SO BLESSED TODAY

Today I got another phone call. He really likes to call while I am in primary teaching :) But, I will take it. My partner for my class is fabulous and understands exactly why I leave to take the phone calls! I was so happy to hear his voice and hear how he is doing! First off, I need to brag for a bit! Last week he told me he was made Assistant Platoon guide, was one of two that scored 100% on their red phase exit test, is in charge of the fire guard (where people take hour long shifts to make sure no one runs) schedule, and then he told me he won first place in shooting! He was so excited! It is so good to hear this side of him!
This week I got two letters! I got one Monday and another on Wednesday! It was so nice to go through his letters and hear how he is doing. He was given a calling at church! He is the Priesthood Blesser. Which means exactly how it sounds. He gives blessing to those in need! He said it has helped him so much to grow stronger to our heavenly father! It is incredible to see him grow up even though I can't be there with him.  I am excited to tell you that today I got a message from another wife saying thank you. Brandt has been such an example to her husband that he is going to church with Brandt and he talks frequently about how much he likes Brandt. :) My heart melted! I have spent all day (after church) talking to other wives and trying to set aside a night when we all get into town for graduation to go to dinner and meet each other since we have been each other support. I am so excited!
I just need to take a moment and say that even though I STRUGGLE with Brandt being gone, I am so blessed and insanely PROUD of my husband! One of his letters said to me that I am the strong one for being a Firemen's Wife and an Army Wife. But, here is the deal! I love my husband more than anything! I know that he is the patriarch in my home and I wouldn't care if he were a sewer cleaner! I would shout it at the top of my lungs that I am a proud supporter of the one I love no matter what their profession! I know that some people think it would be hard to be a firemen's wife or an Army wife but I honestly think it would be hard to not be! This is my life and I embrace it with all my being! 

To my family (both sides Even Extended) and friends I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate the support and love you have shown me with Brandt being gone! I have had so much anxiety these last few days about moving away from all of you but, I know that this is the life that Brandt and I have had in our plans even before we knew it! It will be hard to be away from you and I hope and pray that you all know of our love for you if we don't get to see you before me move! I love all of you and am so blessed to have you all in my life! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! 

Sincerly, the Daniels

Alone. So alone........

     Sorry but, This is going to be a sad sappy post. I just need somewhere to talk to.. Today has been quite a hard one. The thing that makes no sense is that there is nothing that has made me feel this way on purpose. I have just feel like crying every minute today. As I sit here waiting hoping that I might just get one phone call or text or email or anything I realize that no one is calling or texting. Why did I seriously want to be left alone after Brandt left? Now that I am completely alone I feel like I have no one. The dumbest part is my family is so close! I know I love them I just don't have the energy to keep going to Salt Lake to see everyone. It would just be nice to have someone to talk to other than my dog. ha ha ha ha I sound so ridiculous!
     I know that I have tons of friends and family I just am not in the same part of life at all with any of them. All my friends are new moms, have been moms. Family is all so busy and trying to get on with their lives. I just feel like here I am husband less, no kids to occupy my time or give me something in common with my friends, waiting for school to really pick up so I can stop being so self loathing! Today I miss Brandt more than words can say! He is the one I go to when I can't go to anyone else. He is the one I say goodnight to every night, say my prayers with, eat dinner with I do everything with him and right now I do everything Alone. Sounds fun right? Maybe someday I will get used to the idea of being alone but I am not ready for that day!
     I am speaking on Sunday in church and all I can think of is how I wont have my husband there by my side to take up the extra time that there most definitely will be after I speak since my anxiety gets out of control and I ramble for a maximum of five minutes. I am so nervous and scared that my talk will not appeal to anyone. The worst part is that I wont have anyone to come home with to laugh about how fast I talked or mumbled over my words. I know I have a great ward but nothing makes up for the absence of your eternal companion. I really want to go to the temple but it is hard to go and know I don't have my husband sitting across the room from me , checking on me to make sure I am awake and wink at me.
      Like I said I am so sorry if you read this and all your thinking is wow she is nothing but whining. but really I feel like I have no one I can just vent to that will even understand me or just listen and actually care what I am feeling. Please do no be offended by this i just really needed to share how I was feeling tonight. I am going to go take something to hopefully help me sleep since I dread going to bed every night for the fact of sleeping alone. Have a good night and again I am sorry for seeming melodramatic.
Good Night , Here are today's pictures.

 Playing with rope

 on left

walking the board.
Shauntel Daniels

And He's Gone..

