Constructive Criticism

Why hello!
Its been a while!
But what do you expect from someone like me? :)

So have learned something new about myself. Correction. I've accepted something new about myself. I have a really hard time taking constructive criticism from other people, especially those closest to me.

My husband is good at EVERYTHING, literally you name it he'll most likely beat you at it. It's AWESOME! So who better to take advice from right?!
So why is listening to advice on how to improve on [fill in the blank here] SO HARD!?

Maybe I have a case of Oldest Child Syndrome; feeling as if I know everything and should be good at all that I do. 

 Here's the story (one of many):
 We were on a kick ball team last night, I made a dumb mistake and a double play was made. Last inning. We lost.
  "Hey didn't you hear us yelling to go back?"
"Hey sorry for yelling at you! I just got caught up in the moment"
 and lots more "Rules, rules, rules, try this..try this..try this next time"
Instead of  being an adult and agreeing that I made a mistake and taking the time to learn new things and refresh on the old. I felt as if it was the end of the world and everyone was mad at me and that no one wanted me to play in the next game. So I childishly, stormed off. Later I apologized, but still the mistake I made replayed over and over again, even on my 30 min drive to work  his morning I couldn't get it off my mind (hence the blog post).  DUMB. Lets be honest, our team stunk...we lost our last game 17 to 1. Every team member made mistakes, from kicking the ball in the wrong direction to fouling out when we only have one out left and one more run to tie the game. So why do I care? It was just a game and I had a really great time!


 We start a new softball league in 2 weeks. Last year if I made a mistake I dwelled on it and it messed with my performance the rest of the game. I should have Learned from my mistake and let it benefit me for the rest of the game. I'm realizing I've always been like that. For example: When I took my driving test I was doing really good until I hit the edge of a curb while trying to park *HEART-ATTACK*  almost instantly I began driving terribly. My instructor made me pull over and told me not to worry about my small mistake,  take a breath and leave it in the past. I Passed but was thankful for that gentle reminder or I may not have gotten my licence.


My half year resolution: Don't be so hard on myself! Learn that constructive criticism is HELP  and not a knife stabbing me in the heart.

Here's to another fun year of co-ed softball

Well that's all I have for today folks.
Until next time.
Dani Ward                    

Choosing your Companion

This past November I didn't take the time to write everyday what I'm thankful for but if I could just choose one thing it would be that I'm thankful for companions, it's never fun to be alone!! Every thanksgiving we get to sit with our loved ones, eat dinner and enjoy or time together and I love it. Being around everyone is the best feeling ever.

All growing up, Sunday was our family day, we'd go over to grandma and grandpa's and we'd all have a fancy dinner that grandma prepared for us. we'd talk laugh and Love. It went on for many years until my grandma was diagnosed with cancer, believe me she wasn't ready to stop serving Sunday dinner but we all new that we needed to give her a rest. My grandma was so giving to all she knew, she was strong and fought for her life everyday but eventually that cancer took over and that sweet lady was welcomed to the other side as we all watched take her last breath. There were many tears, but the person that seemed the strongest was her one true love, grandpa. He had to be, to show his companion's children that it was okay and we'd all be with her again one day.

A few years after my grandma passed away, I had turned 18 and my grandpa gave me the option move out of my house and live with him, I jumped at the offer, I wanted to move out to experience being away from home and I wanted to give my grandpa company. I don't know how much company I really was though, I spent a lot of time with friends. My grandpa spent his evenings reading the newspaper or watching specials on tv, at  930 and I'd see him read his scriptures and go to bed. He was going through the motions of everyday life but he was missing something he had always had; a companion, a friend, someone to talk to and someone for him to be with all the time. 

