February is a month of birthdays...and Valentine's Day, of course!

Some people have expressed to me that they hate Valentine's Day. Their reasons? "No one ever sends me flowers or treats. I hate that day!" "Valentine's Day isn't fun when my spouse never does anything nice for me!" "Valentine's Day is for boyfriends and girlfriends. Who cares about Valentine's Day?!"
    Yes, it is traditionally known for the day to celebrate with your sweetheart or to be swept off your feet by your true love. Well, I project that it can have a different meaning...its a day of Love! But not just romantic love. Its a day to express your love and appreciation for all the people in your life!
    Valentine's is like Christmas for me...its not about what you GET....its about what you GIVE! So, think of the ways you can make the day better for the people you love in your life...and who knows? Maybe that will come back to you some day, but don't do it for what you can get out of it. Do it for what YOU get out of it, as in the happy feeling from making someone else smile and feel loved on Valentine's Day.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

New book released...

check out my Author fiction page above.
   
 "A Soldier's New Year." Romantic Endings Book 2

2018...This is an amazing year coming!

I never could imagine, back in 1975 as a ten year old, living in the year 2018.
Isn't life wonderful? I love January...I love the new beginning that a new year brings.
I know I say the same thing every January, but it never gets old! The chance to start again. To set new goals. It is a time of renewal. I welcome the opportunity to find new learning moments and personal growth activities.
    Enjoy this great time to live. See the possibilities and embrace each moment 
to begin again! Have a great year!
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Enjoy a moment of reflection with this colorful journal. "Finding Joy in Your Day!" is a journal designed to spend 30 days finding the good  and searching for moments of gratitude in each day. Record your thoughts and count your blessings. It is also a great book to record your new goals for the new year. (Beautiful colored pictures inside) 

"Finding Joy in Your Day!" (click and follow link to Amazon to order!)

December...my favorite time of the year.


There is no snow yet, but the cold has set in. The Christmas tree is up and lit every night. I love to sit in a dark room and stare at the tree. I let the lights and reflections of light off the glass ornaments blur a little. It is a magical place to sit and think for a while.
    I think of the year past, my family, my goals, and sometimes I don't think of anything at all. I just sit....and let my mind empty of the stress of the day. I let my body relax until I am ready to sleep for the night.
       Merry Christmas! I hope you have a stress free month to celebrate with family and friends. The end of the year is here...what did you do with the opportunities you had this past year? What will you do with next years possibilities?

December.......New book  

"A Home for Christmas"
Read all about it on my Fiction book page..(click above to change page.)

Kindle available  A Home for Christmas (click here!)
Print coming in two weeks, or sooner!!







November

This month is a favorite of many...It is the beginning of the Holiday season! This time of year fills me with happy thoughts. It all  means only one thing to me.... family and I mean "FAMILY" in a big way!! Its not about the shopping or the shiny gifts that are now displayed in the stores from now until Christmas...its about Family fun, love, and the time spent together.

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas....it all means the same to me......
Happy Family Time!!
 

October....I love fall!

Here is a beautiful fall picture taken by my sister, Barbara. She was out for a nice break from her day. She and her husband went for a drive to see the changing of the Aspen tree leaves near Flagstaff, Arizona.

We all need that kind of day. Just walk away from the messy house, the bills waiting to be paid, and the many other things that keeps us busy. Sometimes we deserve that moment to take a breath and rejuvenate. Even if it is a few minutes.

If you can't take a drive to get away...then take a walk down the street. Just a leisurely stroll is all we need sometimes. Take a deep breath, enjoy the scenery. Take in the peace and quiet of nature.

We all need that. You deserve it!





If you enjoy my blog....share it with a friend this month! Thanks! 

Check out my new page added.....
"Authors Corner...Meet a new author!"

