Trials and Smiles of Danette Ann

29 September 2010

San Fransisco!

I don't really have an update except to say, I love California! And here are some pictures from my week long trip to San Fransisco!

Grapes =]

Chris, Kelly, myself and Abe at a beautiful winery!

Abe and I at the Golden Gate Bridge! So beautiful! I love bridges!

25 July 2010

I have officially broken my record of "not being able to stay in one spot for more than three months at a time". I have lived in Missouri now for NINE months! It seems crazy to say, because it honestly feels that I've just moved here.

I only have 2 1/2 months of school left and I then I will actually be a cosmetologist. (If I pass my boards that is. :D) And then I'm going to have to make decisions about where I want to go and what exactly it is I want to do. That's always a bit scary for me.

But, as you all know, love and miss Alaska and fishing. And because of school I wasn't able to fish this year so I was very excited just to take a two week trip up and hang out. My dad had never been to Alaska so I was very blessed to be able to bring him along and show him the most beautiful place in the world. And he got to see what I did fishing.

So, we'll just skip right to the pictures. :D

My dad and I on our way to Alaska.

Snug Harbor. This place is amazing! It's across the inlet, away from town and the world. The most perfect place in Alaska to be able to take it all in! There's salmon fishing, and halibut fishing. Bears, mountains, fossils, history, crabs, boats, awesome people and an awesome hot tub. I mean, it's all here.

Dad, Abe and Aaron. Bear watching.

Drifting. Gill net full of fish.

Abe and his deckhand Aaron picking fish. (I would like to pretend that I made the best deckhand ever.. But I must say, Aaron probably did everything just a little better and faster than I. As much as I'd like to think that I work as hard as a guy, it's just never going to happen. Guys will always be able to give just a little more than me.)

There wasn't enough room for me to help pick fish. So I just pitched them in the hold for the guys.

A boat full of fish!!! I have never seen this many fish in all my life! The hold is plumb-full! The deck is overflowing with fish! This was a great day! (Even though I was a bit sick...)

A happy moose

04 May 2010

Cosmetology School

Hello to anyone that might still be reading my blog! I have not died, just been super busy.

There's not been too many exciting things happening in the past six months. I definitely haven't gotten to travel anywhere exciting. And though I did take a trip to Nebraska for a couple of days, I'm pretty sure that does not fall into the "exciting places" category.

I'm going to school full time, then work nights and weekends. Only about five and a half more months to go and then I will be finished with school! I don't think just saying the word "excited" could really get my point across. But I am super excited to be over half way!

I think there are about sixty of us girls packed into one building and I'm pretty sure I've heard enough drama to last me the rest of my life... I love cutting and coloring hair, waxing, pedicures and all that jazz but I was not expecting the drama that came along with it... What was I thinking?

So... I thought I'd put a few pictures up for you...

My School BBF Jessica. :D

Cutting Jessica's hair. (And as you look through these pictures, you may notice that it's basically just Jessica and I... Jess really is my only friend... I'm not even kidding. I find it's much easier to stay out of all the drama this way. :D)

Jessica and her awesome red hair. I totally did that. :D

We made a Jack Sparrow doll out of a bald mannequin. Each group had to make someone when we were going through the "Design Decisions" chapter...

Jessica, myself, Stephinie and Lydia.

And my first set of acrylics! (Jessica's hands, but we felt she needed a little bling for this hand model picture... So that is my ring. :D)

05 February 2010

Happy 3rd Birthday Joseph!

Joey's third birthday!

Blowing out his candles

Joseph, Rebekah and Emma

Little Helper

15 December 2009

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Missouri chicks!

