much to offer even without any vacations!

My new job means that I will be able to continue walking every morning!
And check out these views (on 4 different mornings... just wish my camera could show you the magnificent view I really saw!)







And this morning, I saw some atypical lawn ornaments!


I have also had time to work on improving some of our favorite recipes!


Chicken curry w/out the chicken! Golden raisins, cashews, white beans and lots of veg... so delicious!

And I had the BEST Stake Lagoon Day ever- staying home to tend this little one while her parents and uncle enjoyed the park.




She had a cold and was cutting at least two new teeth... so LOTS of cuddles for Grandma! In fact, she mostly just wanted to sit on my lap all day- a rarity for this little mover and shaker- one which I enjoyed to the fullest!

And my sweet husband managed to spend a day in the temple with me! What an incredible blessing for us!!!



As Luke loves to remind me, "Life is Good"!




Thursday, July 9, 2015

Summer Fun Means Family!

Sue did it again! She provided a spectacular setting for family fun- with a new water slide even bigger than the house!


This one LOVES the water!


Loves the water - just like mom!





She really was happy- just caught the sad face...





Ben coming down the new slide (almost as big as that tree!)





















And guess who turned 1!!!





Such a sweetheart!



Saturday, July 4, 2015

Summer Projects part 1

I am notorious for working on projects (many at a time)... but I did finish some!



Loving this window of all the people I love!


And this chair is just what I was looking for...
just had to switch out the dark orange cushion covers.

Saturday, June 20, 2015

My Hiding Place, My Foundation

Life is just hard- and always will be... I think that is how it is meant to be and for a reason...

But my hard is not as difficult as so many others- take the life of Corrie ten Boom, for instance. I recently read The Hiding Place, a book about the life of Corrie and her experiences during World War II. (I would highly recommend this book!) She is such an inspiration to me! Corrie had lived a simple life. Her family had not had wealth or privilege. Yet Corrie and her family had each other and faith in Jesus Christ. Corrie's father read from the scriptures daily, and her aunts and mother worked hard to serve others in many ways. When the war came, Corrie and her family just continued to love and serve those around them, regardless of the man-made consequences. 

At nearly fifty years old, Corrie experienced some of the most difficult circumstances a human being has ever had to experience- in prison, in a labor camp... Yet Corrie held on to her faith, she (and her sister) lived her life with a view towards helping others... her hiding place wasn't a place- it was her attitude and her belief in the truth of the Gospel of Christ. And Corrie's life had so much richness and meaning!



So when life seems difficult (as almost every day can be), I need to remember what I learned from  Corrie's experiences and continue to construct my life's foundation upon my Savior.

"Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." 
Helaman 5:12

The cannot fall part is VERY reassuring!

Corrie's life was not all ease and good experiences. Her troubles did not vanish when she made her foundation on Christ. But Corrie did not fall. The pain and anguish were eased, her fears were hushed.

My life will not be all ease and good experiences either. But I know that if I rely on my Savior by following His teachings, I will not fall and I can have my fears hushed as well.

I am so very blessed to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life!

Thursday, May 28, 2015

"Art Thou Greater Than He?"

D&C 122:8

Great question to ponder... but sure can be tough! Lately, life has been REALLY hard- from so many angles. In the midst of some of the toughest challenges of my life, with no end in sight and no apparent answers and compounding questions, it is hard to look forward- would be so easy to stagnate in self-pity!

But Doctrine & Covenants 122 is something to hold onto...

  • "fools shall have thee in derision"- check
  • "their influences shall cast thee into trouble"- check
  • "in perils amongst false brethren"- check
  • "accused with all manner of false accusations"- check
  • "thine enemies tear thee from..."- even this, yes
  • and sometimes it feels like so much more!

I MUST remember:

  • All "for a small moment"
  • When righteous- "thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever"
  • Most of all: "The Son of Man hath descended below them all" (meaning every rotten thing I could ever experience in life). "Art thou greater then He?"
And then the counsel: "hold thy way... Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever."

No, these words, no matter how wonderful, do not make all of the challenges better- but this does make it easier. And if I can just remember all of these amazing, incredible, and true promises, there is hope.


And looking at these two beautiful grands can still help me smile!

Sunday, May 10, 2015

All that I ever am, or hope to be...

I owe to my angel mother!

Abraham Lincoln said it best.



I love you Mom!!!

And I am blessed with two more mothers in Sue and Dee!!

And my it is grand to be a grandmother! I am so grateful to have two girls who are wonderful mothers!



So happy to be a mother!