First of all ...my heart goes out to those in Texas experiencing so much loss. I'm humbled by all those who have rushed to the aid of the people there. I'm touched mostly by the way the people in the area have pulled together and helped one another.  I'm also impressed by those in other states, famous and just "Regular" folks, that have donated to help those who have lost so much. 

September!

The beginning of fall is on its way.

The temperature is changing and the toilet paper is hanging from our trees like Christmas lights! Yes, homecoming has arrived for our school and this year my boys weren't home to guard the yard.  Both me and my teenage/junior in high school, daughter dared to go to bed by 10:00 p.m. My daughter was SO excited that we had been teepee-d. Earlier she had sadly stated, "They only toilet paper the cool kid's houses, Mom. They won't get ours." Frowny face and pouting to boot! When the culprits had knocked and rang the door bell. (New for me! I thought this was a hit and run kind of activity.) She leaped out of her room and started shouting. "Yes! Yes!" As she ran downstairs. I pictured her throwing the front door open as she jumped up and down! She gleefully ran back up stairs. "They got us, Mom!"
    Then she ran back downstairs the second time shouting, "Come on, Mom! You gotta see this! They got us good!" I told her I would wait until morning, as I muttered, "Worthless dogs!" Three dogs had let the yard get vandalized without a single bark!
     Sure enough, the next morning I saw 'how good they got us!' Every tree, bush and weed, picket fence, pillars on the porch, arbor, back yard and the house....and all over the grass....oh and down the lane (Sorry about that good neighbor!) All I could think of was, "Wow, that was a ton of toilet paper I could have put in my year supply...almost a full acres worth!
     But my daughter was happy and felt very loved. Later she was told 30 kids showed up to pull off the job. They must really like her!





New release!

   "Doodle Journal" Check it out on my "Non-fiction" book page above.

August 2017


August...what does it mean to you? Back to school? Fair time? Harvest and canning? All of that comes to mind for me... along with my anniversary. This year my husband, Greg, and I will be married 34 years!
    That sounds like such a long time...for some it is. For me...it feels like it's only been a few years, but then I look in the mirror and realize that time has past.
    So much has happened in those flying 34 years. We have six children and 10 grand kids. We have moved twelve times, owned thirteen different vehicles. We owned three different homes along with the rentals in the beginning. Greg has supported us with different jobs. I taught music for 30 years and preschool for thirteen. We homeschooled for nineteen years.
     We raised two Eagle scouts. four tennis players, three cross country runners, two football players, one wrestler, four musicians, three  college students ( and two more coming up.) We raised a cowboy and rancher, a musician and mother, a business manager and corrections officer, a carpet layer, a construction worker, a well driller, two missionaries, and a pro tennis coach.
     Life has been good to us. We have had our trials....cancer came and left, along with other illnesses....jobs have changed, but here we are, still married...still raising our family.
      We are together forever. We are here to stay!

Happy Fourth of July! Have a happy Family fun day! 

How will you be celebrating this year? Family picnic, a barbecue? Boating, Camping? and last but not least...Fireworks!

Enjoy your holiday!

 New book Released!! Check out my fiction page . Click on the tabs above!

JUNE....

Summer time has started with strange weather and a AC that went on the blitz.
 This is the time to think of summer family fun...family reunions, swimming parties, picnics in the park and in the mountains...camping!!  We love camping!
    And of course, the most fun of all Fourth of July!
   What is your favorite summer fun activity?

But June has other holidays that are very important....June 14th is Flag Day. I love seeing the flags waving in the wind. I love what that flags represents. Our country and the freedoms that we have.
    I know there is a lot of political conflicts nowadays, but we need to not forgot the goal of this country. Freedom....if you have have forgotten what those freedoms, are spend time reading about it and be reminded. Though, I will say, you might have to go hunting for some of that information since people nowadays tend to try to destroy the stories of the founding fathers and all they represented.


