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.