One day grandpa announced he was ready to start dating again, he'd go on a few dates every so often until the day he came home with a smile on his face and told us about this nice lady he had met, he took her out to Texas road house and they had hit it off and had talked for a real long time. From then on it seemed that my grandpa has much more of a life then I ever did! He seemed to never be home when I was and he'd even come home later then me! I had to remind him that 11:00 was way past his curfew ;) haha, he was a lot happier, I very rarely saw him sitting  quietly in front Of the tv anymore and he seemed to have a new glow with him :) not long after they met, my grandpa asked Sharon to become his companion for the  rest of his life and she said yes! They had a beautiful wedding in April of 2012. And I'm so thankful for Sharon and the happiness she has brought to my grandpa.

Watching my grandpa has made me thankful for the chance to choose who we want to be with, we choose who makes us happy and who we want to spend the most time with and I think that is such a specail opportunity!

Until next time,

Peace out Boy Scout :)

2 years, Big changes.

Here I am again, at the computer, trying to pretend I'm a fantastic blogger.

Except a lot has changed since my last post.

1. IM MARRIED:)...

Nope not to the famous missionary I talked about in all of my other posts. If you would have told me I was going to marry someone else I would have laughed in your face up until about a 3 months before I got engaged to my wonderful husband Damon.

 Sometimes we have our mind so set on the things we want or have planned that we don't take the time to listen to what our father in heaven has planned for us. I told Damon that we'd have to wait until Dane got home so many times I probably couldn't count, but on the inside I knew otherwise, I knew that Damon was the right one for me, I knew he'd take me and we'd continue to help each other become the People we always wanted to be. Damon told me that he was okay with waiting and that he would date me, just to be with me, until the day Dane got home. Thats when it hit me; Damon truly loved me and he wouldn't stop loving me, even with the thought that I may choose a different path in the future. Before Damon, Dane was the  only one I knew that hadn't left me yet (I met him when I was 15) so I created an Emotional Bond to him. I grew up in a single parent family where the only men I knew where the ones that would come in, put on a pretty face, stay for a while, try and create a good relationship and leave unexpectedly, it seemed to be an on going process throughout my childhood and I wasn't about to let it happen in my future. I think that is why it took me so long to let go and Trust what I already knew;  I  was aloud to have someone as wonderful as Damon in my life, he was a new Man in my life and this one wasn't going to leave. 

Dane is  a Wonderful person, he was my best friend growing up and he helped me through a lot of trials, god brought us together for a reason, but that reason wasn't so we could grow up get married, it was so we could  build each other up, encourage each other to do things like go on a mission, always be faithful, keep our eyes on the temple ect.  And thats just what we did, although we haven't talked since he got home from his mission I'm thankful for him, without his example I don't think I'd be where I am today. Damon is without a doubt the one for me, he Keeps me in line and focused on the future, he makes me laugh and puts up with me being so annoying and thinking it's funny(in fact just last night a obnoxiously sang disney songs until he fell asleep and he pretended to enjoy it), Im so grateful that I met him and decided to Marry him for Eternity.

2.   STILL DENTAL ASSISTING

...Okay Maybe not that much has changed besides the Marriage thing (which is kind of a huge deal).  I love my job so much, I wanted  to be a dental assistant since Jr. high and I still can't believe I actually went through with it.Training at my job was so hard for me, I had a hard time learning under pressure when I first started, I was the slowest dental assistant known to man kind. It didn't help that when I first started I wasn't eating, it wasn't a a huge deal and didn't last very long but it sure took a toll on me being able to retain the information that I needed to know, for the first 6+months I'd go home crying at least once a week, because of my low self esteem and the fact that I knew I was driving everyone nuts because I couldn't catch on.

 I began to think I wasn't cut out for the job, My boss began to think that also, he brought me in to his office and told me that I was slow and  he told me the things I needed to work on (which was everything) . I began  praying every morning before work that I would be able to improve and that he would notice me trying harder. The 100's of prayers must have worked because slowly but surely I began to relax and and build the confidence be able focus and improve on my work. 