The other great day of June is Father's Day.
I want to tell you about my dad. He was an amazing man. I learn so much from him. He had a very big heart. Always giving to others.
    I remember him getting up in the middle of the night to rescue broken down cars and fixing them in the middle of the night and then getting up to go to work.
     He served the community in 4-H  until he passed on! The kids loved him!
    He was active in the LDS church and involved in the scouting program for many years also. He loved the mountains and hiking with those boys!
    He took our family camping and hiking. He was always there at ever activity we were in. Always cheering us on.
  . He always had a smile and a hug. He had a great sense of humor.
   LaVon Max Johnston has been gone from this earth for 8 years now..but he is still with me. I miss him every day.  His birthday is also June 27th. A lot of reminders of him this month.

I love you, Daddy.

May....

May is a awkward month. It can be full of sunny, spring days or cold, windy, rainy days.We had three days last week that started out rainy and cold, and then ended in sunshine. Like Mother Nature couldn't make up her mind.    
      But for sure, the flowers are amazing! I love Spring flowers. It makes my day to see new flowers blooming.
       May is a transition month also. School is out, seniors graduate. Spring cleaning hits us. Out with the old and in with the new! It is a time for new paint in the living room. Everything gets a face lift and feels new again.
  
    

April!....Spring! Spring! Spring!

I love spring time. Flowers are so beautiful. New green grass, fruit trees begin to bloom. Life is renewed!
   Sometimes we just need that renewal time for ourselves. I believe in new beginnings, but sometimes it isn't about starting over, but maybe a new look all together...new hairdo. New paint on the house, new nail color, plow up the old garden and change what you will do with it for once. Spring is about change for me! And as I said in the past...CHANGE IS GOOD!!
     SO let it happen! Give yourself permission to do something different. I am adopting an old habit....in the spring I used to get rid of everything in my house that I haven't used for 2 years. After I went through  my cancer-- 4 years ago-- my energy level to get stuff done was just gone. It is finally flowing in my veins again! So let the fun begin! Last week I burned all the old broken furniture in my house! It felt GREAT! Okay..maybe the chair wasn't broken..but it was ugly! So it had to go! I tried to give it away...no takers so it had to go. Now to continue my deep..and I mean DEEP spring cleaning! It is long over due! OVER HAUL TIME FOR MY HOUSE! Happy spring cleaning to all of you!



New Children's book released!

Check it out on  "non-fiction Author page"!

How to help teach your child to read! A book written from my 13 years of experience teaching Pre-school and 18 years of Homeschooling.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

March......

 Top of the mornin' to ye!

St Patrick's Day was always simple, a bit dreaded, but a fun holiday. Wear green or get pinched! In our home, it goes a little deeper! We keep trying to catch that pesky Leprechaun.
     Every March 17th...our milk turns green! It's been happening for years! My 6 children spent years trying to catch the tricky little man. My youngest is 15 and the tradition still goes strong.
    Along with trying to catch the Leprechaun in action, our meals for the day take on a green tint also. Green pancakes, lunch and dinner-- everything about the meals through out the day is green! ...Green salad, asparagus, green jello, green mashed potatoes, green rolls, lime green punch, etc. 
     One year the chicken was suppose to be green, but it turned out looking like yellow slimy chicken. It was difficult to eat at first for some. But it was a great family time! Since then we steer clear of trying to taint the meat--it is a little difficult.

    Family traditions are a great thing. They can be started at anytime. It is never too late to pull together a simple dinner, send out a few text to have your family members clear their calendar. 
      The time you spend with your family building memories is priceless. Just do it! It may take some time and energy to get the family all together in one place, but it is well worth it.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and yours!

February... The month of...LOVE.
What do you love? I love to Read! I love to listen to uplifting music as I work. I love to sit in a clean house...but that means I have to clean it too! I LOVE my family. I appreciate the great times they have shared with me! I love hearing them come home!

    I love friends and making new friends!

I love Chocolate! Makes me feel happy to share it with someone too!..with popcorn! Yummm!