Well, we decided that since we were both going to be sending out Christmas letters this year to practically all the same people, saying practically the exact same things, we would go ahead and just send one. We knew with all the excitement our lives contained, most people could probably handle only one of those letters. :D

Danette

Well my year started off with round two of American Cruise Lines. It was quite uneventful compared to the previous time I was employed by them in 2007. When I finished my contract with them, I made a quick stop in Arkansas before flying up to Alaska for my third year of fishing. This year was quite a bit different and much more enjoyable. Not that I didn’t love fishing before, but this year I was working on a drift boat apposed to working on a beach site and having to run in the sand. (Not a big fan of running in the sand in my rubber boots). The only downside to drifting, I didn’t get to fish with my best friend Amanda; but I did get to meet a lot of really amazing people this summer and see more of beautiful Alaska.

I know the last Christmas letter I sent out said I would probably be going to Australia to a Discipleship Training School in September. I did get accepted, got my visa and had everything in line, but at the last minute kind of decided to go a completely different direction. I guess the biggest thing was how the US Dollar continued to drop and school (in AUD) continued to get more expensive every time I checked… So, I guess there’s no need to say it, but I didn’t go to Australia. Instead of traveling all the way to the southern hemisphere, I decided to stay a little closer to home and move a couple hours north to Missouri.

One may ask “why Missouri?” (because of her fabulous sister… duh - SB) And that is a good question. Basically it was another one of my “dart at the dart board” decisions. But I decided to go to cosmetology school. It’s something I had wanted to do since I was 17 but had always kind of thought it was a vain thing to get into. You know, mission work verses beautifying the outward appearance. But, the more I thought about it the more I realized I could use it overseas with missions as well. Hard to believe at 24 I’m still in search of my talent, but I’m so hoping it is hair cutting! I’ve been in school now for a month and a half and I am really loving it!

Sarah (I’m the shorter one. :D)

My life is definitely not as exciting as Danette’s, (not true - DB) but I’ll go ahead and fill you in on what I’ve been up to. I’m sure most of you already know, but as of February, Joseph became an official Bjornstad. I’m very excited to have him as a brother, although I would have liked to adopt him myself. He is such a sweetheart, and I feel very blessed that God chose him for our family. Mom and Dad sure have their work cut out for them!

In June I turned twenty-one, which means I can now legally have my pistol in Missouri, although I still have no place to shoot it… very sad I know. I still haven’t been able to find a place for Liberty (my horse), and I’m thinking of selling her, which makes me pretty sad. Along with the fact that Tiffany (my puppy) died several months ago, I got her when I was eleven. I still have Squeaker (my flying squirrel) though, and he is a lot of fun.

Okay enough on the pets. I’ve been living in Missouri for three years in April; it just amazes me how the time flies. I’m still working at the church full time and going to bible school. I’m very excited to have Danette as a roommate, I try to keep her in line but it’s not an easy task, believe me.:D I’m sure some of you are wondering... so NO I do not have a boyfriend. :D (I just thought I would throw that in there.) I have the most wonderful friends and family anyone could ask for I feel very blessed.

We’re both glad you guys made it to the end. Well assuming you did, if you’re reading this and didn’t just skip right to the bottom. :D We wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you have a fantabulous new year!

Love always,

Danette & Sarah

22 November 2009

Thankfulness

I get so consumed with the day to day grind of things throughout the year that I, most of the time, forget about all the amazing blessing I have in my life.

It really is a shame that I take the time only once a year to write down some of the things I'm thankful for. Maybe I'll remember to do it more often this next year.

First of all, I have the most amazing family in the world! I wanted to say how much I love and am thankful that Joey came into our lives. Then I also wanted to mention how much I love my brother Luke and am so thankful that he's one of my very best friends. Well, then there's Sarah, and Lynn and my nieces and my parents... And then extended family, so it starts to get extremely long. I think I better just leave it as, I'm so thankful and so blessed to have the family that I have. Love them all!

Also, I don't know how a girl can come across as many amazing people as I have.. But I'm pretty sure I have some of the coolest friends EVER. Yeah, totally amazing friends that I absolutely love and am so thankful for! I have so many amazingly wonderful friends it's actually some times hard to keep track. So thank you friends for always being there for me and just being who you are.