Well.... Thank you to all of those who came out to support about Brandt! I was so thrilled to see everyone who came out to show him how much they support him! Now that he is gone it has been a little crazy! Life unfortunately Doesn't wait for anyone! I feel like I had so much to do! I have been fixing cars, paying off bills, getting ready for school. Man, I wish life just gives you a little bit of a break cause right now that would be nice!
   Since he has left I have gotten a grand total of 8 phone calls which have now decreased to once every three weeks. He is doing great! He is now officially in Basic Training. I will attach some photos so you can see what he is up to. There is a captain who is going on to a Facebook page every night posting about the day they had with the soldiers and pictures sometimes as well. If you would like to "like" the page here is the URL
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Echo-Battery-1-79-FA-Basic-Combat-Training/177742102252327
Check it out! It is pretty cool! I have absolutely loved being able to see him or hear about him since I wont be hearing from him for a while!
    Here are some pictures of him in Basic

If you couldn't tell he is number 34.
    I just wanted to make sure I said THANK YOU to all of you who have been there for me! I am so happy that I have such good friends and family! I know I am having a really hard time and am a stickler about hanging out and can be a huge flake. I am sorry I am really trying to get used to not having Brandt home. I am getting there. I like to be home and in my comfort zone but I know that I need to get out as well. So I just want to say thank you for being patient. I am sorry if I say I want to hang out and then don't I really do like hanging out I just have a hard time leaving the house.
   School Started this week. Well, some of my classes. I woke up early thinking my first class was Thursday at 6 am. A boot camp fitness class. But, however it does not even start until the second half of the semester.. so I went back home to change into regular clothes and then headed back for math, which I had found out that Thursday was NOT the first day of classes. There were two before that and I was six sections behind. oh and there was a quiz first thing! What a to start math after not taking a math class in 3 years! I was so overwhelmed I seriously cried my way through the quiz and didn't even answer a single question. I was so relieved when it was over! I literally wrote "Sorry I missed the first two classes I am lost" on the bottom of the quiz. Then I had English at the redwood campus that started at 1130. It was only 930 by the end of math. So I went from south city campus to redwood where I found a table and worked on my math homework.
   I went to my English classroom and found out ANOTHER one of my classes didn't start until June 04th! I was so frustrated for the day I just wanted to go home and cry myself into a year long sleep! I did go home and take a nap. Then ate something I knew I shouldn't have eaten. So naturally Friday when I woke up for American Civilization I felt like I was going to DIE! I was so tired and sick to my stomach. I went to class anyways, good thing I did. If I wouldn't have I would have been dropped from the class!
   On a lighter note I met with my Bishop on Wed I am getting a teaching calling. I was also recommended to be called as a temple worker. Needless to say I am just waiting for school to REALLY start and to be busy busy busy! In the mean time I have signed up for a few running races. So I will just be training for my half marathon in august and will be enjoying time with you all! Thanks again for all your support!

Time Flies!

   So apparently I am not keeping track of how many days until Brandt leaves. I have been trying to focus on the time we have together rather than what little time we have left. The other day I get  phone call from him while he is at work and he insists on letting me know he only has 43 days left until he is officially gone for basic training. This is so crazy to me! I just keep thinking of all the things we have to do before he leaves. All the family parties, friend parties, work parties, etc. So many people to hang out with and really NOT that much time!!
    I am getting excited to get people together to celebrate his awesome accomplishments. However, I know that doing so means the time is coming when I will be sitting at home on Friday nights alone with the dog and the lame "Twilight" movies..
 Ha Ha Ha Ha Yes I am that boring when I am home alone!
    I am getting excited for this weekend, It is kind of starting off the family outings and fun festivities. I was super looking forward to conference. First we are going to the Jazz game Friday night. It will be fun and what Utahn doesn't want to see Jimmer? Then Saturday although I have work I will be doing the annual dinner with the men after priesthood with Kami Daniels, and Patti Daniels. Then baking after to make my yummy gluten free devils food cupcakes for Patti's annual Easter party. We were trying to get tickets to conference on Sunday morning (me thinking it was 8-10 not 10-12) Then I realized the actual time and we have our family Easter party that morning. So I went on the hunt!!! I emailed my bishop hoping that him knowing we are leaving in September and don't know the next time we could attend conference would be asked if he could help. I got an email from a member of the bishopric and he was able to pull some strings to get us into the afternoon session. We are sitting right up front and center on the floor right where all the authorities walk in front of! So needless to say I can have my cake and eat it too!! I can go to the Awesome family party and go to conference which I really wanted to be able to manage. I am so excited for everything we are doing this weekend.. It will be amazing!
    To top it all off Sunday night at midnight I can register for my classes! I am taking Math 990 English 2010 History 1700 and then the Yoga Teacher courses! I can't wait to get back to school and start learning again!
     Brandt is getting excited / nervous for everything to come! He is slowly getting more excited as the time comes closer for him to report to his dream job of flying helicopters for the United States Military! I know he will be amazing and I am so happy to know that I have a husband willing to go out and strive for greatness! I am lucky to have such a wonderful man in my life and I am so thankful for the light he gives me!!

