Hi!

Okay! So an update post is lOOOOOOOOOOng overdue!!!
Where in the world do I begin!?!
Hmmmm... maybe I'll start at the top. This could get very lengthy :)
We'll start with Justin, Alisha & Aiden. They have moved to the valley (Phoeinix). Justin and Alisha are both working. Recently Aiden was coming up with Callie and I for a visit, and we were in a car accident on our way out of Mesa. Gratefully we weren't hurt! (just the car)
Matt, Ashley and the boys have moved to Hallsville, TX. Matt is working on the Fire Department in Longview. He just finished his first semester of Paramedic training, and will finish up this fall. Gage has his last day of preschool this week and turns 5 very soon, so it's Kindergarten this fall! Garret is very happy to announce that he will have a baby sister this fall as well!!! Yay for the Broomall's :) Ash has been very sick with this one, but she is so happy to balance out the gender count in her home (;
Jamison, Monica and Trenton live 10 mins down the road from the Broomall's in Longview, TX. Jamison graduated from Paramedic training in Dallas this April. He was salutatorian of his class and was just .8 behind the valedictorian! He is working at the Longview Fire Dept as a Paramedic. So proud of him for doing so well.
Monica will be having their little girl next month! We are so excited to be welcoming more grand-daughters! Trenton talks up a storm! The boys love getting together to play!
Micah is living in Scottsdale and just finished up a semester of school. We get to see him every now and then and love it when we do.
Amber and Ian moved to Wyoming at the end of March! We miss having the little man here at the house with us! (we miss Amber too!)
Marcus reports to the MTC July 6. He has been called to serve in Resistencia Argentina! He wil be missed greatly!!! Last year he had the opportunity to baptize his friend Matt Mauff, who will be leaving for the Scotland-Ireland mission 30 days behind Marcus. Marcus and his friends have loved a tradition of "temple tuesday" for the last several months. Wonderful <3
Elsie has finished up her Junior year of high school and is now officially a senior! She has been taking classes through the high school that have earned her 12 college credits so far and by the end of her senior year, will be 24!
Burke has grown quite a bit! My baby boy is looking more like a full grown man!!! He is 15 and is looking forward to football season next fall. He is quite the cook & loves it! He is such a help around the house that way!
Emma just finished 7th grade. This year she was very busy. She was on the dance team, played volleyball & basketball. Recently, she tried out for the spirit line (cheer/dance) and made the team for next year. Also, she was selected as the student of the year! Such a sweetheart <3
Haley, Hayden & Brin have had a great time at the same school together, but next year Haley will be moving up! They are such sweet little girls and growing much too fast!
Callie had eye surgery in March which has made it to where she can see in front of herself without having to turn her head. She also had a second set of tubes put in her ears a week and a half ago, which improved her hearing dramatically! For which we are so grateful!!! She never ceases to amaze us, and never lets us get to bored! Tonight we spent a couple of hours at the urgent care clinic after she fell and cut open her eye just beneath her brow. A little bit of dermabond, a stuffed monkey & some blue magic and she's home playing with the girls and doing better! (mom didn't do so well with all the blood! got a little bit whoosy)
Jeff is still working for Swift training drivers for them. He is only able to come through about once a week, but will be taking two weeks vacation soon. Recently he was recognized for having a high retention ratio for the drivers that he has trained. We all got a kick... he had his first female student Lolita not long ago!
I stay exceptionally busy, and have been taking classes at the local community college. I have been making knives, which I love. I hope to have my Assoc. of Arts degree by Spring 2013 semester, that will transfer over to one of the 3 universties in Arizona for a Bachelor of Arts degree.
We will be going to Schlitterbahn water park in Texas for our family vacation and are pleased that Marcus will be able to do that with us before he leaves! We hope to be joined by at least of few of the kids and grandkids! Wish they could all come with us!

It’s Christmas time… the most wonderful time of year… the season of giving… the season of joy! But why? What is it all about?