I'm thankful for the organization Friend Ships Unlimited. I learned so much while I served with them! So many amazing experiences. Yes it was difficult, but such a growing opportunity.

I'm so thankful for all the traveling I've gotten to do. The places I've been so blessed to see and the different cultures I've gotten to experience.

For the different seasons of the year. Just the beauty that comes with each one.

Flowers. I love flowers! And snowflakes! If only I could keep them in a jar for decoration!

I'm thankful that I'm an American. I'm thankful for a job. And I'm thankful that I really look forward to going to cosmetology classes in the morning.

Smiles. How smiles can truly brighten a day! And laughs. My favorite.

I'm really thankful for Alaska. I love Alaska! It's so flawlessly beautiful!

The ocean, the beach and the stars! Rain on a tin roof!

Scarves. Randomly enough. I'm thankful for scarves. :D And jeans.

I'm thankful for the ability to learn different things. I'm thankful that I've had the opportunity to "learn" how to surf.

I'm thankful for art. And diversity. Uniqueness. Being different.

I'm thankful that Missouri is starting to feel like "home" and that I'm getting settled in and making new friends.

But mostly I'm thankful for Jesus. For the salvation I have in Him and for His continual forgiveness. For His unending love and mercies. And for NEVER leaving me. I'm so thankful for second chances.

Oh and also... I'm so thankful for stuffing and green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. Which I will be eating in three days. :D

Turns out the list could actually go on. I keep thinking about more things that I'm thankful for.

I wonder if it would actually ever end? If I just continued to write things down. Even little things like my colored sharpy markers I use to highlight my notes and such with. Turns out there is SOO much a person can be thankful for... I think I'm just a happier person after writing this. I would suggest everyone make a list... It's amazing how many things a person has to be thankful about.

Can a person be thankful for Facebook? I think that I am. Did I just say that? ...Yep. I like that I'm able to stay connected with old and new friends.

04 November 2009

Cosmetology School

So it turns out you actually have to be smart to get through cosmetology school. What was I thinking? Anatomy and Physiology? Jeez, I don't want to be a nurse, I just want to cut and color some hair. I mean I can hardly even spell those words.

Today was only my second day at school, and already we have a test on Monday. It's like I don't even feel I've had time to learn anything yet. Weird.

Before class had actually started this morning, I was sitting in my tiny little desk making myself sick just worrying about all the stuff that I don't know and I actually thought about dropping out right then and there. Just calling it quits. But... that would be dumb. Giving up? Not really my thing. They'll have to fail me. But I'm not quitting.

We only have one hour in the morning of theory, then the rest is practical. And I love the all the practical stuff, I can actually do that. It's just the book work. Oh man. This is not going to be an easy 9/10 months. But I guess all I can do is give it my best shot.

29 October 2009

Trip #4 to Alaska

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Alaska? I have never seen anything more beautiful! I swear, as I fly through the Alaskan sky there's a song that's on repeat up in the clouds. It goes, "take my breath aaawaaaaaaay".

I just returned from there a couple days ago. The 3 previous times I had been up in Alaska was always in July/August. It was kind of strange to be there in October. I thought maybe it would be fall. But nope. It was winter. Not a leaf on a tree. But it was still beautiful.

This is Homer.

My beautiful friend Amanda and I in Homer!

The Kenai River. Looks so bare without all the boats and bouys.

My friend Abe and I.

Well, I think most everyone has heard that I'm moving up to Missouri and will be starting Cosmetology school soon. But let me just make it official by saying that that is definitely true. :D

My little sister Sarah lives 20 minutes from the school so I'm moving right in with her and starting on the 3rd of November. The school is only a year long. And I know that sounds like a short time, but I spend an average of three months in one place. I always get antsy and just have to go somewhere. But I'm determined to get rid of the travel bug if only for nine months.

I'm so excited! I've wanted to do this since I was 17. But I'm also really nervous because I have never cut a persons hair in my life. I think "God help me" is about all I can say.

Anyway, thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog! Hugs!