AVIATORS FOR MY AVIATOR!!!

      Yesterday I spent the day shopping for a good Valentines day gift for Brandt. I vaguely remembered him saying he wanted a cool pair of aviator sunglasses since he was going to be an aviator now.. I laughed but I then thought to myself this would be a good "funny" gift. So, I found a pair and bought them of course! I was so excited I couldn't even keep them from him. Go figure..
      Any ways I am getting a little nervous for all the changes coming ahead! Brandt leaving, going back to school, then BAM!!! Pack up and move to ALABAMA! I am starting to get nervous about the fact that we will be so far from home. I know it is going to be fabulous but I can't help but think about the things that could happen here or there and it wouldn't be as easy a 25 minute drive to comfort those family and friends. We are going to miss all our friends and family here. I guess it is part of the adventure right?
       Well, I am thinking of throwing a "farewell" party for friends in April probably towards the middle of the month. So just keep that in mind. I am setting aside the last week he is in town for me and him to go out of town and get away for a bit before I don't see him for four months.. :) So if you want to see him word to the wise, Start calling. He only has 87 days left here in Utah. Pretty much he will be gone and not coming back to Utah (except to help me move) for about 8 years after that.. :) I know it is CRAZY to think about.. well I love you all and let me know if you would be interested in coming to a party when i throw it! Thank you love you all!

Ball Rolling

Today things are finally rolling in the right direction. We have put together a plan for the military, a plan for me while he's gone, and our financial plans to help us get through everything unhurt by the economical times... I am finally going to go get the certifications I need to teach yoga and become a personal trainer! I am so excited to get this done. I am planning on getting my certificates and start working then work on a bachelors of exercise sport science in kinesiology and using it with my personal training skills. The one Thing I want to focus on is helping women stay healthy the right way before, during, and after their pregnancies. I feel like this could be a very valued aspect for many women who go to the gym and are lost as to where to star! I can't wait to get going on this....
 Brandt is so excited to be finally going into helicopter flight school it is unreal! I know he has always wanted to become a pilot so the face that he got in and it is REALLY happening is a blessing for him and our family! He is the person who fits this job to a T! He loves to strive for being the best and I know that having that attitude will let him get where ever he wants in his career and life. While he is gone at boot camp I will remain in Bountiful but I will be going to school full time at Salt Lake Community College to get the yoga teacher training hours I need to get into a gym. Then once he is finished with warrant officer training he will come home and we will get our things packed into a trailer and head out of town for a while ;) approximately eight years. of which we could even end up out of the country!

 The other day we were thinking about where we would want to be stationed if we had our choice int he matter. We both thought how cool would it be to be stationed somewhere where the average person only dreams of going. You are given the chance to put together what is called a dream station list and we are thinking of foreign places! The way we look at it is Utah will always be home and be where we end up coming back to when we get out whether it be 8 years from now or after putting in a full career. Utah IS and always will be home. So while we are active in the Army why not get out of it some good. :) I just wanted to take a minute and say thank you to you all for the love and support again.. It is going to help us get through the first few phases of our new journey! So thank you!

In The Army Now!

Today as Brandt put it was the first day of the next eight years of our lives. My wonderful husband has made the decision to serve his country in the Unites States Army. Today, January 24, 2012 Brandt was sworn in and is officially enlisted. I am so proud to know that my husband has made this decision. Coming from a military family with many members in many different branches I can't be more proud. As I stood there watching him raise his right arm to be sworn in all I could think of at the time was "Here we go" our lives are about to take a turn for the better.

Brandt and I want to make sure we say THANK YOU to all of you that have supported us and our decision that we have made. It would not have been easy without the support and love you have given us. I have promised family members that this would be the way I could keep everyone posted on what's going on in our lives. Well today is the start.

Today we found out that May 08th, 2012 Brandt will leave to go to Fort Sill in Oklahoma for his basic training. This will last 8-10 weeks from there he will go to Fort Rucker Alabama where he will be for his Warrant Officer Training. After during this He will (hopefully) get about a week of leave to come home and help me pack up to move to Fort Rucker Alabama where we will live for approximately 14-22 months. This is where he will be for his halo training. For those of you who are not familiar with military lingo that is where he will go to helicopter pilot training.

We are so excited for our new journey and are so happy that our lives are taking us somewhere where we can focus on whats ahead. and that is our eternal lives together just the two of us! Thank you for all your love and support!

Love, The Daniels