Friday, May 31, 2013

Memories of Mom's Life from Her Parents


     It seems impossible that our little girl is going to be 50. She is greatly loved.  For this occasion I want to share some of her young life, part of her life before Michael and before her own family; when she was our little girl. I have thousands of memories, of little snap shots of her. 

     I wasn’t prepared for a baby.  Oh, I was excited and had two drawers full of cute little soft nightgowns and bibs that I would take out and look at and couldn’t imagine anything so small. My experience with babies was limited, and newborns were something unknown. On May 30th when grandpa took me to the old Logan Hospital, I was scared.  This was long before husbands/fathers were allowed into the delivery room, and I felt abandoned. Mona Jolly was a nurse from River Heights; she had been my mutual teacher, and I had known her most of my life.  She came in and I knew everything would be fine.  I didn’t watch my first daughter be born, I was too busy and in too much pain.  Suddenly the doctor held up this miracle. Her head was misshaped; she had a mop of black hair.  And she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. In a few minutes I had gone from fear and pain to absolute joy.

     Danielle was a beautiful baby.  We had a hard time finding a name for her.  She left the hospital simply as “Baby girl Anderson.” Milt went back to the hospital when we decided on Danielle.  She was named after my best friend from childhood, Danielle Hansen.  For most of her young life, she was called “Dan Yell.” That was the way my friend’s family pronounced her name. When she was in high school, Danielle, told us she wanted her name to be pronounced correctly. Most of the time she was called, “Nilly.”  She was the first girl grandchild on both sides.  At her first birthday, she was able to do things such as pick up the present with the blue bow and follow other instructions.  She was an affectionate child and would crawl up on almost anyone’s lap. Both of her grandmothers loved to sew for her, and for several years she had an amazing wardrobe. 

    Danielle was five when we moved to our own home on 7th north. She was an obedient, cheerful, beautiful child.  I recall several times people in a store or on the street and comment on what a beautiful child she was.  She was also great at making friends. The Thompsons next door and then the Larsens in our new ward, were so thrilled with our beautiful, sweet, Nilly.

     She was almost five when Beth was born.  She was really into babies.  She and the next door neighbor, Natalie, played dolly for many years.  She was a great big sister for Beth and then for Susan.  I knew when she was just little she would be a great mother, and she is an outstanding mother

     Her first day at kindergarten was a shock for me.  That September day, I put Beth in her stroller and walked Danielle the two blocks to school. I cried all the way home.  She had been my companion for over five years.  I didn’t have the same experience with the other two, but I really felt a great loss when she started school.  One of her favorite things to do was to go to her dad’s school on a Saturday.  She would go and help him with bulletin boards and decorating his room.  She has always been mature for her years and very dependable. . Part of her personality that makes her a wonderful mother, sister, wife and church member is that she is so dependable. If she says she will do something, we could always count on her to do it.

     In 1972, Danielle was Mary as the ward Primary presented the Christmas Story.  It was an amazing experience for me.  She seemed to glow.  I felt very strongly that someday our beautiful child would be an amazing mother.  That was a hard time for us, but the spirit of our Heavenly Father was so strong.

     We moved to River Heights on Mother’s Day in 1973.  Danielle made friends quickly.  She went from playing dolls to playing softball.  She took up skiing and was a good skier from the start. She loved to sew and to play the piano.  She has continued to use these talents.  When she was in high school, she loved seminary.  Many of the people who influenced her the most were the members of the Seminary Board. Her testimony, which had always been strong, continued to grow.

     There are several hundred memories I could share.  She had so many friends. She was a good friend.  She was always well organized and she was often the one who instigated family outings or projects.  She got a job when she was in high school, and she was a dependable worker. In school she was an excellent student and earned good grades, but most of all, her teachers always commented on her willingness to help others.

     When I started this reminisce, I can see in my mind a few feet we have of old 8 millimeter movie film.  Danielle, about eight years old, was sitting on a fence post at the farm.  She was swinging the gate back and forth with her legs.  She would give the gate a good push and then wait for the heavy gate to swing back.  Each time the gate returned, she would shrug her shoulders and kick it again, all the while chewing gum and smiling. For some reason I can see her determination, her positive attitude. 

      I used to believe that children were mostly the result of how they are raised.  I have completely changed my mind.  Children come from our Heavenly Father with their own attitudes, personalities and capabilities.  Danielle came with a wonderful spirit, and a loving attitude.  We are so lucky to have been her parents,

       Happy Birthday, Nilly

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       Fifty years.  It is hard to think of just a few events in a fifty year time span.. We were blessed with three beautiful daughters in our home.  Danielle being our first.

     I remember her birth and how proud we were to have such a beautiful little baby girl to be a part of our family.  She had a charming effect upon all of her grandparents and upon us as her mother and father.  She was the smartest and most talented baby and we loved her so much.

      I remember and appreciate the love and care that she showed  to her little sisters Beth and Susan.  She being a few years older than them, she was their example and teacher and let them into many activities and play.

     I remember when she marched off to school for the first time and how proud she was to be able to be big enough to go to school.  She was a good student and learner and enjoyed her school friends.

     I remember her learning to ride her first bike on the street in from our  home on 7th North in Logan   That street was the place for many activities with the neighboring children on the sidewalk, the big tree, lawn and running water in the ditch.

    I remember when we moved into our new home in River Heights and how excited she was about her own new room and meeting new friends at school.

     I appreciate the love and respect that she has always shown to others.  Including her mother and dad.

     I remember in high school how hard she worked with the band and flag group at Sky View when the band was one of the top bands in the nation.

     We take for granted our loved ones sometimes and we don't tell them as often as we should how much they mean to us and how much we love them

     I appreciate the love and devotion that she has always  had for the church and it's teachings and her willingness to make it such an important part of her life.

    I remember the trips to Yellowstone Park and the fun time catching so many fish and the buffalo in the camp ground.

     I admire her for the love and devotion, the sacrifice she has made for her family and how important they are to her.

     There are so many things that I could write about but will conclude by saying what a wonderful daughter she has been to us and how proud we are of her and how much we love her.  


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