    Just find a little happiness by loving the little things in your day.
The cat laying on the chair, the bird playing in the yard outside the window. That small piece of Chocolate melting in your mouth. The taste of a cool glass of water! The smile in someone's eyes as they greet you! I love my bed! My house!
   
     Every day is filled with loving blessings...count your blessings today!

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February...a new month. A new start to begin....again!
     This is a great time to reset those New Year's Resolutions you have already balled on...and START AGAIN!
      February...can you believe it? Here in Parma, Idaho we have spent our first month of the year covered in snow. Some New Year Resolutions may not have even had a chance to begin...so here is another opportunity.
      "Exercise? New Job? Diet? Spend more time with family?" Whatever the plan was.... Just  reset your goals and get back to work again.
     

Happy Valentine's Day!  Don't forget to plan that special date with your valentine.

Happy New Year! 2017

As a kid, I never thought I would see the year 2000! It seemed so far away.    Well, I figured out a long time ago I was going to see a lot of the 2000++ years to come.
     SO here is to another new year!! What will your new year be like? Do you have great plans already? New uplifting goals? New hopes and dreams for this new year we are facing. I sure hope so. I love Christmas...but I love to see the New Year roll in. I love January.....
...my newest beginning!! I need my new beginnings. I need my 'start over' moments and my 'do overs'. But I also enjoy continuing the good things I've got going for me already. I hope you can find the good things worth keeping and look at your year in a positive way...I hope you find more then new years "Do overs!" 
     I am grateful for many things in my life...Lets make this year a year of "Counting our blessings" and to find more blessings to add to the list!
     SO Happy New Year and hope you are counting your many blessings!
   

December.....a month of pondering, reflection and hope.

December is a favorite month. Obviously because Christmas is big part of that month. But what is Christmas to me? Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 
     Some may wonder "Did he really exist?" That is when faith comes into it. I have the faith that there is a God in heaven, that he is my creator and Heavenly Father. That there was a plan that sent us all to this earth on a journey. God sent us to experience life--birth, choice and accountability, family and of course to test our faith. He wanted to see if we would have enough faith to return home to him. Part of that plan included a safe loop hole.--a Savior. Someone who loved us enough to make sure we had the help we needed to return to our heavenly home safely.
     The Savior came as our example of how to live. Because, as in our life here, there are rules and guidelines that must be met before we can be in God's presence again. God is perfection...we are not. So Christ is a our Mediator. He will stand with us before God when it is time to report what we learned on our journey.
    This earthly experience is different for all of us, but we have one thing in common. We will return to see God...my faith has been convinced of this. I believe in God, so there for I believe in the Savior and I believe in all the prophets that were sent as our road map to return to heaven.
     Christ was sent as a baby to gain an earthly body as we had to...he had a family, that he learned from and spent time with in his youth before being sent out to complete his mission that he was sent to do. A pattern that our own life would follow. 
     Christ came to atone for the sins of all of us. God is a perfect being and no imperfect being can live in his presences. Christ is that key...our connection. He will stand with us, accepting all the mistakes and sorrowful moments we collect on our journey here. He will stand with us to make us whole, taking our sin upon himself...making us pure once again to stand with God.
           This is my testimony of God's plan and of the Savior. I know that God lives and loves us. That Jesus Christ is our Redeemer. I know that the scriptures and the teachings of the prophets...old and living...are tools to help us return to our Heavenly Father.
        Christmas...celebrating the birth of Christ...is a very important part of God's plan for his children to return to him. Merry Christmas.

November !! Busy month...
#1--Daniel leaves on his Mission in 2 days!!
#2--We had my Holiday Cottage Boutique the last week of October instead of November.
#3-- Daniel, Gretchen and I went to Arizona so Daniel could see family before he left.
#4--My daughter from Missouri surprised us-with her 2 little kids.
#5--Had an early Thanksgiving with Daniel.

Had seven of my ten grand kids here with us.
Loved every minute!