The Doctor brought me in for another review and said " Wow Dani you have really improved, I was beginning to think I was going to have to fire you, but your doing a lot better, good job" I didn't know how to take it at first  I remember thinking " Woah, I didn't know I was that bad", but I decided to take it as a good thing and continue to improve. Now a lot has changed since then, I still make mistakes, but I enjoy what I do.  I have grown so close to ALL of the girls I work with they really are my best friends, I can talk to them about ANYTHING :) 

Next year I'm going back to school for dental hygiene, I'm so excited, but very nervous. It seems every time I tell someone what I want to do they always seem to say "Oh, well (insert girls name here) tried that and she's so smart and she didn't get in"... What am I supposed to say to that?! "Ooh really? I'm not as smart as her so I guess I should give up now."

UMM NO.

 I'm determined to become a Dental Hygienist, and I'm so excited for the  hard and rewarding road ahead.

Yep so thats about it, I might not write for a while again unless I'm stuck at home trying to avoid doing the dishes :)

Much love!

Until Next time,

DANI WARD

The past 6 Months

SOOO much has happened in the past 6 months. 


1. Elder Coleman got called to the BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA mission!
We had a lot of fun before he left, WE ATE SOOOO MUCH! and I gained sooo much weight! But it was worth it! he left on June 15th 2011! We had a breakfast with his family on the deck that morning! At that moment we were truly just friends. He had already been set apart therefore he was OFF LIMITS! I road along with them to the MTC, it was like the most horrific roller-coaster ride I had ever been on I couldn't believe it was happening and I did not know how to take it, we pulled up to the MTC and we all got out of the car and he hugged down the line of his family and got to me I held out my hand and shook his hand and said. "I love you Dane" "I love you too Dani" he said as he let go and turned around to begin his journey: The best 2 years for his life.
I had the opportunity to talk with him on Christmas with his family, he is doing great! Dane is still as funny as ever he made me laugh til i cried. His spirit is strong and its growing, he gets along with his companions well enough, and is doing the lords work willingly. he is happy and i wouldn't want him any place else on earth :)


2. I got a job at an Orthodontist office. 
The night Dane got set apart I got a text asking if i was interested in working at  an Orthodontic office, I was so excited and I didn't even have the job yet, but i had been praying and looking for a place to at least interview at, it was like heavenly father just placed this opportunity in my lap. I made an effort to get an interview, I didn't have experience; (I did have experience in genral dentistry, if an internship counted. or the small chapter of ortho we learned in school) I had determination. I went in & put on my charm. finally they  asked if I had experience, I replied with " No, but that means you can mold be just the way you want" I think they liked that, I got called back for a working interview it was nerve wrecking but enjoyable. I was told I would be called if i got the job. I knew there were other more experienced people that were interviewing for the job, and i had little faith that id get it. but then i got a call and i'm pretty sure i was jumping up and down when she told me. It was an answer to all my prayers. Finally something i could do that i actually enjoyed. Not to mention, it got me off the couch and away from Facebook. I lovvvveeee working there. It makes me happy!!!


3. I began to LOVE singles ward.
I don't know what it was but before i HATED singles ward i thought it was the worst thing ever invented! but then The ward got split and  Kyle Podzikowski Started talking with me and sitting next to me at church and it was nice to have a friend at church!  Tom Walsh was my "FHE Dad" and he got me going to FHE every week, he would make sure i was there! Kyle always encouraged me to go to Ward prayer and tunnel singing, since i was more involved i began to come out of my shell! I realized it wasnt singles ward that sucked, it was my attitude, the second i fixed it I loved my ward. I met Tasha Borget at our SUPER lame (at least it looked lame it was way fun!!) ward dance, and we crazy danced and have been friends ever since, she is like my  counselor in everything! i always ask her for advice! she is the only friend i cant talk to on the phone for hours and not even realize its been that long!
Now im obsessed with YSA 25 WARD!!! LOVE IT!!


Over all The past 6 months have been a roller coaster  ups and downs but mostly ups! i'm so thankful for all my friends and the joy they bring into my life! I'm living my life, dating, and CingTR! :)

My spring Break

I got pulled over :) Oops!

I had LOTS of fun in Logan.

I Got a parking ticket.

I assisted in a Facebook hacking.

I gossiped with my best friend while Facebook stalking People.

I shared secrets with a friend that I'd never shared before.

