I want that so BAD!

Have you ever had something you wanted so bad?  You do everything you can to make it happen.  Sometimes even after all you do it still falls through.  That can leave you very sad.  I have been thinking about this for a couple of days.  We have been die hard Denver Bronco fans forever.  We lived in Colorado for seven years.

We have suffered through some very bad years.  This year has been so wonderful and exciting.  We love having Payton as our quarterback.  We finally made it to the Super Bowl.  My little family was so excited.  We dressed up for church in Bronco colors and ties.  We painted our nails in Bronco colors.

I made a Superbowl cake.

We all wore our Bronco shirts.

Then the Superbowl started and within seconds the train wreck started.  The whole game was horrible and painful to watch.  We were so disappointed.








I thought about how this relates to life.  I have wanted things so bad before (a baby, move back home, a job promotion...ect).  Even after everything you do you don't get it.  So you grieve and then what?  You move on of course.  If you want something so bad, it will hurt when you don't get it.  Can you let it ruin your life?  No!  Get up, dust yourself off, and make a new goal.  So we say "Good game Seahawks" and we plan for a great season next year.  You win some and you lose some.  So if you have lost one then get up and try something new!

Where is Happiness?

Have you ever thought, "I will be happy when..."?   I have.  Here are some that I have thought in my life.
I will be happy when-
*I graduate college
*I get married
*I have a baby
*When I own my own home
*When the kids are all in school

Well guess what?  Even though these things made me happy at the time, it doesn't mean I have reached destination Happiness!

Happiness is a Emotion and not a Destination!

I have been thinking about this for a couple of days.  So even though I was over the moon Happy when I had my twins, I wasn't so happy when they both had double ear infections and my hubby was out of town.  I didn't reach never ending Happiness when I had the twins.  I do have many wonderful happy times and some hard ones too.

My sister Millie says that she tries to feel true happiness at least once a day.  I don't think anyone can be happy all the time.   That is not realistic.  Life is hard and we all have jobs to do that aren't always pleasant.

So instead of looking for the place "Happiness", try and feel the emotion of "Happiness" in your life.

Here are some things that bring me true happiness!
*Holding my newborn niece Gigi and she smiles and goos at me
*Coaching my daughter Marlee's Basketball team
*Watching my daughter Lizzie sing and dance
*Playing volleyball with my Hubby and friends
*Watching my son Sam learn to snow ski and loving it
*Snuggling with my puppy
*Going on a date with Dan
*Talking on the phone with my sisters
*Getting a massage
*Good food
*Laughing with friends
*Win by your favorite team (go Denver!)
*Having visitors

So tell  me.... What is your Happiness today?

Dannehl's List of 2013

1. Dan and Katie have been married 15 years and first started dating Christmas 1994.
2. Sam and Marlee turned 9 and Lizzie turned 6.
3. 365 days Sam played outside.
4. One visit to Disney World in Florida with Dan's Mom Roni.
5. 1,000,000 times Katie mowed the lawn.
6. 1 x Dan went to Alaska with his friend Nick.
7. 15 fish Dan caught in Alaska (Salmon and Halibut)
8. 1 time our dog Prime caught a live bird. (not fun)
9. 20 times we went to Zoombezi Bay water park this summer.
10. 24 books Katie Read.
11. 1 new Denver Bronco's jersey for Dan (Manning)
12. 600 times Katie cleaned up Lizzie's spills
13. 200 new Football cards for Sam
14. 8 volleyball games for Marlee (first year)\
15. 1,000,000 pictures Lizzie has colored
16. 5 new nieces and nephews
17. 2 years in Ohio
18. 1 new bike for Katie
19. 20 family bike rides
20. 50 tulips Katie grew in the yard
21. 40 tulip bulbs the squirrels ate this summer.
22. 1 visit to Independence, MO to visit Grandpa Greg and Grandma Debi on their mission.
23. 60 times Katie painted her nails.
24. 30 chew toys Prime destroyed
25. 6 bulls-eyes Sam got in his Archery Class
26. 13 Denver Bronco Wins!
27. 1 time boating with Grandma and Grandpa
28. 0 visits to Utah for Katie and Kids
29. 2 new American Girl dolls for Lizzie and Marlee
30 1000 hours of homework
31. 1,000,000 hours Dan worked this year. :(
32. 12 times Katie has unclogged the drain from hair this year. (we have a lot).
33. 1 time Dan was released as High Priest Group Leader. :)
34. 4 times Katie had a ear infection.
35. 15 UFC events Dan has watched
36. a million nerf bullets Sam has shot.
37.  30 makeovers Lizzie gave Katie
38. 365 day Katie was happy to see Dan :)

2013 was a great year. Hoping 2014 will be even better!

Happy New Year!

My cute dog on Christmas!

I must say I have the cutest dog! 

Here he is opening his present on Christmas.  SO CUTE!

 

He adores me and I must say the feeling is mutual!

No sleep on Christmas Eve!

Well it is 4:42 AM Christmas morning and I am wide awake.  Sleeping is never a problem for me except on Christmas Eve.  It isn't that I am wrapping presents or anything (I have had that done for weeks).  I am just excited I guess.  Their is no other reason.  I remember as a kid sharing my room with 4 of my siblings.  We had double sets of bunk beds.  I slept on the top across from my brother J.B.

 I needed to go to the bathroom so bad, but if you left our room you would be able to see the Christmas tree.  I was so worried Santa would be there and I would be in trouble for being awake.  My brother told me to hold it. I did for as long as I could and then I decided I would make a dash for it.  I climbed down and went to the door, squeezed my eyes shut and felt my way to the bathroom with my hands.  Luckily I didn't run into Santa. :)  That memory is so vivid in my mind.  Christmas excites me.  Now as a Mom I sit here waiting as my children sleep.  Waiting for the magic of Christmas!  Mary probably didn't sleep well the night before Jesus' birth. I am sure she was also waiting for the magic.  As I watched the video of the nativity story last night, I thought to myself that Mary was one tough cookie. 

Riding a donkey all day right before giving birth and then staying and having her baby in a stable. 

What a great lady!  I am so thankful for Christ.  I love him! Watch this beautiful video about his birth.

Christmas Eve!

It is 4 PM on Christmas Eve and I feel so happy.  I love Christmas!  We just finished a delicious turkey dinner. My Mother taught me how when I was a girl and now I cooked todays dinner with my daughters.  I make a lot of the same things my mother taught me.  It makes me feel so happy to cook along with my girls and have a beautiful warm house with my family here together.

The tree is beautiful! We had so much fun putting it up after Thanksgiving and enjoying it all month.

My little family is so cute!

It is fun to do our little traditions.  Tonight is new PJs and the reading of Christ's Birth. 

And Santa is coming tonight! 

Merry Christmas Everyone!  Remember the true meaning of Christmas!

Fun in Kansas City with Parents!

While we were in Kansas City for Thanksgiving we went with my parents to Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant.  It was really cute.  They gave everyone hats.

 

You ordered your food by phone and a little train brought it to you. 

 It was good food and fun.

 

We also went to Lego Land.  We rode a few rides and played with legos.

 

They had a really fun 4D movie.

 

We had a great day in Kansas City.  Thanks Dad and Mom!