Family makes the difference!! 
These days I hear of so many people who are squabbling with a family member--even within my own family.  Is it worth it to hold onto the grudge and anger?....Will it matter in ten years?
      All I know is that you have missed out on ten years of family closeness,  good times, and peace of heart. What can be so important to fight over...money? Hurtful words?  Jealousy? Oh, I know these are REAL feelings involved in such incidents. Pride stands in the way of apologies and lack of forgiveness.
     I love my family. I need my family! I hope all is well with yours!

October! Fall, Fall, Fall! Family!

This is a great time of year. The gate way to a lot of family time. I know I have blogged about this before, but I love the holidays and the family time that comes with it.
       Family is what life is all about. If I can teach my children anything...that would be to BE a part of the family. Be there when the opportunity arises and they will be there for you as often as they can.
     I come from an awesome family....and extended family. Somehow my mom and dad quietly taught me and my brother and sisters that family is very important. They are my best friends, they come first, they are there for me, and I need to be there for them in any circumstances. AND I don't have to pay them for help or for being my family! 
    You may think that last comment is strange, but I have seen families that have to pay their siblings for their time and efforts if they help them. SO NOT COOL in my book.
     One of the most important lessons that the Savior taught was service. I believe that the greatest place and the first place to serve is your family. It brings you closer, the love bound becomes deeper as you go through life's experiences together. When you are feeling down and out...you should be able to count on your family...and not be judged by them, Silent support is what family is and can be.
    BUT on the flip side of truth, our worst critics can be our family. So just remember, no one is perfect in a family. But everyone can be there to support and to help lift a family member through the tough times. 
      I love all my family. I miss them each day.  How I wish I could be in more then one place at a time!

September!
   Signs of fall are creeping in...cooler weather and Harvest time!!
   This is a great time of year...its another one of those "New beginning" moments. New school year for kids and time for me to re-coop from the summer break! Time to put my house back in order and to start looking ahead to the holidays....YES! The holidays! If I don't start now, then it overwhelms me. I hate rushing around at Christmas time ...so I begin now, to slowly...quietly...begin to prepare.
    I do this in the middle of canning season, putting my house in order, and evaluating my goals! It is like the last quarter of the year...Have I met my goals of the past three months? How am I doing on my long term goals for the year? Now it's time to get ready for the last stretch of the season, so to speak.
    Here's to the beginning of your happy holiday season!! Around the corner...is Halloween, Thanksgiving and then soon Christmas will be upon us! Start planning now for a calmer, more relaxing holiday time!

Check out my new part of my blog. "My Blog Boutique!" Click on the link above! Thank for your support!  AND check out my new Blog, "Donetta's Holiday House."

Check out my latest publications!!
   #1....Exercise... Created for myself..but sharing with those who like to write down their goals. This is a book with a commitment of one year of daily exercising! It has a monthly charts to mark off, suggestions for light eating. Exercise suggestions in the back. Don't forget to drink lots of water! Simple... but a tangible record of a goal! "A goal not written is only a wish."

#2....Cooking on a Tight Budget--and Other Helpful Cooking Tips!...This book was created for my daughters. They are always calling for help and for family recipes. I love to help them, so I decided to put it in writing! This book includes: Nutritional information, shopping lists with menus for a small family on a very tight budget. Recipes for home cooked meals instead of boxed foods. Yummy foods that your family will love. Great gift for kids leaving home, newly marrieds...or because you want a delicious recipe of "Back to Basics" cooking!

Check out my 'Author page for my non-fiction publications' above for more information.

New page added to the line up!
 Shop: "Quilts and More" for Sale!
        Coming soon!

Daniel is the one in the suit, of course!

This page will be dedicated to my son's Missionary fund. I will be making and selling quilts, comforters, and blankets. All Home crafted and original one of a kind!
   Please support Daniel in his efforts to serve! We are waiting to hear where he will be going!
    Check it out and support Daniel!