Grandparents.

Grandma & Grandpa,

You two are what I think of when I think of yummy cakes,
& cheese & crackers,
& always, lucky charms cereal.
When I think about growing up i love reminiscing on days of running through sprinklers, kennedy park, & even through your house (hehe whoops! "Close the front door!")
Tea parties, Teddy bear picnics, barbie parties, donald duck parties, & raggedy anne parties are only a few of my favorite events held at your house.
There was lots of dressing up & being able to be anyone and anything.
Flower shows we put on every chance we could made us into rockstars, dancing flowers, & the best dancers on the planet, obvvviously ;).
Make-believe and imagination was always running free at your house.

When I think about what I could count on at your house I think of every meal prepared to the nines
 & I could always expect sparkling cider, and a good slice of cake.
& Then when I grew up I could also rely on you Grandpa
to offer me a beer, your special recognition of us growing up in your household & your eyes.
I could also expect an open invitation to stay the night,
turn the evening into a slumber party on the living room floor complete with extra teddy bear sleeping bags & an extra toothbrush Grandma always kept for us grandkids, thanks for that!

When I think about you two, I really can't think of anything beyond a crazy love.
Love for each other, love for all of us, and a crazy love for God.
Grandma your devotion to your church & to your faith & sharing that with me is outrageous.
I have to admit I didn't think much of it growing up,
But knowing what I do now & working where I work now,
I feel really blessed by you through your faith.
You have really modeled to me selfless devotion & a pure servants heart in the way you walk with God and give & give & give to everyone around you.
& Grandpa,
You have to be one of the most gentle, kind men I have ever come across.
I cannot remember a single second where you have become angry
or even the slightest bit irritated with anything going on around you,
which I must say is a major accomplishment with us crazies always destroying your house!
But honestly,
I have never seen such patience and love from another person
& you are the person I think of when I think of patience and a deep, gentle love.

You two together really have modeled what love really is and how it can really touch everyone in connection to it.
The way you both communicate & continue to love each other daily after 60 years of marriage is incredible and very hard to come by these days.
Your strength, and devotion to each other
and to loving those around you, together,
makes me feel very blessed and encouraged to one day follow in your footsteps.
I hope that one day I can show a piece of the love, adoration, and faith to my own grandchildren that you have shown to me, & for the rest of us here in this room.
I love you Grandma & Grandpa, thank you so much for loving me the way you do,
Happy 60th Wedding Anniversary!


Danielle Nicole.

Struggling.

Lately I have been struggling.

& as much as I hate it, I am so interested in Human emotions
& behavior, especially during times of struggle or trial.
The strength of the heart is something that is very intriguing to me.
"Good days" are refreshing & fun & light, & considered normal even.
But I think its the "bad days" that really hold more weight.
Its these days that our hearts learn & feel & build itself into something beautiful.
Or more beautiful I should say.
The way a heart learns strength & care, attachment & trust is something hard to put into words or theories, but something so easy to feel.

Lately my heart has been hurting, or aching maybe.
My heart desires so much to have honest & authentic relationships.
But I think I am realizing as of late that many of the relationships that I thought were authentic in my life, are turning out to be artificial, "when convenient" relationships.
This ache in my heart is deep.
It runs through my heart and into my body & my mind.
The very core of who I am is wrapped around
core values of honesty & authenticity.
So the realization of the lack of these in my life
is a cause of pain, but also of growth.
I am trying to observe,
& learn from these desires of my heart & this pain.
Because I believe in the beauty of pain,
& the redemption that seeps through pain & heartbreak.
Today I am struggling, & tomorrow is new.


Danielle Nicole.

Oh Friday.

I need to be more proactive about actually publishing posts.
I have tons of ideas & started posts, & nothing to show for it.
Only a promise that there is soon to come.
I need to follow through with myself. ha, Happy Friday.


Danielle Nicole.

Distant Intention.

Minnesota Winter 2011.

I am more excited for this trip than I have been 

for something in a very long time.

In sitting here in LAX airport

I am brought back to the post I wrote this summer 

regarding Airport Stations.