I can only tell you what it has come to mean to me in my own life…

My earliest recollection of Christmas time, is gatherings with an abundance of family and loved ones… with much holiday cheer, decorations, Christmas candy, oranges and nuts, gifts galore and a seemingly endless supply of holiday food, including my Aunt Caren’s pink and green “ribbon sandwiches”. (pink was the closest the baker could get the bread to Christmas red (;)

I loved the shopping, the decorations, the smells, the sounds, the excitement of it all! So fun, so merry! All the festivities! From reenacting the manger scene and the birth of baby Jesus, to the wonderment, listening to hear bells jingle, and the sound of reindeer paws signaling that Santa was near!!! Especially when there was snow or a chimney at hand! I even remember years making a fireplace of cardboard and crayons, not wanting to miss out on this special visitor! (Even today, I think what a thrill it would be to be found kissing Santa under the mistletoe :)

But what did it all really mean? Yes, giving does help the giver to find happiness, along with the winsome receiver, but where did it all begin? It wouldn’t be till I was much older that I would begin to have any understanding of what it truly has come to mean to me, although I’ve enjoyed and looked forward to most every one.

For me, I have to go back to my earliest memories of life… I remember feeling all curled up inside and crying inside as well. I just know that there was this warmth, this comfort… unseen yet more real than any other thing! I had no name for it, nor any understanding of the source. I needed none!!! I just knew that it brought me peace and comfort in my suffering. As I have grown, it has remained constant. Eventually, through my religious upbringing, I came to attribute it to God. God being to me collectively, the Creator of All living, One Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the unseen spirit of comfort and bearer of All truth.

My thoughts of God, or as I frequently refer to as My Nearest and Dearest… run through every facet of my life and every part of who I am. At the times in my life I have felt, hurt, rejected, sad, disappointed, misunderstood or even unloved by those around me, the very intimate comfort to my soul has brought me peace, comfort, understanding, forgiving and healing, and has never left me comfortless.

Through personally pouring over ancient text of many that have gone before me, I have developed a very personal, yet not entirely unique view of what Christmas means to me.

It means to me that above all… there is love… Love in each human heart. Love that gives and love that longs to be received… Love symbolized by the innocence of a new born babe… born not to a high regal estate, but instead, in a lowly place to meek young, inexperienced parents, said to be conceived of God, the Father not only of this babe that would come to be called by many, Lord and Savior of the world, but also of each man, woman and child that would come into this world, the place we call our earthly home.

What makes the name of Christ so worthy of praise and celebration to me is this… In His life as recorded in ancient writ… He was not a stranger to suffering, to pain, to the difficulties, heart ache and sadness of this existence. Yet from His attitude, His approach and actions in the face of adversity, I have found something worthy of adopting or at least attempting to emulate. The endless love, the continual giving, thinking of others when Himself in pain and anguish of both body and soul. Reaching out to those in need, defying what we think we know of the laws of nature. Performing what we refer to as miracles and proclaiming that we would be able to do the same and more if we would simply believe… I do believe!!! And through believing.. by faith in things unseen that are real to me, I have witnessed the mighty arm of God made bare in the “miracle” of my youngest, Callie and in many many other unceasing ways. Tender mercies I attribute to God’s love in my life and His desire for me to have happiness.

I feel to sing and rejoice of One I look to not only as Savior of All, through His undying love for us, His brothers and sisters, but also as Friend… not only at this time of year, but the year throughout, year upon year so long as I shall exist or know anything… The idea that He came to ransom us from “sin” … guilt, shame sickness, suffering and all other troubles if we would look to Him and believe is a source of comfort and peace in my life and has saved me and continues to be a source of peace and comfort to me from day to day. I for one look forward with hope to the day that the day He comes to rule the earth in justice, love and peace.

It is from these feelings of my heart that I share the following lines from various of my favorite songs of Christmas. Some may be very familiar to you and some I’m sure will not be… All of which I would love to be sharing with you in a very close personal way. Not knowing of the possibility of this… I choose to share Christmas with you in this way than the alternative… not at all…

First, from O Little Town of Bethlehem…

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given…

So God impart to human hearts the blessings of His heaven…

Where meek souls will receive Him, Still… the dear Christ enters in…

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

…and in despair I bowed my head. There is no peace on Earth, Isaid…

…then pealed the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead, not does He sleep

…till ringing, singing on it’s way, the world revolved from night to Day!

A voice a chime, a chant sublime, Of Peace on Earth… Good will to men.