I hung out with a new friend.

I cried. A lot.

I stayed out late!

I Tried Something new!

I thought I lost a friend.

I worked.

I grew closer with my Mom.

I wouldn't change a thing.

The Twelve Words to a New Life.

                                                       My best friend.

That's a boy.

Put his mission papers in.

Yay!

Change Is In The Air

Just a sample of friends that have changed my life...(in no particular order)




 Best friend , Becca Fitzgerald,she's probably the smartest,most well rounded person I have ever met, she's the friend that has been around when some of the most awkward funny things happen! When something happens and she isn't there I send a picture,text, or even call her so she can be apart of it! Becca lives hours away from me,but she has an influence on my life everyday. Becca taught me to laugh, have fun, and stay close to the lord.


Best friend, Robert, I only put his first name because his Picky about the internet! Thats okay! This boy has changes my life for the BEST he came into my life about 3 and a half years ago and we've been stuck like glue since! He taught me to ignore what others think and stand up for what I believe in. When we first met, none of my friends liked him, and that was hard for me... but i sure am glad i stuck with him! Dane and I have had many adventures from him teaching me to ski to partying in Disney Land. He will forever be my knight  in shining armor! He's getting ready for a mission soon, I'll sure miss that boy!


Oldest best friend, liz Jones, Liz and I go all the way back to fourth grade, she knew all of life's questions, or at least it seemed that way. I spent 5th through 9th grade, with her by my side, we shared our DEEPEST DARKEST SECRETS , played late night slap jack, made midnight chili because we couldn't sleep because we drank our first energy drink (Vault) together. She's the reason I ever did Cheer leading. We promised each other we'd move in together as soon ad we graduated high school, we also planned out our graduation road trip, it never happened. We began to drift apart during high school, I went  from being at her house every day to not seeing her all summer.Though we talked less, she'd still call me crying if she had her heart broken, or if something went wrong. Liz is the best friend that I know will love me no matter what I do. Liz taught me not to judge, and to be outspoken in all that I do!


Best friend,Ashlee Snow, Ashlee and I met in Jr. High, She was the most the most shy friend i had ever had, she'd make me ask cute boys to sign her yearbook at the end of the year, while she'd hide behind something, it was my pleasure. Ashlee is my honest best friend, she'd tell me if I was a crappy singer or if she had a bad feeling about a boy I liked in Jr. high, she always seemed to be right.I was always so jealous of how smart she was/and still is!  Ashlee was another friend I wanted to room with as soon as graduation came along, that didn't happen either. We started to part during the end of senior year, and when I say part I just mean talk less that doesn't mean our friendship was any less strong! I can still talk to Ashlee about any boy problems, and she's always there for a girl to girl chat! Ashlee taught me to be honest, she is such an example in my life!


Best friends, Emily Lamb & Nicole Mellor, these girls belong together because I'm hardly with one without the other. Nicole and I go back to fourth grade, I was the "friend stealer" back then. but little did she know I was always jealous of how cute her handwriting was and how put together her look was, Nicole and I stopped talking in eighth grade, and it was like we didn't know each other till we were both on the varsity cheer squad at mountain view. Nicole's laugh is contagious, and she is known to cheer you up, and if you don't want to be cheered up she can cry with you till you feel  better, she is AMAZING. Emily and I don't go back super far but it sure does seem like it, now Emily knows things about me that I wouldn't dare to tell any other friend, I trust her with my life, she also is very bluntly honest when I ask for advice which is a good thing. Our little friendship started because I had the car and they needed  rides after practice everyday, we got to laughing, talking and gossiping and BAM, we were best friends! I'd have to say one of the best nights of my life was right before Emily left for Utah State University, we laughed, and laughed, and maybe even cried, it was the most adventurous night of my life and I wish I could replay it again and again.These girls taught me how to live my life,  and they taught me how to be a better friend, both in their own ways.


I LOVE YOU ALL! :)
P.S. I Love You even if you aren't on this blog, I've been typing for over an hour and have decided its time to stop! :)