That post remains truth & 

speaks to the exact emotion I feel as I sit here,

in anticipation of seeing truly dear friends. 

Friends who even from across the country,

manage to think, care, & appreciate friendship with myself.

Phone calls almost daily, mail, & 

online contact really paint the vivid 

intention that I feel from these relationships in my life.

It always strikes me when I look at how 

my relationships of a few dear people

 half way across the country are much closer & intentional 

than a majority of my relationships in my own state, 

or even city. 

But then, sometimes the result of distance is not negative.

Rather, it (for lack of better word in my mind at the moment) forces us 

to be more intentional, more outward, 

& even more creative in those relationships.

On a less serious & appreciative note: I'm still trying to wrap my mind around why in the worllllld God would make a place so cold. 

Friday forecast in MN: 18 degrees, 

"feels like -5 degrees"… 

NO JOKE, the forecast really has the nerve to tell me it will feel like -5.. cruel.

But, Fargo, then Minneapolis, here I come!

Danielle Nicole.

National Holiday Memo Missed?

You'd swear today was a holiday & the holiday was hate-a-barista-day.

Today I woke up at 4:20am thinking it was just another typical opening monday for myself at the good ol' Miss Kelly's Cafe. Boy by 9am did I realize I was thoroughly mistaken. Today was that kind of day that at first you think it is just you in a bad mood, thinking maybe you just haven't been able to shake of the sleepies & wake up for the day when making lots of caffeinated beverages for groggy customers. But then begins to reveal itself as the kind of day in which everyone can't shake the grog & the grog becomes grump & domino effects everyone in its path. Unfortunately today I became victim to this unspoken holiday & can only be left with the thought that I am sooo utterly thankful it is only 12:43 in the afternoon, which leaves hours upon hours for this morning trend to redeem itself entirely. Let's see what today can do towards redemption ;)


Danielle Nicole.

God is sooo Good.

God is so good. & This week I have completely been reminded of His care & faithfulness. A little over a year ago a friend sent me a poem written in the narrative of God to myself. She inserted my name into certain parts & this week this piece from that poem keeps ringing in my mind as I continue to pursue trusting Him & allowing myself to let go of worries & stresses that I seem to hold on to. 


"I want you to stop planning, Dani, stop wishing and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing, 
one that you cannot imagine.
Please allow Me to bring it to you. You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I Am. Keep listening and learning the things I tell you.
You just wait. That's all. Don't be anxious. Don't worry.
Dani, don't look at the things you think you want; you just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you'll miss what I want to show you...


Dani, know that I love utterly.  I Am God. Believe it and be satisfied in that."


This week has been so good.
God is so good.
PTL.


Danielle Nicole.

Red Lips.

Red lipstick has a very unique, powerful affect on women, & men, when they encounter a red-lipped woman, some might argue as well.

One Friday, my coworker & I deemed, Red Lipstick Friday. A Rendition, if you will, of Casual Friday, only opposite in a sense being that everyday at Miss Kelly's Cafe can be casual wear day.

I can only say I have worn red lipstick one other day of my life besides this Friday. (Other than the days of playing with mom's makeup or my Barbie makeover set or something as a kid, obbbviiiii) So this day was a day of new experience, learning, & soaking in the power of the red lipstick (dun, dun, dunn)

The 3 things I noticed most by the end of the day & through the night of having this style upon my lips were, a new sense of beauty, confidence, & power. 

--Beauty: The beauty of red lipstick is an eclectic unique true-to-it's-own beauty. An almost old fashion, or maybe vintage-esk fashion to it; pure, slightly rebelled, yet classy.

--Confidence: A girl who can put on red lipstick & own the look exudes confidence, even if she isn't typically confident in her appearance. The red speaks a bold, yet mysterious voice that says come closer, but watch out ;) 

--Power: its a bold, fierce look that breathes power & fierce style. It can empower a woman on what may seem like the most normal of days.

So to those of you women who have never worn red lipstick, try it out. I definitely encourage you to experience the unique beauty, confidence, & empowerment all from a tiny stick of color :)


Danielle Nicole.