Far Far Away on Judea’s Plains

Lord with the Angels we too would rejoice,

Help us to sing with a Heart and Voice J

Joy to the World

Let Earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room

And Heaven and Nature sing…

Angels We have Heard on High

Gloria in Excelsis Deo! ~ Glory to God in the Highest!

Peace on Earth Good will to men.

Mary Did you Know?

               Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

Were you There?

Where you there? Where you there
On that Christmas night?
When the world was filled with a holy light?
Where you there to behold as the wonder foretold
Came to Earth?

Did you see? Did you see?
How they hailed him king?
With their gifts so rare that they chose to bring?
Did you see how they bowed as they praised him aloud
At his birth?

Did you hear how the choirs of angels sang
At the glory of the sight?
Did you hear how the bells of Heaven rang
All through the night?

Did you know, did you know
It was God's own son?
The salvation of the world begun?
Did you know it was love that was sent from above
To the Earth?

Did you know it was love that was sent from above
To the Earth?

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Light and Life to All He brings. Risen! With healing in His wings!

Mild, He lays His glory by. Born that man no more may die.

Born to raise the sons of earth. Born to give them second birth.

Hark the Herald Angels sing. Glory to the newborn King.

For Unto us a Son is Born from Handel’s Messiah

…and the government shall be upon His shoulders.

And His name shall be called… Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God,

The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace!!!

This is my Chrismas gift to you!!! May Love and Peace fill your homes and your hearts this special time of year and the coming year through!!!

May God keep you and yours safe and prosper you!!!

With Much Love,

Dana

Reader's Digest Update :)

WOW!!! I'm so behind on this, I don't even know where to begin to catch up!
Life stays so busy and crazy, with it's UPs and DOWNs...
One thing for starters, one of my most recent blogs was the end of football season last year I think.
Well, we've gone through another season of football. At least with Burke's freshman team. He mostly played center, where he started in most every game. They have had a great team and have completed another great season, being undefeated their 3rd year in a row.
We just celebrated Jeff's 49th bday this weekend as well as all the Halloween dress up fun! I don't think that I ate one piece of Halloween candy this weekend!
Matt got on the fire dept in Longview Texas and now Ash and the boys are living there with him!!! Jamison is going to a 6 mo full-time Paramedic training in Dallas, which puts half our grandchildren and two of our kids and their spouses in Texas!
Justin, Alisha and Aiden, Amber and Ian are still here in town with us thank goodness!!! Love the grandkids and having the kids around!
Marcus is working and getting close to filling out his mission papers. He was recently ordained an Elder. It was his priviledge to baptize his friend Matt Mauff, get his partriarchal blessing at the same time as Matt (my priviledge to be there) and also ordain his cousin Jacob as a Elder <3
Elsie continues to keep everyone in line and laughing (when we're not scared running from her :)
Emma was on the 7th grade Dance team and is now on the 7th grade volleyball team! It's so fun to watch her <3
Haley, Hayden and Brin (and Mom ;) have gone through withdrawls this past school year without Emma to get the girls ready for school and out the door! But it's being good for them to have to take responsibility for themselves and not always have Em to take up the slack for them!
Callie continues to improve and constantly has us laughing!!! She has started to open her left eye randomly on her own!!! She never ceases to amaze us!
The only class I'm taking this semester is metal art (my 3rd semester). I'm learning more blade making techniques under a Master Swordsmith, and loving it!
Jeff has been on a different fleet for the past several months and we don't see him quite as much, maybe once a week... hopefully that will change soon!
Can't think of much else to put for now... I'll try to get some pictures on soon! I just put some from the weekend on my facebook page if anyone wants to check them out, this is the URL http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=76467&id=1608946752
Take care... and our love to ALL!!!

Children and Vehicle Safety

Today, Callie & I were a part of a press conference from Phoenix Children's Hospital. The subject is children and vehicle safety. I little piece will be on the 4:00 5:00 & 6:00 news tonight in case anyone is interested in seeing it.For those of you that miss I will inquire aoubt a link to pull it up after the fact. Thank you for all your love & support!~Dana & family

Football Season Coming To a Close

Marcus is in the final stages of his senior year football season.
He starts Offensive Tackle. He has done well in his position and has been dubbed "MB Master Blocker". Our family has enjoyed watching him play through his Jr. High & High School years. Callie suprisingly is a MAJOR Cougar fan & steals the show when nearby fans catch her cheering right along with the cheerleaders & yelling out "go Show Low", "go Cougars" and putting her fingers to her mouth as she emits an exceptionally shrill sound that is a nearly perfect imitation of my whistling.
Conference games ended last week and last night was the first and thankfully not their last game in state playoffs. They played against Estrella Foothills and came away with a 34-10 win.
Next week they will be up against Winslow at Campo Verde High School. The game will be at 4pm for anyone interested in going. Playoffs are single elimination, so of course we are hoping to see a win there. The final state playoff game will be the Sat. after Thanksgiving! We hope to see the Cougars there, we shall see! One week at a time.
We also enjoyed watching Burke play this year and look forward to him playing in High School next year. He starts as center and they ended their 8th grade season undefeated. They were also undefeated their 7th grade year also. For those of you familiar with our region, yes, that means that they beat Blue Ridge, something we hope continues throughout their HS years! It is especially fun for me to watch their group. They have played school yard and neighborhood football together all their years, and I have had some of the other boys in cub scouts over the years.
We also enjoy attending concerts for Marcus, Elsie, Burke & Emma. They are all in choir and Burke & Emma play in the band.
Marcus & Elsie got to perform this past week at the State Fair. Fun! Fun!
It brought back the memory of leaving the hospital to go see Marcus perform there last year.
Feast of Carols practice will be starting soon, and we are looking forward to that. They are having a dessert night with much lower price & also have lowered the dinner tickets by $5 per person. Anyone interested in going, let me know. It's fun to go and sit together. We thoroughly enjoy it every year we attend.
May blessings attend you ALL!!!

from my metal art & creative writing classes

Metal Art Music

Tink tink tink

Pum pum pum

Tata tata tata tat

Ding ding ding ding ding

Rat a tat a tat

Buzz

Sizzle

Roar

Thunk thunk thunk

Hummm

Through my spongy electric green ear plugs, I hear music.

…the tink tink tink of Mr. Noble’s hammer as he pushes wrenched metal smooth.

… the pum pum pum of the rawhide mallet mashing steel.

… the tata tata tata tat of the ball peen on the rivet, James is working so hard to set.

…the ding ding ding ding ding ding of the planisher as Hillary stretches out the fine details of her wings.

… the rat a tat tat as I weild the rounding hammer to push out the edges of my bowl.

…the buzz of the grinder used to polish the metal’s surface fluid.

… the sizzling torch as Gary melds two halves into a whole.

… the roar of the fiery forge, who’s white hot flames temper black iron red.

... the thunk thunk thunk as James presses and shapes the red-hot iron.

… the hummm of the mighty furnace pushing out torrid heat to add to our steamy sweat.

Listen to the music, as we precisely pound out distinct contoured images from sheets of steel.

BIG NEWS!!!!!

WOW!!!
We are SOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!
Recently Callie has been forming up to 3-4 word sentences
as regular conversation for her :) which is a BIG thing for her!
Then this morning she zipped up her pajamas after a diaper change!!! Yeah for her!
The BIGGEST news of the day has been over 1 year in coming. At the appt week before last, her Neurologist had not talked about the possibility of regaining the damaged nerve function, which we have previously thought was the 3rd & 7th nerve, and recently learned that she is also lacking 5th nerve function.
She has been to an Institute one time so far (Gifford Health Institute in Gilbert AZ run by Dr. Kevin Gifford), where they do therapy targeted to stimulate nerves that lack proper function. We have been doing some of the therapy here at home. We hope to get her back soon & frequent. She has also been receiving electrical facial stimulation to the left side of her face aimed to stimulate the damaged nerves, and hopefully "Wake up" the left side of her face! She pats her left cheek and says "Wake up Face!", she also says "tickle" when they apply the devises & sometimes clamps her little hand tight to her cheek & will NOT allow them to apply their "tickle tortuous" devices until bribed with a sucker! (the dum dum or tootsie variety :)

So, for the big news.... this morning she coughed, and her left eye squinched down tight every time she coughed and we have been noticing all morning how she is having general MOVEMENT on the left side of her face!!!!
It isn't in balance with the right side yet, but it is a very GREAT beginning!!!! and we are OH SOOOOO HAPPY about it!!!